RESURGENCE

INDIGENIZATION IS A VITAL STEP towards building a better future for Memorial University and all of our communities.

Memorial is in the building stages of Indigenization. The Indigenous Student Resource Centre, which has always been led by Indigenous staff, has been providing services and supports for Indigenous students for nearly three decades.

Students are the heart of Memorial University, but the Indigenization of Memorial goes beyond student support. So, what does the future look like, in terms of Indigenization?

Catharyn Andersen (BA’99, MA’10, MBA’10), special advisor to the president on Indigenous affairs, is leading the development of the first Strategic Framework for Indigenization at Memorial.

“In an ideal world, we would like to see Indigenous rights recognized as identified in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; Indigenous languages and language revitalization taught and supported at Memorial; Indigenous faculty members in every academic unit across the university; Indigenous leaders at decision-making tables across the university; a high completion rate for Indigenous students because we have Indigenized curriculum, pedagogy and assessment in all academic programs; and dedicated Indigenous space on all campuses,” said Ms. Andersen.

STRATEGY

The most significant step in the right direction, to date, has been the creation of the Strategic Framework for Indigenization 2021-26.

It is important to begin with a definition of the word “Indigenization” and the following is one that Ms. Andersen prefers:

Indigenization is defined as: the transformation of the existing academy by including Indigenous knowledges, voices, critiques, scholars, students, and materials as well as the establishment of physical and epistemic spaces. These practices facilitate the ethical stewardship of a plurality of Indigenous knowledges so thoroughly as to constitute an essential element of the University. Indigenization is not limited to Indigenous people but encompasses all students, faculty and staff.

Memorial’s Framework states that “[…] it is no longer enough simply to provide supports to students so that they can succeed in the mainstream environment, but rather we must look at ways to indigenize the academy for the benefit of all – Indigenous and non-Indigenous – students, employees and others with a stake in the academy.”

To draft this strategy, the Office of Indigenous Affairs completed a comprehensive series of consultation sessions – 26, in fact – with Indigenous community members throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Indigenization must be led by Indigenous Peoples.

“This is the only way that Indigenous ways of being, doing, and knowing are brought into the institution in a robust and ethical manner,” said Ms. Andersen. “At the same time there are actions by non-Indigenous people that must happen in concert. Some of these actions can be classified as decolonizing, truth- telling, building capacity and reconciliation. The entire Memorial University community has a role to play in ensuring that Indigenization is successful.”

THE ROLE OF A UNIVERSITY

Memorial University has a special obligation to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and our province has diverse communities of Indigenous Peoples. As an institution of higher learning, we have a fundamental role to play in building reconciliation and are uniquely positioned to educate our faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends.

As shared in a thought-provoking and widely read 2019 op- ed titled Indigenization is Indigenous, Indigenous students, faculty and staff discussed the term “translation exhaustion”. This means Indigenous People’s having to constantly give historical context and definitions to the general public, due to the lack of education on Indigenous history, before they can even begin to discuss the subject matter.

As an educational institution, Memorial must share relevant information and make sure to include Indigenous perspectives and build in Indigenous ways of knowing, to address common misconceptions and misinformation.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

In terms of engagement with Indigenous communities, the team noted that community members were grateful to be asked their thoughts around developing a strategy to integrate Indigenous ways of being, knowing and doing into the university.

“In terms of past consultations, I feel like Indigenous communities have been given these documents to review after everything has been drafted,” said Ms. Andersen. “That was not our approach. Before there was any pen to paper, we met and engaged with the Indigenous Peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador to hear from them – to hear what was important to them – and to make sure that the strategy was built around what we heard.”

Consultations also happened within Memorial’s campuses. Some academic units had already been working towards Indigenization, by offering degree programs such as the Inuit bachelor of education and the Inuit bachelor of social work. Everyone in attendance showed interest and a genuine support for the work to be done.

Before there was any pen to paper, we met and engaged with the Indigenous Peoples of N.L. to hear from them – to hear what was important to them – and to make sure that the strategy was built around what we heard.

“A lot of people who came to these sessions were already familiar with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and with the calls to action that spoke specifically to post-secondary institutions. They were keen to understand what role they could play to support Indigenization,” said Ms. Andersen. “To me, this was not completely unexpected, but to see that level of support was encouraging, knowing that there are folks in all of the academic units that are supportive.”

This feedback led to the four strategic priorities within the Framework: Leadership and Partnership, Teaching and Learning, Research and Indigenous Student Success.

Veronica Madsen (BA’19) is the coordinator for the N.L. chapter of SAGE (Supporting Aboriginal Graduate Enhancement) and a graduate student in the Department of Geography at Memorial. She became involved with the Indigenous Student Resource Centre when she started her studies at Memorial. It is a space where Indigenous students can freely share their experiences with their peers.

“For many students it is assumed you can discuss in class what it means to be Indigenous and that you have some sort of secret power of Indigenous Knowledge,” she said. “For the most part, these students are young people away from home for the first time, trying to navigate the system and get good grades while working or volunteering, just like any student.”

She believes that this new Framework will make a positive difference for Indigenous students across Memorial’s campuses.

“Newfoundland and Labrador is in a unique position as a province, with its rich history and diverse cultures,” said Mrs. Madsen. “Indigenizing the campus will bring Newfoundland and Labrador Indigenous cultures to the forefront. I look at it as another way of learning by seeing that which is around you and being a part of it. This is not only beneficial to Indigenous students but non-Indigenous students as well.”

RESEARCH

On July 9, 2020, the Board of Regents approved the Research Impacting Indigenous Groups policy for Memorial University. This policy is designed to strengthen the integrity and impact of research impacting Indigenous groups.

“This policy is the first of its kind,” said Ms. Andersen. “I’ve had colleagues from across the country asking about it. It’s groundbreaking. It sets us apart – it’s about building relationships, it’s about doing things in a good way and making sure that what we do is in support of the needs of Indigenous communities.”

FUNDRAISING

Fundraising also continues at Memorial University in support of Indigenization. In 2019, TD Bank Group announced $1.2 million in donations that include contributions to Mount Saint Vincent University, Acadia University and Memorial University.

The gift is broadly designated to fund strategic Indigenous initiatives that will enhance educational experiences for students at these institutions. Memorial received $500,000 of the total contribution.

This gift will support the establishment of Indigenous House, a new, dedicated space for Indigenous students, one that will be a focal point for Indigenous learning, cultural activity and research. TD’s generous gift was an important early step in fundraising efforts for this significant space.

Indigenous students, faculty and staff discussed the term “translation exhaustion”. This means Indigenous People having to constantly give historical context and definitions to the general public, due to the lack of education on Indigenous history, before they can even begin to discuss the subject matter.

THE WORLD IN WHICH WE WANT TO LIVE

The key next steps are building a cadre of Indigenous faculty and staff to support the implementation of the Frameworks as well as educating the university community around Indigenous Peoples, cultures, histories and achievements, and the ongoing structures of settler colonization. At the end of this strategy, a stable infrastructure should be in place to support the goals of the Framework and most of the recommendations will be in progress.

Memorial’s Strategic Framework for Indigenization was approved by the Board of Regents at its meeting on March 11. The university will now move forward to create an action plan that will bring the framework’s recommendations to life.

“This is such a positive step for the university but it’s not going to be easy,” said Ms. Andersen. “It’s about making structural, systemic and institutional cultural changes. We have to be courageous. Indigenization is a journey, but Memorial is already on that road. There is still a lot of work to do, but we are making some really important steps.”

The Strategic Framework for Indigenization 2021-26 can be found at www.mun.ca/indigenous.