Carleton University Indigenous Strategic Initiatives Committee (CUISIC)

1. Carleton University Indigenous Strategic Initiatives Committee (CUISIC) “From Strength to Strength”

2. Chairs of the Task Force • Kahente Horn-Miller, Associate Professor, School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies • Benny Michaud, Assistant Director, Centre for Indigenous Initiatives • Jerry Tomberlin, Provost and Vice-President (Academic)

3. Consultation Sessions March • Indigenous Students • Student Government Executives • Current Students • Faculty of Public Affairs • Teaching and Learning Services • Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences • Faculty of Engineering and Design • MacOdrum Library April • FASS Chairs and Directors • OPSEU 404 Executives • Faculty of Science • Executives from CUASA • SIPC and VPARC • Administrative Management Members • Indigenous Enriched Support Program Team • All Faculty, Instructors and Librarians • School of Social Work Annual Retreat • OVPSE Managers • Office of Institutional Research & Planning • Sprott School of Business • Carleton Campus • Administrative Technical & CUPE 2424 Members May • Indigenous Service Providers in Ottawa • Facilities Management and Planning • KitiganZibi • Senate • Former and departing Indigenous faculty members (one-on-one meetings) June • CUISIC Committee • Board of Governors • Former and departing Indigenous faculty members (one-on-one meetings) • Original Voices Youth Council and Assembly of Seven Generations (A7G) August • Government of Nunavut and Arctic College

4. Consultation Sessions to be Confirmed • Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition • Community Consultation with Akwesasne • Community Consultation with Pikwakanagan • Urban Indigenous Community

5. Themes of Engagement • Community Engagement • Ways of Teaching and Learning (Indigenous Knowledge/Awareness) • Indigenous Student Support: Academic and Cultural • Carleton University’s Culture, Systems and Structure • Research and Innovation • Student Experience (Recruitment, Retention and Graduation) • Metrics: Qualitative and Quantitative (Faculty, Staff and Students)

6. Community Engagement • How can we better accommodate students coming from far-away communities? • How can a University best support cultural seasonal, extra-curricular, traditional ceremonies? Ex. Being away from class for these reasons.  • Who should Carleton University have good relationships with? And why? • Are there any policies that need to be implemented in regards to community engagement?

7. What we Heard • Residence should be exploring ways to improve access to housing for Indigenous students (On and off campus) • Need to build relationships and invest in communities • Give back to the community – find ways to “pay rent” • Since we are on Algonquin territory, reach out specifically to Algonquin communities and ask how we can help support them • More cultural events are needed for all to attend Build a relationship with Wabano and other Indigenous service providers • Faculty want to engage with Indigenous communities but they aren’t Indigenous or educated in a way that facilitates engagement, and don’t know where to begin • Make sure the communities know all Carleton University has to offer

8. Ways of Teaching and Learning (Indigenous Knowledge/Awareness) • What would teaching and learning at Carleton look like if we took into consideration Indigenous teaching and learning practices? • Do you envision students taking an Indigenous-focused course as part of their degree requirements? • What additional resources could be provided to help support faculty when discussing Indigenous culture and history? What role might the EDC play in the development and management of these resources? • How can we incorporate learning pathways for Indigenous knowledge in STEM? • How can we validate and incorporate Indigenous Knowledge Keepers? • How can we teach about the significance of Indigenous cultural protocols and the ethical considerations of working with Indigenous people? • Are there any policies that need to be implemented in regards to this theme?

9. What we Heard • Have more Indigenous scholars, knowledge keepers and Indigenous materials in courses and programs (articles, content) • Co-teaching models with community members and Elders • Develop staff and faculty learning minimal competencies • More Indigenous language and art around campus • Create opportunities for land-based learning • Interactive teaching and learning spaces • Improve faculty learning resources through workshops, training, and community partnerships. • Challenge biases that dissuade disciplines from identifying connections between their field of research and Indigenous knowledge

10. Indigenous Student Support • Academic • Are there better ways of sharing knowledge? • What kinds of programs or supports are needed to support Indigenous students’ academic pursuits? • How can we support students obtaining culturally relevant placements and practicums? • How can we support students seeking supervision by Indigenous mentors/academics/professors? • Cultural • How can we increase the visibility of Indigenous culture on campus? • How can we do a better job recognizing Algonquin territory? • Should the support for Indigenous initiatives be centralized? All offices in one space? • Are there any policies that need to be implemented in regards to this theme?

11. What we Heard • Carleton University needs more space for Indigenous learning, teaching and community events – ie: a new building • Need for ceremonial space on campus • Make available more financial aid, scholarship and work study programs • Space for families to stay when visiting students at Carleton University • FOOD BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER • Build the community – encourage and support community events (Feasts, Fry Bread Fridays, Indigenous Graduations, Feasts around the holidays for students who can’t make it home) • Formalized partnerships with OCDSB, Algonquin communities, University of Ottawa

12. Carleton University’s Culture, Systems and Structure • How do we improve cultural safety on campus? • What can we do to integrate Indigenous knowledge keepers into teaching and research at Carleton? • What spaces are necessary to provide optimal learning opportunities with relation to Indigenous knowledge? • What would the Carleton community have to change to facilitate greater self-identification of Indigenous peoples on campus? • How can we change existing spaces to better reflect Indigenous learning models and Indigenous culture? • How best can we ensure the representation of Indigenous peoples in the decision-making structure of the university? • Are there senior administrative positions that need to be created? • What do you think could be the most effective way (or ways) of fostering cultural sensitivity at the university? • Are there any policies that need to be implemented?

13. What we Heard • Positions needed: VP or Assistant VP of Indigenous Initiatives, Director of Centre for Indigenous Initiatives, Indigenous Recruiter, Indigenous Language Instructors (particularly Algonquin) • More representation at the Senior Management level • Mandatory training for faculty and staff – on basic Indigenous history and culture • Create Indigenous student admission policies • Create reserved seats for Indigenous students in popular programs (Journalism, CSIS, English, Business) • Changing the requirements for Knowledge Keepers to teach in the University • A new building on campus for all required spaces – knowledge sharing space, community space, shared space for learning and teaching, space for ceremony. • More scholarships and financial support for PHD students • Need to improve housing security for students such as having an Indigenous specific residence or strengthening partnerships with Gignul and city services.

14. Research and Innovation • What opportunities need to be provided to encourage dialogue and action on indigenous research methods? •  How can we ethically engage with Indigenous cultural protocols? • Are there any policies that need to be implemented in regards to this?

15. What we Heard • Indigenous Research Institute to help build and strengthen research partnerships • Enhance methods to facilitate partnerships between communities and researchers –ie: how to preserve land and water or to clean the waters and land • Educate students about ethical research and Indigenous protocols when conducting research. • Ensure Research is being done ethically- potentially the creation of an Indigenous Ethics Committee • Funding for Indigenous Faculty/scholars for the Canada Research Chairs program • Acknowledge contributions of elders, knowledge keepers and community members who support research projects (as co-authors, cultural advisors, community liaisons, etc.)

16. Student Experience (Recruitment, Retention and Graduation) • How can we better support the mental health needs of students? • What attracts/dissuades an Indigenous student from an undergraduate program? A graduate program? • How do we deal with homesickness and imposter syndrome? • Are there any policies that need to be implemented in regards to this?

17. What we Heard • There should be a social hub for Indigenous students • Create alternative pathways for Indigenous people to access postsecondary, especially those with no high school diploma. • Provide core funding for IESP program coordinator • Increased funding to support students in financial crisis • Class sizes need to be smaller to improve learning outcomes • More cultural events open to the whole Carleton community to minimize isolation • Put core funding aside for the costs of recruitment • Begin recruitment of potential faculty at an early stage – pre-completion of their PhD

18. Metrics: Qualitative and Quantitative (Faculty, Staff and Students) • What information would be the most useful? • How do we best utilize the data? • Are there any policies that need to be implemented in regards this?

19. What we Heard • Metrics data policy – who holds the data, who cares for it, who maintains this, who owns it etc • Questions we should know the answer to: • What Indigenous languages do our students speak? • What communities are they from? • Do you have young children (is childcare and issue)? • Indigenous students would like to know who else on campus is from their communities • Know more about the demographics of our student population to better meet their needs • Self-Identification campaign to increase visibility

20. What’s Next • July – working on the draft report • August – We will be scheduling a meeting with CUISIC and CUISIC Student Subcommittee to present draft report • September to October – Consulting with campus community on draft report • December - Finalize and publish report • January – begin work on implementation strategy

21. What’s Missing • Is there anything you think needs to be added that we haven’t discussed? • Have we consulted with everyone as suggested? • Are there any issues you think we should be made aware of?

22. More Comments • If you think of something else you would like to share with us, please send your comments in through the CUISIC website • Search “CUISIC Feedback” on carleton.ca or visit carleton.ca/indigenousinitiatives/feedback

23. kischiimarsii, nia:wen, thank-you