Indigenizing and decolonizing - institutional policy and praxis

Indigenous engagement with the Augustana Campus

Contributor
Augustana Campus

Activity Details
This Indigenous Engagement Advisory Committee advises the Dean and all Campus portfolios on any considerations concerning Indigenous engagement with the Augustana Campus. Those considerations include, but are not limited to: the implementation of Treaty Relationships at the Augustana Campus; implementation of the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP); recruitment of Indigenous students; retention strategies for Indigenous students; curriculum, teaching and research; culturally-appropriate student services and supports; space planning and development for Indigenous students; development of a donor base for Indigenous student awards; development of relations with Indigenous alumni and Indigenous Community Members. Overall, this committee will champion and support the growing and strengthening of Indigenous engagement with the University, the Campus, and the broader community. The committee raises the profile and awareness of issues pertinent to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations. It serves as a place for discussing and supporting any Indigenous Engagement initiatives that affect our Campus, and may be asked to assist in prioritizing initiatives. The committee helps to identify and secure financial resources from within the university and other sources to accomplish these tasks. The committee interacts on behalf of the Augustana Campus with Indigenous communities to identify and support partnerships that fulfill respective and mutual education needs. The committee also helps to identify, develop, and strengthen potential supports for Indigenous students who are already members of the Augustana community. The work of the committee is intended to lead to meaningful conversation and the generation of constructive, creative ideas and new opportunities.

Indigenous Advisory Council Members

Contributor
Campus Saint-Jean

Activity Details
Dr. Cindy Gaudet is an active member of the U of A Indigenous Advisory Council led by Dr. Florence Glanfield, Vice-Provost, Indigenous Programming and Research.

Arts Working Group for Indigenous Initiatives (AWGII)

Contributor
Faculty of Arts

Activity Details
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. This is part of our commitment to participating in respectful relations amongst all peoples and is a reply to the 94 Calls to Action detailed in the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. AWGII held a consultation with Indigenous Students in December 2016.

Indigenous Women and Youth Resilience Project

Contributor
Faculty of Arts

Activity Details
Dr. Tracy Bear served as Director of Indigenous Women and Youth Resilience Project.

History, Classics, and Religion Committee on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigenization, and Decolonization

Contributor
Faculty of Arts

Activity Details
The Faculty of Arts, Department of History established the History, Classics, and Religion Committee on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigenization, and Decolonization.

TRC Calls to Action committee

Contributor
Faculty of Arts

Activity Details
Created a department Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action committee: made up of faculty, students, and community partners that has held a series of events.

Indigenous Advisory Council Members

Contributor
Faculty of Arts

Activity Details
Dr. Lana Whiskeyjack served on Indigenous Advisory Council 2020-22.

Consulting with Indigenous Elders

Contributor
Campus Saint-Jean

Activity Details
Campus Saint-Jean is consulting with Indigenous Elders to undertake decolonization and Indigenization at Campus Saint-Jean.

Education for the Public Good: Strategic Plan 2019-2024

Contributor
Faculty of Education

Activity Details
Education for the Public Good: Strategic Plan 2019-2024 — Transformative Teaching, Learning and Leading, Objective 4: Strengthen the presence of First Nations, Métis and Inuit foundational knowledge in our programs; Leadership in Indigenous Initiatives, Objectives 1-7.

Situated Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and Place research signature area

Contributor
Faculty of Education

Activity Details
Indigenous Faculty Members Assisted with establishing the Situated Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and Place research signature area (2018).

Recommendation Report

Contributor
Faculty of Education

Activity Details
Recommendation Report Submitted by Elder Eber Hampton for Indigenous Education in the Faculty (2018).

The Indigenous Education Council

Contributor
Faculty of Education

Activity Details
The Indigenous Education Council is a Standing Committee of the Faculty of Education that works to inform broad aspects of Indigenous Initiatives and a Truth and Reconciliation response.

National Indigenous Research Review Committee

Contributor
Faculty of Education

Activity Details
Dr. R. Sockbeson served as Co-Chair, National Indigenous Research Review Committee Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Grants.

ATEP Program

Contributor
Faculty of Education

Activity Details
Drs. P. Steinhauer, N. Steinhauer, E. Steinhauer contribute to teaching in the Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP) Program.

ATEP Faculty Directors

Contributor
Faculty of Education

Activity Details
Drs. P. Steinhauer, E. Steinhauer, serve as faculty directors of the Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP).

Association of Canadian Deans of Education (ACDE)

Contributor
Faculty of Education

Activity Details
Input from Indigenous Faculty Members on renewing the Association of Canadian Deans of Education (ACDE) Accord on Indigenous Education.

SLIS hangs official apology on walls

Contributor
Faculty of Education - School of Library and Information Studies

Activity Details
In line with all Faculty of Education departments, the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) hung on its walls a framed copy of the 2008 Government of Canada Statement of apology to former students of Indian Residential Schools.

CFLA: Indigenous Matters Committee Red Team

Contributor
Faculty of Education - School of Library and Information Studies

Activity Details
Dr. Samek serves on the Indigenous Matters Committee Red Team on Indigenous Curriculum, Canadian Federation of Library Associations.

Indigenous Curriculum Working Group

Contributor
Faculty of Education - School of Library and Information Studies

Activity Details
Dr. McNally serves as Co-Lead, Indigenous Curriculum Working Group, Indigenous Matters Committee, Canadian Federation of Library Associations.

GRA funding

Contributor
Faculty of Education - School of Library and Information Studies

Activity Details
Dr. Rathi has received GRA funding for the pilot project titled, A Study to Develop a Framework to Assess and Document Decolonizing and Reconciliation Efforts by Libraries for the initial phase of a proposed project to develop a framework to undertake facet-based assessment of organizations such as libraries and archives in their decolonization and reconciliation efforts.

LISSA Land Acknowledgement, Template for Personalization, Definitions, and Speaker Protocol

Contributor
Faculty of Education - School of Library and Information Studies

Activity Details
The Library and Information Studies Students' Association (LISSA) creates and publishes the LISSA Land Acknowledgement, Template for Personalization, Definitions, and Speaker Protocol that recognizes the unique and enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and traditional territories.

CFLA Indigenous Matters Committee

Contributor
Faculty of Education - School of Library and Information Studies

Activity Details
School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) Chair, select SLIS faculty and sessionals, and Indigenous Interns participated in a Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA) Indigenous Matters Committee invitation-only special gathering on Canadian education in the library, archives, and museum sector.

Revision of university regulations

Contributor
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research

Activity Details
Led the revision of university regulations so that Indigenous Knowledge-Keepers are identified as specialized knowledge examiners who can serve on graduate examination committees.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Contributor
Institutional

Activity Details
The U of A is committed to identifying gaps and implementing strategies to ensure greater equity, diversity and inclusivity across all levels of our multi-campus community. In 2018/19, the university launched its four-year Strategic Plan for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

Ethical Engagement of Indigenous Communities in Research

Contributor
Institutional

Activity Details
Ethical Engagement of Indigenous Communities in Research: In collaboration with the Vice-President, Innovation and Research, the Research Ethics Office, the Research Services Office, the Faculty of Native Studies, UAlberta North, the Vice-Provost, Indigenous Programming and Research Office and External Relations has worked to improve and educate on financial administrative processes (First Nation, Métis, Inuit Honorarium Payment Guidelines). There is now a clarified set of processes to allow for a number of possible administrative steps that allow for timely and respectful compensation for Elder, Knowledge Keeper and Community Involvement in teaching and research relationships.

Identify institutional wise practices around research ethics

Contributor
Institutional

Activity Details
In collaboration with the Vice-President, Innovation and Research, the Research Ethics Office, the Research Services Office, the Faculty of Native Studies, UAlberta North, the Vice-Provost, Indigenous Programming and Research Office is working to identify institutional wise practices around research ethics, and accountability mechanisms for teaching and research involving Indigenous peoples at the U of A. As of January 2020, consultations have occurred with 90 people from over 30 faculties and departments on wise practices for ethical research engagement.

Capacity in Indigenous Initiatives in key teaching

Contributor
Institutional

Activity Details
The University of Alberta has built capacity in Indigenous Initiatives in key teaching, scholarly, and administrative positions in the Provost’s Office, the Registrar’s Office, the Dean of Students Office and the Centre for Teaching and Learning, as well as at the administrative and professorial level in nine faculties across four campuses.

Vice-Provost (Indigenous Programming and Research)

Contributor
Institutional

Activity Details
Created the role of the Vice-Provost (Indigenous Programming & Research) (VPIPR) in 2019 to: lead the development, consultation, and approval of an inaugural Indigenous Strategic Plan in support of the objectives articulated in For the Public Good; build and nurture positive relationships with Indigenous communities; support the work of Faculties and Departments to Indigenize curricula across programs; and foster a supportive environment for Indigenous faculty, students, and staff. The Office of the VPIPR led, in consultation with the Indigenous Advisory Council, the creation of Braiding Past, Present and Future: University of Alberta Indigenous Strategic Plan in 2022.

Situated Knowledges: Indigenous Peoples and Place (SKIPP)

Contributor
Institutional

Activity Details
Situated Knowledges: Indigenous Peoples and Place (SKIPP) was a Signature Area co-led by Drs. Kisha Supernant & Tracey Hillier, now currently under the umbrella of the Vice-Provost Indigenous Programming and Research led by Dr. Florence Glanfield. SKIPP brings together Indigenous-engaged scholars from across the academy to share research, build community, and strengthen respectful research practices. SKIPP hosts a variety of events to support and promote Indigenous engaged research from its Community Voices series to the Scholars Circle. SKIPP has also provided 19 seed grants to faculty and graduate students who are developing Indigenous-engaged research projects.

Responding to the TRC Calls to Action

Contributor
Institutional

Activity Details
Part of responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action has included working to amend existing policy or to develop new policies that ensure Indigenous students, faculty and staff feel welcome on our campuses and that our work with Indigenous community members can be administered in effective ways. Ceremonial (Smudging) Guidelines have been put in place to support ceremonial practices on our campuses.

Indigenous Works Canada

Contributor
Institutional/ Indigenous Works

Activity Details

Indigenous Works Canada: The U of A is a Charter Signatory with Indigenous Works Canada’s 2020 Planning Initiative to Advance Indigenous Innovation. The goal is to advance Indigenous innovation and growing economic well-being through cooperation and collaboration among businesses, communities, post-secondary researchers and organizations. Charter Partners participate in a 10-month initiative to develop a multi-year strategy and plan to advance Indigenous innovation. Provost Steven Dew, Vice-Provost, Indigenous Programming and Research, Florence Glanfield and Dean Joseph Doucette, Alberta School of Business signed onto the charter on May 1, 2020.

This planning initiative builds on the Tri-Agency document released in January ‘Setting New Directions to Support Indigenous Research and Research Training in Canada’. It also builds on the 2019 Engagement Exercise conducted by Indigenous Works in concert with research funder Mitacs.
This planning initiative will identify developmental and foundational activities, services and potential mechanisms that facilitate opportunities for increased research collaboration and coordination among Canada’s post-secondary researchers, research agencies and other organizations, Indigenous businesses and communities.
The plan was released in January 2020, published by the federal research granting agencies, and fulfills a priority of the Canada Research Coordinating Committee to co-develop with Indigenous Peoples an interdisciplinary research and research training model that contributes to reconciliation.

Librarians' participation in Indigenous-engaged association activities

Contributor
Libraries and Museums

Activity Details
Canadian Federation of Library Associations Truth and Reconciliation Committee and Indigenous Matters Committee (included producing the CFLA Truth and Reconciliation Report and Recommendations); Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries Indigenous Knowledge Standing Committee (included photography for the website and developing an Indspire scholarship and learning for library staff); International Federation of Library Associations Indigenous Matters Committee, National Indigenous Knowledge and Language Alliance. (2016 - present)

OCAP Group Learning

Contributor
Libraries and Museums

Activity Details
OCAP Group learning - DI/CatMet/ITS took OCAP as a group (2019).

The Indigenous Initiatives Working Group

Contributor
Libraries and Museums

Activity Details
The Indigenous Initiatives Working Group made recommendations based on consultations with library staff and Indigenous community members. (2019-2021)

The Indigenous Initiatives Team (IIT)

Contributor
Libraries and Museums

Activity Details
The Indigenous Initiatives Team (IIT) includes Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff members. Activities include advising on matters with an Indigenous context, engaging with students, learning activities such as showcasing the Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada Giant Floor Map. (2021-present)

Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences establishes Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee

Contributor
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Activity Details
In 2020, the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences established its first Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee and is working to create a standing working group focused on Indigenous issues including finding ways to collaborate across the university with other faculties to support the development of a collective approach to Truth and Reconciliation in higher education. This committee has been on pause over the past year to allow time to learn what initiatives may be supported through the College of Health Sciences.

Together in a Good Way

Contributor
School of Public Health

Activity Details
Together in a Good Way: Fostering Reconciliation through Institutional Excellence (Position paper).

Indigenous Research Strategy Task Force Member

Contributor
Faculty of Science (Biological Sciences)

Activity Details
Erin Bayne sits on the Indigenous Research Strategy Task Force.

Indigenous Engaged Research Grant Program

Contributor
Vice-Provost, Research and Innovation

Activity Details
Established the Indigenous Engaged Research Grant Program to support the development of meaningful and respectful relationships and to build trust with partners in the pursuit of Indigenous research that contributes to meeting Indigenous research needs.

Killam postdoctoral fellowships for Indigenous scholars

Contributor
Vice-Provost, Research and Innovation

Activity Details
Established targeted Killam postdoctoral fellowships for Indigenous scholars (responsibility for all postdoctoral fellowships since transferred to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research).

OCAP Training for Staff

Contributor
Vice-Provost, Research and Innovation

Activity Details
Staff in the Associate Vice-President (Research Development Services) portfolio, as well as the Chief of Staff of the Office of the Vice-President Research and Innovation (OVPRI) portfolio, completed ownership, control, access, and possession (OCAP) training in order to support the integration and application of Indigenous data sovereignty and Indigenous research ethics in the OVPRI portfolio and at the University of Alberta.

Describe Collections

Contributor
Librairies and Museums

Activity Details
Working on typology and naming of groups to describe collections.

UAM Staff: MOOC Program

Contributor
Librairies and Museums

Activity Details
University of Alberta Museums (UAM) staff are doing the Indigenous Canada Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) program.

UAM Staff: Canadian Museums Association Conference

Contributor
Librairies and Museums

Activity Details
University of Alberta Museums (UAM) staff attended the virtual annual conference of the Canadian Museums Association. The theme was: Moved to Action (a call for museums to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) calls to action).

Faculty of Native Studies Community Report

Contributor
Faculty of Native Studies

Activity Details
Faculty of Native Studies Community Report, 2022.

Denouncing the founding chair

Contributor
Faculty of Science

Activity Details
In July 2021, the psychology department publicly released a statement on their website denouncing the founding chair of the department and former Chair of the Alberta Eugenics Board.

Psychology department’s EDI committee

Contributor
Faculty of Science (Psychology)

Activity Details
In June 2022, the psychology department’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee committed to use department member feedback (as one source) to identify EDI gaps and develop an improvement plan. In particular, they committed to identify and address issues related to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals, and respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action.

Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC)

Contributor
Institutional

Activity Details
The Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) was convened in January 2020 to guide the visioning process for the University of Alberta's inaugural Indigenous Strategic Plan (Braiding Past, Present and Future). The council convenes and offers guidance on a broad range of topics pertaining to Indigenous Initiatives. It is comprised of First Nations and Métis representatives from across employment categories and the academy.

Steering Committee of the Alberta Rural Connectivity Consortium

Contributor
Faculty of Education - School of Library and Information Studies

Activity Details
Serving on the Steering Committee of the Alberta Rural Connectivity Consortium, which is involved in advocacy related to spectrum and engagement with Indigenous Communities, and also ensures that perspectives on Indigenous connectivity are included in our annual Alberta Rural Connectivity Forum.

Indigenous Activities

Contributor
Faculty of Education - School of Library and Information Studies

Activity Details
Positioned a document entitled Indigenous Activities on the School’s website which includes a listing of both reconciliation efforts made as well as opportunities ready to pursue.

CFLA & ACA response reports

Contributor
Faculty of Education - School of Library and Information Studies

Activity Details
Contributed to Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA) and Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) response reports.

Book Clubs

Contributor
Faculty of Education - School of Library and Information Studies

Activity Details
Participated in two book clubs within the Faculty of Education aimed at increasing knowledge of the history of racism and anti-racism in North America.

Decolonizing and Indigenizing Partnerships and Participation

Contributor
St. Stephen's College

Activity Details
Decolonizing and Indigenizing Partnerships and Participation: In an effort to promote decolonizing experiences within the SSC community, the College has co-sponsored Indigenous art exhibits on the University of Alberta campus, participated in Indigenous community events with the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, hosted workshops on Medicine Wheels and Indigenous Counselling Skills, and promoted education and action regarding Truth and Reconciliation.

Decolonizing Honorary Degrees and Awards

Contributor
St. Stephen's College

Activity Details
Decolonizing Honorary Degrees and Awards: (A) Honorary degrees were given in 2016 to Lewis Cardinal in recognition of his Indigenous leadership both locally and internationally as a board member of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, and in 2018 to Lyle Keewatin-Richards and Donald Hepburn in recognition of their work to unearth the graves of Indigenous children who died in Indian Residential School System. (B) In 2019, the Awards and Honorary Degrees Committee evaluated the honorary degree nominations process through a decolonizing lens; the outcome was an updated nominations process that creates greater accessibility for traditional and story-based nominations (note: this work has subsequently been adopted by the Vancouver School of Theology).

Policy and Statement Development

Contributor
St. Stephen's College

Activity Details
St. Stephen's College (SCC) is currently developing a policy statement around Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (EDI-J). Part of this work includes developing a separate, stand-alone Indigenous Statement that can consider SCC’s own history and relationships with Indigenous Peoples and communities. The Forest Room, a teaching space at SSC, works to Indigenize and Decolonize SSC (May 2023) while also lifting up and centering Indigenous knowledge, ways of knowing, priorities, and concerns. This work is currently underway.

Examining SSC’s History

Contributor
St. Stephen's College

Activity Details
St. Stephen’s College (SSC) is currently seeking funding to conduct an institutional audit of SSC’s history, with the intention of uncovering whatever connections exist—either major or minor, explicit or implicit—between the College and the former Residential School System. As a component of the College’s active commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (EDI-J), the intent of this work is to foster openness, transparency, and justice-driven engagement between the College and the many Indigenous and Métis peoples who reside on Treaty Six lands. The learning community of St. Stephen’s College values Openness, Engagement, and Relationships; these values compel the College to confront its past and, with courage, to seek to bring justice to those places where the College has erred.

Indigenous Research Strategy Task Force

Contributor
Institutional

Activity Details
In January 2021, the Indigenous Research Strategy Task Force. The task force includes membership of university administrators from the Research Ethics Boards (REBs), Research Services Office (RSO), Research Data Management (RDM), and the Field Research Office, along with Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars. The purpose of the task force is to imagine the ways in which the collective work at the U of A, in relation to research ethics, services, field research, and data management can be supportive of Indigenous communities, Indigenous scholars and researchers engaged with Indigenous research, data sovereignty, treaty rights, and respectful community engagement. Vital to this task force’s work are the principles of OCAP (Ownership, Control, Access and Possession) and CARE (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics).

Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS)

Contributor
Libraries and Museums

Activity Details
University of Alberta Press adopts an Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) peer review policy for evaluating manuscripts by or about Indigenous peoples. February 2018.

The Faculty of Native Studies Strategic Plan 2018-2023

Contributor
Faculty of Native Studies

Activity Details
The Faculty of Native Studies Strategic Plan 2018-2023

Augustana Artifacts

Contributor
Augustana Campus

Activity Details
Indigenous Sculptures on Campus, Banne painting at Augustana Forum, Treaty Bear, Mother Bear Prays for Earth.