University of Saskatchewan
IN-26: Innovation C

The Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) identified an urgent need for reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and societies. As universities play an important societal role in this reconciliation process, the University of Saskatchewan hosted a national forum on November 18 - 19, 2015 to discuss the important issues emerging from the TRC. As the TRC had already set out the "why" and the "what" in their report, the forum spent time discussing how universities can respond to the calls to action put forward by the TRC. Several powerful underlying messages emerged, including: 1) The time for action is now. Allies are everywhere and the national agenda has shifted to make this an ideal time to bring about change. Still, patience is needed as real and sustained change will take years. 2) The change in our institutions must be change to the core; change must be long-term and sustainable. 3) Concrete resources are required to make change happen and metrics need to be in place to measure progress. 4) Although the work of changing institutions belongs to everyone with everyone playing a part, Indigenous faculty and administrators are critical to bringing Indigenous viewpoints into post-secondary institutions. Collaboration with Indigenous people is required at every step—exemplifying the idea of “nothing about us without us.” 5) It is vital that Indigenous students are able to see themselves in our institutions—in our people, in our spaces and in our values. Following the forum, U of S President Peter Stoicheff announced that all 24 post-secondary institutions in Saskatchewan signed on to a commitment to seek opportunities to collaborate, in consultation with Indigenous communities, to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. This accord, the first province-wide commitment of its kind, is an ongoing initiative within Saskatchewan. In February of 2016, the U of S and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) signed a memorandum of understanding to provide access to information on Canada's history with Indigenous peoples. As is the case at many institutions across campus, new initiatives are planned or underway at the U of S to ensure the university is the best place it can possibly be for Indigenous peoples.

Final report of the Building Reconciliation National Forum can be found here: https://aboriginal.usask.ca/documents/University%20of%20Saskatchewan%20Building%20Reconciliation%20National%20Forum%20Report.pdf News articles surrounding the forum: https://words.usask.ca/news/2015/11/06/u-of-s-to-host-national-forum-on-reconciliation-and-universities/ http://globalnews.ca/news/2297415/u-of-s-will-host-forum-to-examine-how-universities-can-respond-to-trc/ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/new-u-of-s-president-peter-stoicheff-talks-truth-and-reconciliation-1.3287484