University of Regina unveils plan for improved Indigenous relations

The University of Regina is hoping to right some wrongs with its new Indigenous Engagement Strategic Plan.

The plan is called Tapwewin kwayaskwastâsowin, which the University said is Cree for “truth and putting things right.”

It is a commitment made by the U of R to work towards reconciliation.

Lori Campbell, the associate vice president of Indigenous engagement at the U of R, said the campus has offered important learning opportunities and workshops, but something was missing to battle the systemic issues.

“This plan looks at more of the systemic things that were created accidentally without Indigenous peoples in mind, and have accidentally disallowed us to show our Indigenous excellence alongside other excellence within the institution,” she said.

Campbell was emotional throughout the event, acknowledging the large turnout and strong support.

She said she was a student at the university in 1991 when she was 19 years old, and she never saw herself represented.

“I’m way more overwhelmed than I thought I would be. Nineteen-year-old me never dreamed that there’d be a position like this at the University for Indigenous peoples, let alone me,” she said.

She said she feels privileged to be a part of the change, ensuring Indigenous students feel represented.

Work began last September, and the university wanted to provide an opportunity for feedback from everyone, not just Indigenous representation. Administration wanted to know what Saskatchewan residents and international students wanted to understand about Indigenous peoples.

This consultation took time and a lot of organizing to find common themes.

“It was necessary to do it that (comprehensively) to make sure that there was nothing about us without us, and that the Indigenous voices were heard. Out of that we came to the 34 actions,” said Campbell.

The 34 actions in Tapwewin kwayaskwastâsowin are broken down into four themes: student success, spaces and places, teaching and learning and community building.

A full list of the actions and more about each one can be found on the school’s website.

A foundational part of the plan is the university’s relationship with it’s close neighbour, First Nations University of Canada.

First Nations University of Canada. (980 CJME file photo)

Campbell said the schools have a very unique relationship.

“It’s the only relationship like that in all of Canada. It’s a really amazing opportunity to be a part of taking the next best steps of reconciliation and Indigenization alongside of one another. There’s challenges with that, but we’re committed to that and we will work through those and take the next best steps to put things right,” she said.

To ensure the work gets done, the U of R will collaborate closely with First Nations University and other Indigenous leaders, elders, knowledge keepers, stakeholders, faculty and students.

The first action is to re-establish the U of R Indigenous Advisory Circle. Representatives from the circle will provide advice and guidance on Indigenous issues and support the school’s Office of Indigenous Engagement in ensuring the plan is successful.

Cadmus Delorme, chair of the board of governors at the U of R, acknowledged the importance of representation in educational institutions.

“In this country, we all inherited a history together. Education got us in this moment. For many Canadians, the ignorance to the truth and the accidental way it was taught (affected) many generations. Education is going to get us out of this moment,” he said.

Delorme said the point of this plan is to get things right this time around.

“We’re going to talk about Indigenous world view and Indigenous teachings as if we were always supposed to get it since the beginning. We’re going to make sure it’s respected with our western world-view teachings,” said Delorme.

He said he’s hopeful for the next generation and specifically his seven-year-old daughter.

“I’m a proud alumni, so I’m going to nudge her to come here and when that day comes, we got to make sure these hallways, our teachings and campus life respects that Indigenous world view to help her and be who she wants to be,” he said.

The change won’t happen overnight, but Delorme said the end result will be worth it.

“We may never see the results of our hard work today, but she will, and that generation will,” said Delorme.