Aligned Work

The University of Alberta was honoured to host the 2nd Annual “Building Reconciliation Forum: Universities Responding to the TRC's Calls to Action” — a two-day leadership forum for Canadian university presidents and their leadership teams, First Nations, Métis and Inuit leaders, student leaders, Indigenous scholars, and scholars dedicated to research that is meaningful to Indigenous peoples.

4 Seasons of Reconciliation - Vendor session with new database. (2019)

University of Alberta Press (with the Canadian Literature Centre) publishes this short, powerful book that uses Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg storytelling to deepen our understanding of Indigenous resistance. By Leanne Betasamosake Simpson.

February 2021: A Short History of the Blockade: Giant Beavers, Diplomacy, and Regeneration in Nishnaabewin.

Whereas the community-based Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP) program (a link to the community-based elementary route) is an Elementary Education degree program, the ATEP Urban Cohort is a Secondary Education degree program.

Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP), a Bachelor of Education - Elementary program, was designed to attract primarily Aboriginal students to increase the representation of Aboriginal teachers and improve the school experiences of a growing population of Aboriginal students in Alberta. ATEP launched in 2002 as a community-based collaborative program, delivered in partnership with Alberta colleges. In 2017, ATEP added its first on-campus cohort, a Secondary Education specialization.

Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP): Shawn Desaulniers taught two sections of MATH 160 (Higher Arithmetic) geared toward future mathematics teachers in rural and Indigenous communities.

As Student Success Coordinator for the Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Dr. Sean Lessard partnered with Spirit North and Olympic medallist Beckie Scott to improve access to physical education and sports for Indigenous youth in northern communities.

Acquisition strategy for the art collection: we are acquiring works by Indigenous artists.

Dr. Janice Cooke's (Biological Sciences) research involves active engagement with First Nations groups.

Faculty members were actively involved with a variety of activities this year including active involvement in the ATEP program, supervising I-STEAM pathways students, teaching and learning activities, and supporting Indigenous students in the Faculty of Science and high schools.

Activities for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Conference on Indigenous writing and publishing. (2017)

Activities to mark Truth and Reconciliation.

The Faculty of Native Studies provides ad-hoc custom programming to corporations. In 2021-22, the faculty delivered webinar presentations to Google DeepMind, wisetrust, Brookfield Properties, and Vancity.

Libraries and Museums had participation and representation in the Alberta History Mural Project which includes undertaking a process towards a resolution for the mural in Rutherford Library. (2021-present)

Alberta’s Teacher Quality Standards (TQS) & Leader Quality Standards (LQS) #5: Curriculum leadership to support learning and reconciliation - We examine the research that has identified specific challenges Alberta educators face with these new L/TQS expectations, the writings of Indigenous scholars who have negotiated their own double binds working with mainstream curricula and school expectations, existing resources from Indigenous educators, and listen to knowledge keepers, and elders to assist in meeting new professional expectations.

Twelve Indigenous alumni were selected and recognized with Alumni Recognition Awards in the last decade. Ongoing work continues to recognize Indigenous alumni.

An Anthology of Monsters: How Story Saves Us from Our Anxiety - University of Alberta Press (with the Canadian Literature Centre) publishes this deeply personal narrative about all the ways in which we cower and crush through stories.

The Ancestors Exhibit in Special Collections is a selection of photographs from a rich and diverse collection with the potential to enhance our understanding of the history, economies, culture, ceremonies and art of the Indigenous Peoples of the western provinces.

University of Alberta Press publishes the first book of short stories by Edmonton-based Inuk author Norma Dunning.

Courses taught/offered: Anthropology.

In development: Appoint an Indigenous admissions specialist to provide support to admissions staff and graduate administrators, identify barriers, and liaise with First Peoples' House in promoting pathways into graduate studies to increase enrollment of Indigenous graduate students.

Art in Focus: This is a series of online spotlights on artists and/or artworks from our collection. For example, we recently had (not an exhaustive list): 'Stopped to Talk' by Allen Sapp, OC, RCA. Nêhiyaw (Cree) artist Allen Sapp is widely known for his observational paintings that depict scenes of daily life on the Canadian Prairies.

The Faculty of Arts has created the Arts Working Group for Indigenous Initiatives (AWGII) in light of the continuing responsibilities as well as benefits that flow from our presence on a traditional gathering place for diverse Indigenous peoples including the Cree, Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Iroquois, Dene, Ojibway/Saulteaux/Anishinaabe, Inuit, and many others.