Goals for Annual Momentum Report

Milestones

• The AVP Indigenous Relations (Jean Becker, Inuk) served as member of senate 2024-2025
• May 2024, Tracey Primeau (Nipissing First Nation) joined Board of Governers
• 2 new Indigenous faculty members in 2024-2025 (Travis Craddock, Assoc. Prof, Science and Alexandra King, Assoc. Prof, Health)

7 Indigenous priority positions hired in 2024-2025:

1. Co-op Student Experience Manager (Indigenous Relations)
2. Indigenous Student Wellness Navigator
3. Manager, Environment Indigenous Initiatives
4. Manager, Indigenous Student Experience
5. Co-ordinator, Indigenous Student Services
6. Indigenous Recruitment and Partnerships Specialist (rehire)
7. Indigenous Relations Co-ordinator

• Since 2019/2020, Indigenous student enrollment (undergraduate and graduate) has increased by more than half (52 per cent, from 208 to 317)
• Graduate student enrolments have increased from 50 to 62 students in the past year
• Indigenous students are enrolled across all faculties

Some highlighted OIR partnerships across campus include:

• Athletics
• Campus Housing
• Campus Wellness
• FLINT Hub
• Organizational Human Development
• Office of Equity, Diversity and Anti-Racism
• Student Success Office
• Access Ability Services
• Office of Research
• W Store Print and Retail Solutions

Growth Opportunities

• Designated Indigenous cluster hire
• CRC program in Office of Research
• Recruitment of Indigenous Sessional In Progress: Decolonizing Payments Process. This seeks to inform how Indigenous knowledge holders are recognized and compensated, aiming to reduce bureaucratic harm while upholding the integrity of Indigenous contributions within the University

In Progress: Decolonizing Payments Process. This seeks to inform how Indigenous knowledge holders are recognized and compensated, aiming to reduce bureaucratic harm while upholding the integrity of Indigenous contributions within the University.

Milestones

• Within the last five years, Waterloo’s Indigenous faculty has grown from two to eleven professors
• By 2026, each of Waterloo’s six faculties will be the academic home for at least one Indigenous faculty member

Indigenous faculty and research highlights 2024-2025:

• Dr. Michelle Rutty (Algonquin, Faculty of Environment): Dr. Rutty has been invited to join the International Science Council’s Global Roster of Experts, which provides scientific advice to the UN Secretariat and member states to address urgent global challenges.
• Dr. David Fortin (Métis, Faculty of Engineering): Dr. Fortin is a registered architect and fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. In 2025, Dr. Fortin has been named a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Critical Relationalism and Design.
• Dr. Travis Craddock (Anishnaabe, Faculty of Science): Dr. Craddock joined the Department of Biology in 2024 as a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Quantum Neurobiology.
• Dr. Talena Atfield (Haudenosaunee, Faculty of Arts): In 2024, Dr. Atfield was named a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Tentewatenikonhra’khánion (We Will Put Our Minds Together).

Growth Opportunities

Indigenous Futures Circle: Through the University’s Global Futures Initiative, the Office of Indigenous Relations will be leading the creation of the Indigenous Futures Circle (IFC). The IFC is intended to be an unconventional space through which Indigenous communities can approach the University to make their own research needs known, define issues and questions that reflect their priorities, define images of the future and reach out to/invite researchers across the University to identify impactful pathways for communities to realize those futures. A major partner to launch the Indigenous Futures Circle is the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation (COTTFN). The Indigenous Futures Circle will focus its work on developing and deepening the collaboration with COTTFN during this initial twoyear pilot phase of the IFC.

Milestones

• Introduction of two new Indigenous Student Service roles for Waterloo main campus
• Over the past year OIR has responded to and tracked 130 emails. 54 per cent internal and 46 per cent external community. General inquiries (36.9 per cent) Indigenous Identity Verification (10 per cent) Partnership requests (4.6 per cent) Workshops (4.5 per cent), Financial support (5.4 per cent), Speaker requests (6.2 per cent), and Tuition waivers (4.6 per cent). Other (27.8 per cent) misc. requests such as academics, mass emails, smudge requests, invitations.
• Smudging signage has been put in place across the University of Waterloo’s main campus. These signs identify spaces that are pre-approved for smudging by Plant Operations, making it easier for campus members to identify where indoor smudging ceremonies can take place safely and without the risk of setting off smoke detector
• A new Indigenous logo for the Waterloo Warriors officially launched in February 2025 in collaboration with Waterloo Athletics and Recreation and the Office of Indigenous Relations (OIR). › Skén:nen Tsi Nón:we Tewaya’taróroks (Where we all gather together peacefully) also known as the Outdoor Gathering Space was completed in fall of 2024

Campus Plan: a comprehensive planning process that began in early 2024 to update the University of Waterloo’s existing Campus Master Plan, which was last updated in 2009. The Office of Indigenous relations has appointed the Director, Indigenous Faculty Relations to serve as a representative on the Campus Plan Steering Committee and Working Group.

Indigenous Wayfinding: a collaborative project of the Office of Indigenous Relations and University Relations launched in 2023. It builds upon the broader Campus Wayfinding Initiative that began implementation in 2018 through the installation of exterior signage at campus gateway entrances, pathways, parking areas and building entrances to address, among other considerations, the legibility, accessibility and branding of campus facilities.

Two-Row Path renaming: (formerly Main Path) is the primary north-south pedestrian pathway on Waterloo’s main campus. The path renaming was identified as an opportunity through the Indigenous Wayfinding report and ‘Two-Row Path’ was chosen, in part, to acknowledge Waterloo’s presence on the Haldimand Tract and as a setting for knowledge creation and learning. The symbolism of the Two Row Wampum belt serves as a reminder that relationships between Indigenous communities and settler researchers/educators need to be grounded in respect for each culture’s distinct ways of knowing and learning.

Growth Opportunities 

Digital Storying Tour coming soon: The University of Waterloo’s Office of Indigenous Relations (OIR) is launching a digital, selfguided walking tour to highlight Indigenized spaces on campus. This initiative will use locative media to engage the public through interactive videos and content accessible via QR codes. The project will focus on 12 significant sites, each representing progress in Indigenization and decolonization. By partnering with the Centre for Extended Learning (CEL), the tour will offer content in Indigenous, English, and French languages. This project aims to deepen understanding of Indigenous stewardship, oral histories, and holistic approaches to land and wellbeing. This initiative invites visitors to engage with the ongoing work of Indigenization and decolonization at the University of Waterloo.

Indigenous Student Centre: Since May 2025, the Office of Indigenous Relations (OIR) has been leading the delivery of Indigenous student services at the University of Waterloo. We are entering an exciting time of growth and renewal, with the development of a new Indigenous Student Centre in Needles Hall, opening in 2026. This dedicated space will strengthen community connections, support student success, and serve as a vibrant home for Indigenous students on campus.

Milestones

Pow Wow 2024: 1700+ attendees, 40+ dancers, 40+ local Indigenous artisans, 4 host drums

Tuition Waiver:

• 63 undergraduate
• 24 graduate
• 87 local students benefitting from tuition waiver since fall 2023

Growth Opportunities

• Healing Forest Committee being formed
• Continue to build relationship with Grand River Métis Council
• MOU with Chippewas of Thames and Mississauga’s of Credit First Nation

Kiinomaage-Aki (Land of Knowledge): an Indigenous outdoor learning space that centres land-based education informed by Indigenous ways of knowing and provides a new setting for relearning and practicing cultural activities, intercultural interaction and interdisciplinary discussion. Located on North Campus on the western side of Columbia Lake, the intention is to create flexible spaces for both outdoor and indoor Indigenous land-based education that support multiple outcomes including cultural revitalization, learning outcomes and Reconciliation.

Milestones

Indigenous Student Development Fund: $9593.30 distributed in 2024 to support 11 students with emergency supports, travel costs and technology. $24,666.18 has been distributed between 2023-2025.

Indigenous Teaching and Learning Strategy: Office of Indigenous Relations staff have been developing an Indigenous Teaching and Learning strategy that will be designed to enhance cultural awareness and understanding, support non-Indigenous faculty and staff in engaging with Indigenous communities respectfully and effectively, foster an inclusive campus environment, promote ongoing learning, engagement, relationship-building and align with UWaterloo’s commitment to reconciliation, Indigenization, and decolonization efforts. 2024-2025 OIR Events to highlight: Have A Heart Day, National Day of Awareness for MMIWG2S, Indigenous Peoples Day event/ concert, Two Spirit Pride/NIHM speaker Kai Potts, Indigenous Speaker Series in collaboration with Faculty of Arts, Annual Pow Wow, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Sept 30, National Indigenous Disabilities Awareness Month keynote, Treaties Recognition Week events, Inuit Day, Indigenous Veterans Day.

› Updated educational resources on territorial acknowledgements and resources for allyship and learning

Active Indigenous groups across campus that OIR coordinates and maintains to ensure cross-campus community collaboration and support:

• Indigenous Faculty Council
• Indigenous Staff Network (19 members, 9 meetings in 2024, 5 meetings in 2025)
• Indigenous Advisory Committee (The University of Waterloo’s Indigenous Advisory Committee has been established to provide advice to the Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Relations on all matters pertaining to Indigenous teaching, research, and service and in particular, guidance on the University’s commitments to Indigenization through the Indigenous Strategic Plan. Visit the webpage for members and details.

New Indigenous verification process: University of Waterloo has launched a new process as of Fall 2023 to verify Indigenous membership/citizenship to confirm eligibility for designated Indigenous staff, faculty and student opportunities at Waterloo. This process has been implemented for staff, faculty and community members as of 2024-2025. Visit the webpage for more information.