Staff (Caucus) observed that it was very easy to underestimate the challenges involved, and wondered how to make the curriculum more balanced for aboriginal students, and if there were a way to incorporate and promote understanding through staff training and development. It was suggested that ceremonial activities, like sweats, were important to indigenization, as they […]
Students principally spoke to the questions of addressing misconceptions of what indigenization meant: they felt that a separate gathering space was needed where they could feel at home and culturally safe, feeling they could be themselves and not be judged. Also addressed were issues of structural discrimination typical of a Eurocentric post-secondary institution: mentioned as […]
Personal & Institutional Reflections on Indigenizing the Academy Workshop Breakout I Breakout Group 5 (UFV Caucus) Indigenizing Challenges It’s easy to underestimate the challenges involved Family function and influence Can we make education a better experience by understanding how the family has evolved, and what it takes to make the families functional? Balancing curriculum for […]
Hiring, Retention, Tenure, and Promotion Workshop Breakout II Breakout Group 6 (Community and Elders) Hiring advisory council to get First Nations on to faculty – can’t find anyone to hire need to be more creative than academic qualifications beyond tokenism Elder involvement Elder Advisor Advisory board input not valued Elders volunteer and non-paid Elder […]
Hiring, Retention, Tenure, & Promotion Workshop Breakout II Breakout Group 2 (Faculty 1) 1. What considerations are critical to hiring and retaining Indigenous faculty and staff? Connections to local communities/territories Urban (relocated) Aboriginal people Mentoring, team teaching Courses/programs Collective agreements 2. What are the workload expectations of faculty and staff? Indigenous events and departmental expectations […]
Hiring, Retention, Tenure, & Promotion Workshop Breakout II Breakout Group 1 (Indigenizers) University staff overlook Aboriginal staff and go to non-aboriginal staff as experts University staff tend to not go to the staff (perception of or lack level of education) and tend to go too non-Aboriginal staff thinking they are the experts Hiring process and […]