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At Campus Saint-Jean, we are committed to Indigenization and Reconciliation in our operations. But what does that mean, and what does it signify?

From right to left: Angelina Yellowbird (PNMI Liaison), Celina Yellowbird (Master's student, Faculty of Native Studies), Keith Franklin (Director, Infrastructure, Strategic Projects, Security, and Risk Management), Dr. Cindy Gaudet (Associate Professor, Saint Jean Campus)

Indigenization is a process of highlighting and integrating Indigenous worldviews, knowledge, and perspectives into non-Indigenous educational, political, and social structures in recognition of exclusion and erasure, and celebrating the diversity, strength, complexity, resilience, and beauty of Indigenous peoples, cultures, languages and knowledge systems” (Indigenous Strategic Plan, ¶®É«µÛ).

When we talk about reconciliation, we are primarily referring to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), which was established as part of a legal agreement between survivors of residential schools, the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit representatives, and those responsible for creating and running the schools, namely the federal government and church authorities.

Why talk about reconciliation at the CSJ?

We are discussing this today because Canada's education system has long been used as a tool of colonization. School, which should be a place of growth and development, has been a place of pain, erasure and disruption for many Indigenous peoples. Today, even though these institutions no longer exist, the effects are still being felt: unequal access to education, lower graduation rates, loss of language and identity. As an educational institution, we have a special responsibility to do things differently and to ensure that our operations, practices and everyday culture reflect this commitment to reconciliation.

Reconciliation is not a series of one-off actions or a box to tick. It is a process, a commitment and, above all, a culture to be built together.

An inclusive space

The Indigenous Room at Campus Saint-Jean, which was completed in May 2024, is an essential space where members of our Indigenous community, including students, staff and guests, can gather, exchange ideas and celebrate their culture and academic research, and come together as a community. It is a place for discussion, teaching and sharing, where everyone is recognised, valued and supported. This space promotes a sense of belonging and highlights the richness and importance of Indigenous identities. The Indigenous Room embodies our commitment to reconciliation and Indigenisation by creating a welcoming environment that reflects the beauty and strength of our community. We also invite non-Indigenous students and staff to come and discover this space, to learn and to participate in this collective journey towards greater understanding and mutual respect.

PNMI Liaison (Premières Nations, Inuit et Métis)

The role of the PNMI liaison at Campus Saint-Jean is part of an approach to inclusion, reconciliation and promotion of Indigenous identities within the Francophone community in Alberta. As liaison, Angelina Yellowbird works to build bridges between Indigenous and Francophone realities, recognising that Indigenous-Francophone identity is not only legitimate, but also a valuable asset for the enrichment of our academic community.

At Campus Saint-Jean, we are implementing concrete initiatives to support students, staff, and members of the Indigenous Francophone community. Our actions are aligned with the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the document Brading: Past, Present, and Future, while respecting Indigenous knowledge, languages, and traditions in a Francophone context.

Our mission is to foster a learning and working environment that recognises and honours the contributions of Indigenous peoples, while strengthening the Francophone project at Campus Saint-Jean. By supporting students and staff in their identity, academic and professional development, we are helping to build a more equitable, representative and inspiring campus.

 

For any questions related to Indigenisation, please contact Angelina Yellowbird.