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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

Indigenous Programming

Indigenous education and reconciliation are very important priorities for the university. Led by indigenous Education and Cultural Services and the President's Indigenous Reconciliation Taskforce, we strive to build, throughout the campus community, a sense of gratitude, understanding and appreciation for indigenous people, their history, and the land they have welcomed us to share with them.

Required Training for All Employees

  • 4 Seasons of Reconciliation

    4 Seasons of Reconciliation was selected by the President’s Indigenous Reconciliation Task Force as being a truly engaging multimedia course that includes high quality films and videos, quizzes, and an amazing arrangement of rich content.  This training highlights the historical and current experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, beginning pre-contact and including modules on residential schools, intergenerational trauma, reconciliation & restitution, and more.

     All employees of Ontario Tech University are expected to register and participate in this training as part of our commitment to reconciliation. The course is 3 hours long and can be completed in stages. 

    Log-in instructions

    Highlights the historical and current experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, beginning pre-contact and including modules on residential schools, intergenerational trauma, reconciliation & restitution, and more.

September 2022

  • Powley Day

    Remembering and celebrating the legacy of Steve Powley and the historic Métis victory at the Supreme Court of Canada on September 19, 2003 in Canada v Powley.

    Join the Metis Nation of Ontario Post-Secondary Education Team on September 19th, 2022, from 1:00pm - 2:00pm, for a Virtual Presentation on the history and significance of Powley Day.

    Register

  • Virtual Tour - Mohawk Institute Residential School

    Date: Monday, September 26
    Time: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
    Location: Virtual Synchronous, Zoom
    Target Audience: All faculty and staff
    Company: Woodland Culture Centre

    About this workshop:

    The virtual tour will guide you through the former Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School, giving the history of the institution over its 140-year history. Viewers will get to see different rooms inside the school, from the girls’ and boys’ dormitories, the cafeteria, laundry room, and other rooms throughout the building as well as hear interviews from five survivors.

    Register

  • Project of the Heart

    Date: Wednesday, September 28
    Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
    Location: In Person, Fireside Room
    Facilitator(s): Nancy Hamer Strahl and Elder Mary Kelly

    In this workshop you will:

    • Increase your awareness of the Truth and Reconciliation calls to action through social justice by learning about Project of the Heart
    • Create a gesture of reconciliation

    The process will lead as a gate way to the big question:

    “How has this activity transformed my understanding of how I can act as an agent of reconciliation?

    Project of Heart (POH) was created in 2007 by grade 10 Canadian history students who were outraged at what they were learning for the first time in their lives–the truth about Indian Residential Schools. Their emotional response to learning about the deaths of thousands of children at the schools, led them to collaborate with their teacher, Sylvia Smith. They decided art and activism were the best way to educate. The youth could not be deterred–their goal was to educate all Canadians who could then be moved to ‘own’ their history and in doing so, stand with Indigenous families and communities in their struggle for justice.

    Sylvia Smith created Project of Heart so that participants would be able to demonstrate in a concrete way that they are committed to standing with Indigenous people in their efforts to become self determining people. Her hope is that Indigenous people see with their own eyes that a relationship built on trust can be achieved. That is the true test of atonement.

    register

October 2022

  • Indigenous Language Workshop

    Time: 2 to 4 p.m.
    Date: Wednesday, October 26
    Location: In person, SHA018
    Target Audience: All faculty and staff
    Facilitator: Jill Thompson and Alyssa McLeod

    Intro to Anishinaabemowin and Indigenous Language: Everyday and Common (Ontario Tech) Phrases

    Learn about the Indigenous words present throughout the university community, from campus spaces, land and/or territory acknowledgement as well as greetings and farewells.

    Register

November 2022

  • Riel Day

    Date: Wednesday, November 16, 2022
    Facilitator: Dan McFadden

    REGISTER

  • Metis 101

    Date: Wednesday, November 23, 2022
    Time: 11 am - 12 pm
    Facilitator: Dan McFadden

    REGISTER

December 2022

  • Christmas Craft

    Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2022
    Time: 2 to 4 P.M.
    Location: In person, SHA018
    Target Audience: All faculty and staff
    Facilitator: Rick Bourque

    Register

Treaties Recognition Playlists

Indigenous education and reconciliation are very important priorities for the university. Led by Indigenous Education and Cultural Services and the President’s Indigenous Reconciliation Taskforce, we strive to build, throughout the campus community, a sense of gratitude, understanding and appreciation for Indigenous people, their history, and the land they have welcomed us to share with them.  

Given the goals of reconciliation and ongoing education, we have made a number of interesting and helpful video resources available to students, staff and faculty through the library website.

The Library has subscribed to two video playlists. The first is the Future History Series, a television show that looks back at the history of the Indigenous community and looks forward to their brighter future. The second is a Treaties Recognition Playlist, which tells the history of treaties in Canada as well as other important Indigenous stories that have affected our nation and its cultural landscape.

Note: Login with your network ID and password.

We highly recommend you watch these videos and share them with others interested in supporting our journey toward reconciliation.

Many other resources on Indigenous studies are also available, including books, databases, statistics and data. You can find links to these resources in the Library’s research guide.

For more information, contact Indigenous Education and Cultural Services.