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Our Land Acknowledgement - Student Affairs

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  4. Our Land Acknowledgement

Our Land Acknowledgement

With the utmost respect and gratitude, we acknowledge and honor the Indigenous peoples who have been the stewards of the lands and waters that sustain us all. The University of Guelph's campuses and research stations are situated on the ancestral, traditional, unceded, and treaty lands and territories of the Anishinaabeg, Hodinohso:ni, Lūnaapéewak, Huron-Wendat, and Attawandaron peoples. Today, these lands are home to a vibrant diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

Student Affairs strives to be responsible public stewards of community resources, using them in the best interest of the students we serve. As such, we also recognize and pay tribute to the Dish with One Spoon Covenant, a significant agreement that advocates for peaceful coexistence, resource sharing, and mutual responsibility for stewardship. The covenant symbolizes maintaining peace within the community, and emphasizes collaboration and cooperation (represented by the dish and one spoon).

We understand the importance of translating these commitments into ongoing actions, acknowledging the historical injustices, and working towards building a better future together.

Actions

This webpage is committed to reporting on our progress towards truth-telling and reconciliation. Reporting on the year prior, this page will be updated annually each summer. As we reflect on the 2022-2023 academic year, Student Affairs would like to share some of the commitments towards truth-telling and reconciliation that were actualized:

  1. Athletics proudly unveiled a new Indigenous mural designed by Anishinaabe artist Luke Swinson. The sprawling work symbolizes our commitment to embedding Indigenous presence in spaces promoting holistic wellness for our campus community. Visit the University's News website to read the related campus news story.

  2. Athletics and Residence Life took a meaningful step towards equity and inclusion, and announced the joint hiring of a new Indigenous, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (IEDI) Advisor.

  3. Demonstrating our commitment to Indigenous sport and wellness, Athletics hosted the Southwest Team Ontario Tryouts for basketball and volleyball in partnership with Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario.

  4. The Child Care & Learning Centre provided enriching Land-based learning experiences for children, nurturing their connection with nature through teachings by Anishinaabe elder Jan Sherman.

  5. The Child Care & Learning Centre received approval and funding for hiring an Indigenous Curriculum Specialist, fostering Indigenous curriculum efforts in post-secondary education and early learning.

  6. The Experiential Learning Hub partnered with community organizations to offer IEDI-focused experiences like Two Row on the Grand where students participate in a fully funded 10-day Indigenous, Land-based EL opportunity.

  7. The Experiential Learning Hub actively collaborated with campus partners to ensure diverse students are aware of available services, offering workshops during special events and creating new programs to enhance opportunities for Indigenous student researchers.

  8. The Indigenous Student Centre within the Student Experience Department organized over 210 exceptional programs, events, and learning opportunities for our Indigenous students, fostering a vibrant and supportive community.

  9. Working closely with Recruitment & Admissions Services, the Indigenous Student Centre (within the Student Experience Department) played a pivotal role in supporting Indigenous student recruitment efforts through training, information sharing, and targeted communication.

  10. The Indigenous Student Centre (within the Student Experience Department) actively addressed food insecurity among Indigenous students by establishing the Indigenous Student Meal Support Program, providing essential meal kits to 34 students.

  11. Student Experience offered virtual tours of the former Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School, aligning with U of G Indigenous Initiatives Strategy, Bi-Naagwad: It Comes into View.

  12. Student Experience, through its START Indigenous program, warmly welcomed 18 Indigenous students and their families to the Guelph campus, providing crucial support and preparedness for a successful university journey.

  13. International Student Experience thoughtfully incorporated Indigenous knowledge into mandatory pre-departure training sessions for 26 international students, promoting respect for the land under the guidance of Elder Jan Sherman during their camping trip to Algonquin Park.

  14. In partnership with the Indigenous Student Centre, Residence Life supported Indigenous House, a Living Learning Community fostering cultural learning and engagement opportunities through ceremonies, storytelling, and events.

  15. In a significant step towards addressing sexual and gender-based violence, the Sexual & Gender Based Violence Office in Student Wellness collaborated with the Indigenous Student Centre and the Indigenous Students' Society, providing vital educational programming and events.