‘Building Reconciliation’ conference a first at University of Saskatchewan

‘Building Reconciliation’ was the title of the first conference in response to some of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations, or ‘calls to action’ as the report demanded.

The two-day event brought together university presidents and representatives from 180 Canadian educational insitutions with elders, indegenous students, and political leaders.

‘In-digenizing the University’

Peter Stoicheff, president of the University of Saskatchewan, was co-host, along with Chancellor Blaine Favel. Stoicheff explained the pioneering role the U of S has played in indegenous education with programs such as the Native Law Centre and the Indian Teacher Education Program.

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They are now developing certificate programs in different aboriginal languages, in an effort to revitalize the culture with the the hope that the university will become a more meaningful place. “The more we can bring elders directly into the university community as people that are always there for aboriginal students the sooner it will become a more welcoming place.”

Stoicheff says another aspect of the response to the TRC is the transformation of the curriculum so that all students understand the history of the treaties, which he says “at the moment I don’t think we could say all Canadians do understand.”

“We are all Treaty people”

At the heart of many of these initiatives will soon be the Gordon Oakes Redbear Centre. it was designed by well-known Canadian aboriginal architect Douglas Cardinal, in careful consultation with several elders. This student centre is unique in its construction and creation which will allow for the inclusion of indigenous ceremonies such as smudging and tobacco burning, which are generally banned in most public buildings now.

Some educational institutions, according to Stoicheff, are “incorporating a mandatory course that would help students to understand the history of treaties and the history of discovery in this country and completely revise the ways in which we look at history.”

Peter Stoicheff says he was struck by the statement by Chief Justice Murray Sinclair, a guest-speaker at the conference, and one of three commissioners on the TRC, that “education is the key to reconciliation”.

“Education is the key to reconciliation”

“We all understand that the other institutions and pillars and influence-makers in our society, the media, business, the civil service, educators, lawyers, doctors, they all come through universities at one point or another in their lives, so universities are the nexus where all of this has to happen.” Peter Stoicheff explains.

Then next conference will take place at the University of Alberta.