On the fifth anniversary of the final report and recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), Trent continues to contribute to important work around Indigenization of the academy. Recognizing that Indigenization enriches the educational and cultural experience of all by creating a more inclusive environment and a more expansive worldview, the University was central to a study involving Indigenous faculty members undertaken by the Council of Ontario universities.

With Trent’s Dr. David Newhouse as its principal investigator, the Lighting the Fire survey was undertaken with the aim to better understand the experience of Indigenous faculty members and the resources, policies and programs best support Indigenous faculty at Ontario universities.

“Over the last half century, many of the initiatives, programs and practices at Trent have cleared the path for other institutions to find ways to support Indigenous faculty. I am proud of our pioneering work on bringing Indigenous Knowledge into the academy and on ensuring that the research ethics review process included Indigenous notions of reciprocity and mutual benefit.' says Professor David Newhouse, chair of the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies, and primary investigator of the Lighting the Fire survey. "We have a solid foundation to build upon to ensure the success of Indigenous faculty."

The study of Ontario universities notes that “recruitment and support of Indigenous faculty members is important for university communities and the broader academic enterprise. As universities seek to Indigenize the curriculum, provide a welcoming and supportive environment for Indigenous students, and deepen their engagement with and understanding of Indigenous communities and culture, new approaches to supporting Indigenous scholars will be needed.”

With deep roots in reconciliation, Trent has been recognized as a leader in Indigenous education for over 50 years – since becoming the first university in Canada (and only second in North America) to establish an academic department dedicated to the study of Indigenous peoples and knowledges.

Since the TRC report, Trent has continued to build on that reputation with a number of initiatives, including:

• Indigenous Course Requirement: In 2018, Trent became only the third university in Canada to ensure all undergraduate students complete at least one course with Indigenous.
• Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan: The guiding vision for the future of campus development has been developed in a way that demonstrates leadership in environmental education and stewardship, respect for Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, and thoughtful integration of the natural and built environment.
• Dedicated Indigenous Spaces: New Indigenous spaces, including Giizhigaatig Cedar – an Indigenous reading room –  in Trent’s Bata Library, have been added to several more dedicated on-campus spaces, including Mnidoowag A’Kiing (the Spirit Lands) with a sweat lodge, three tipis and traditional wigwam, First Peoples Gathering Space and Nozhem: First Peoples Performance Space, to name a few.
• Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies: Building on a legacy of leadership in Indigenous education and reconciliation, the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies, officially launched in 2017, honours the memory of a young Anishinaabe boy who died in his attempt to escape a residential school in 1966.
• Continued development of resources to support Indigenization on campus including protocol guidebook and resource videos, as well as resources developed through the School of Education to support K-12 classroom conversation.

Learn more about Indigenous Studies at Trent.