Thank you for visiting the Office of Indigenous Relations. We work collaboratively on and off-campus to advance the goals of the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, creating a long-term vision for the University, grounded in decolonization.
"Our goals are intended to advance a strategic focus on the advocacy, commitments and actionable areas that will enable the University of Waterloo to strengthen Indigenous inclusion and leadership."
Explore our work and the ongoing Indigenous relations at the University of Waterloo
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is September 30th
Quick links for students
News and upcoming events
Events
Indigenous Student Networking Event
Join the Office of Indigenous Relations (OIR) and Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) for an interactive, low-pressure evening focused on building confidence, developing professional skills, and making meaningful connections. This is not a traditional career fair, but a thoughtfully designed experience that offers structured employer engagement, insight into current labour market trends, and opportunities to connect with peers within the Indigenous student community. Designed to support students at any stage of their journey, this event helps you feel more confident and future-ready.
Gidinawendamin/Ska’nikú•lát 23rd Annual Pow Wow
Everyone is welcome! Join us for the Gidinawendamin/Ska'nikú•lát 23rd Annual Pow Wow.
This year's theme, "Weaving the Generations: Kinship and Community," celebrates the connections between our youth, elders, families, and communities. Come and join us as we celebrate Indigenous culture and tradition through song, dance, arts, and cuisine.
We look forward to welcoming you to this special day of community, learning, and celebration!
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2026
September 30th marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
We invite and encourage all members of the University community to attend and observe all of the ceremonies throughout the day as their schedule allows.
News
Indigenous Connections - Summer 2026 | Volume 20
Welcome to the Summer 2026 Edition of Indigenous Connections
As the warmth of summer settles in and the days stretch longer under the bright, nurturing sun, we are reminded of the beauty of this season. This is a time for gathering, reflection, and connection. The land is alive, offering both abundance and growth, and our communities come together to share in its gifts.
Summer brings opportunities to strengthen relationships, celebrate traditions, and uplift one another. We look forward with excitement to the upcoming 23rd Annual Pow Wow, a powerful gathering that honours our cultures, songs, dances, and stories. It is a time to welcome friends, families, and visitors, and to celebrate the strength and resilience of our people.
As we enjoy these longer days filled with laughter, learning, and community, we also take time to reflect on the importance of remembrance and truth. With September 30th, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, on the horizon, we continue to carry forward the responsibility of honouring survivors, their families, and the children who never returned home.
This summer, may we walk together in unity, celebrating who we are, supporting one another, and carrying our teachings forward for the generations to come.
Conrad Prince Keynote Sparks Reflection at Cultivating Talent Mentorship Event
On Friday, May 29, 2026, Conrad Prince delivered a powerful keynote at the Cultivating Talent Mentorship Collective at the University of Waterloo (EC5 1111). As Executive Director of Indigenous Youth Roots, Prince drew on his work in youth employment and advocacy as well as his lived experience as a Sixties Scoop survivor, to offer a deeply personal and systems-focused perspective.
Building relational futures: The Indigenous Futures Circle Gathering at the University of Waterloo
On May 20 and 21, 2026, the University of Waterloo’s Office of Indigenous Relations hosted a two-day gathering rooted in relationship-building, reciprocity, and community leadership. Organized through the Indigenous Futures Circle, the event brought together representatives from Deshkan Ziibiing Anishnaabeg (Chippewas of the Thames First Nation) alongside researchers committed to rethinking how research partnerships are formed and sustained.
Indigenous students build connections at CCIB Central Business Forum
Indigenous students at the University of Waterloo, attended the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB) Central Business Forum and it was more than a professional development opportunity, it was a moment of connection, inspiration and possibility.
Indigenous Connections - Spring 2026 | Volume 19
The Renewal and Rebalance Edition
Spring is a time of renewal and balance, a moment when light and dark meet, rivers begin to flow again, and our plant kin awakens with new growth. As the Earth stirs from her winter slumber, we look ahead to brighter days filled with possibility, learning, and connection.
At the University of Waterloo, this season also invites reflection and intention. We reaffirm our commitment to reconciliation and to building respectful, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous Peoples and communities. This spring also marks a time of welcoming new leadership and nurturing new relationships, grounded in care, responsibility, and a shared commitment to moving forward together.
Embedding Indigenization at the Heart of Waterloo’s Partnerships
At the University of Waterloo, Indigenization and decolonization are increasingly shaping how the institution builds and sustains partnerships. This shift is formalized in the Task Force on Principles for Institutional Partnerships (TFPIP) Final Report (2025), which establishes a values‑driven framework for ensuring institutional partnerships are ethical, accountable, and aligned with Indigenous rights and relationships.