The festive spirit is in full effect at the Ottawa Campus.
Decorative touches can be seen in cubicles, on office doors and in shared spaces in buildings, labs and classrooms.
In Nawapon, a special tree has been set up and its lovely branches are sporting some unique, beautiful and meaningful ornaments.
“The decorations come from Anishinàbe Algonquin people, from the land and from our Indigenous students,” said Anita Tenasco, Director of Indigenous Initiatives at Algonquin College. “What a wonderful way for the College to honour our students and the Host Nation.” Read more >
December’s Tea, Teaching and Bannock session welcomed Courtney Scott, an early childhood education (ECE) advisor from the Métis Nation of Ontario’s (MNO) Early Learning & Child Care (ELCC) branch.
In a dynamic and hands-on presentation and activity session, Scott shared creative and interactive learning activities with a crowd of ECE faculty and learners that explored MNO-created resources to be used in early learning and childcare contexts. Read more >
For six and a half years, Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner Marie Wilson listened to thousands of survivors of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools. It was emotionally draining and heartbreaking work and now the former commissioner is sharing her experiences in a new book entitled, North of Nowhere-Songs of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner. Wilson spent two days at the Pembroke Campus, first participating in a speaker series event focused on her book and then following up the next day by engaging in a day long dialogue hosted by the campus for its community partners.
More than 55 senior leaders from the Pembroke Campus, the Renfrew County public and Catholic school boards, the Pembroke Regional Hospital, Renfrew County Family and Children Services, the city of Pembroke and the County of Renfrew participated in a Kairos blanket exercise, before engaging in a conversation on how the group could collectively respond to the calls to action in the commission’s landmark report. The dialogue was facilitated by campus Elder Aimee Bailey.
Wilson called her time at the Pembroke Campus “uplifting,” adding that it “reassured her that we are moving forward and that education will get us out of this mess.” Wilson was the only non-Indigenous member of the commission that was chaired by Murray Sinclair, who recently passed away. The third member of the commission was Chief Wilton Littlechild.
Wilson’s book has been released almost ten years after the commission issued its 94 Calls to Action. She commended Algonquin College for its leadership, adding that she was leaving the Pembroke Campus “very encouraged and it has bolstered my spirits about the good work that you are doing here.” Wilson lives in Yellowknife and is married to a residential school survivor and the former premier of the Northwest Territories, Stephen Kakfwi.
On Oct. 28, Sheila Grantham (Algonquin College), Ela Smith (Teaching and Learning Consultant in Indigenous Education, Mohawk College), Carly Renauld (Manager of Indigenous Research and Development within the First Peoples’ Centre, Canadore College) and Harmony Nadjiwon (Indigenous faculty in Specialized Academic Certificates, Centennial College) presented at the 2024 National Indigenous Education Symposium on their involvement with the Ontario Colleges Indigegogy Circle. Read more >
On Wednesday, Oct. 30, Algonquin College welcomed novelist, playwright, musician and composer Tomson Highway to the Ottawa Campus as part of its Indigenous Leader Speaker Series.
In a lively and unstructured conversation, Highway shared animated stories about his upbringing, his life experiences, working collaboratively with other artists and his views on nature and the environment. Read more >
On Friday, Oct. 25, the Indigenous Initiatives Office hosted a knowledge exchange conference to engage and share new experiences with Algonquin College employees, learners and community members.
“By incorporating Indigenous content, inviting guest speakers and organizing cultural activities, we strive to provide a well-rounded education that respects and reflects Indigenous world views,” said Algonquin College President and CEO Claude Brulé. “Our aim is to enrich the learning experience for all students, fostering understanding, empathy and respect for Indigenous cultures, languages and traditions.”
Indigenous Pedagogy and Curriculum Consultant, Sheila Grantham organized a trip on Oct. 24 to bring Algonquin College faculty and employees to spend the day visiting and learning from members of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nations. Read more >
A sea of orange T-shirts filled Nawapon on Monday as Algonquin College employees marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Drummer Awema Tendesi opened the event with a drumming song and tobacco offering. Krista Pearson, Vice President of Student Services gave a welcome and shared the College’s new land acknowledgement.
Algonquin College President and CEO Claude Brulé welcomed Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, College Ward City Councillor Laine Johnson and Indigenous advisor Jenny Buckshot Tenasco to the Ottawa Campus. Read more >
As we look ahead to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we want to reflect on an important series of events hosted by the Indigenous Initiatives Office throughout September.
The Tebwewin — Truth series occurred at all three Algonquin College campuses and gave the College community a chance to hear stories of the residential schools first-hand. These three gatherings saw speakers, employees and learners joined in speaking circles and provided residential school survivors the opportunity to share and reflect on their experiences. Read more >
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Nation of Ontario’s (MNO) Early Learning & Child Care (ELCC) branch.
as part of its Indigenous Leader Speaker Series.
Indigenous Initiatives Office throughout September.