News

The Office of Indigenous Relations is pleased to announce Kevin George will join the Indigenous Relations team as the Indigenous Special Projects Coordinator, effective February 14, 2022.  Kevin is Potawatomi and Cree and a member of the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation located on the shores of Lake Huron and has strong community connection to Fort McMurray 468 First Nation, his Cree community in Northern Alberta.

This article was originally published on the Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo's (FAUW) website.

The Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo (FAUW) is pleased to announce a five-year agreement with the Grand River Post-Secondary Education Office (GRPSEO) to fund scholarships for University of Waterloo students from Six Nations of the Grand River. FAUW will contribute $10,000 each year, to be distributed evenly by GRPSEO among all Six Nations students attending the University that year, in any program, in either part-time or full-time studies.

Article originally published in the Daily Bulletin

On January 13, 2022, the Office of Indigenous Relations marked its second anniversary, celebrating two years of impact on campus and beyond. The Indigenous Initiatives Office was renamed as the Indigenous Relations Office under AVP Jean Becker in October 2021. Becker brings over 40 years’ experience in postsecondary Indigenous initiatives.

This week is Veterans' Week and includes Indigenous Veterans' Day (Nov 8) and Remembrance Day (Nov 11). We are thinking about diverse experiences of war and conflict – those who fought, who continue to fight, who are forced to flee, and those who are left behind.

Written by: Joy Braga

Treaties Recognition Week 2021 begins November 1, with activities planned by the Office of Indigenous Relations.

This article was originally published in the Catalyst e-newsletter.

PART continues its anti-racism book club series on November 16, 2021, at noon with a review of The Fourth World: An Indian Reality by George Manuel and Michael Posluns. Originally published in 1974, The Fourth World is a critical work of Indigenous political activism that has long been out of print. The newly updated edition in 2018 includes an introduction by Glen Sean Coulthard (Yellowknives Dene) and an afterword by Doreen Manuel (Secwepemc/Ktunaxa), a daughter of George Manuel.

In a memo circulated to University employees last Friday, President Vivek Goel and Vice-President, Academic & Provost James Rush announced that they have acted on recommendations from the Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion office review team to create two new organizational units led by Associate Vice-Presidents that will report to the Vice-President, Academic & Provost. These units replace two of the functions of the former Office of Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion. Both appointments are effective immediately.

The new Office of Indigenous Relations will be led by Jean Becker, who will take on the new title of Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Relations.

Written by: Joy Braga

Written By: Joy Braga

Warning: This article contains descriptions of the harsh treatment experienced by First Nations, Inuit and Métis children in the residential school system.

On June 29th, the Indigenous Initiatives Office hosted their keynote event for National Indigenous History Month with the Honourable Murray Sinclair. Honourable Sinclair served as Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry in Manitoba and as Chief Commissioner of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). As head of the TRC, he participated in hundreds of hearings across Canada, culminating in the issuance of the TRC’s report in 2015. The Honourable Murray Sinclair was also the first Indigenous judge appointed in Manitoba and served its justice system for over 40 years. He recently retired from the Canadian Senate where he was appointed on April 2, 2016.