Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) Steering Committee

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Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) Steering Committee

Background

91直播 continues to advance in its efforts towards the implementation of the 52 Calls to Action, resulting from the 2017 Provost鈥檚 Task Force Report on Indigenous Studies and Indigenous Education. These Calls are essential to strengthening 91直播鈥檚 relationship with Indigenous peoples.

As 91直播 continues to enact its commitment to Reconciliation, it recognizes the importance of learning and respecting the principles and values of Indigenous governance, in a meaningful and effective way.

As such, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives is happy to announce it has begun crucial work towards the establishment of the 91直播 Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC). The 91直播 IAC will provide advice on matters pertaining to Indigenous educational initiatives and guidance on the University鈥檚 relationships with First Nations, Inuit and M茅tis communities.

This initiative stems from Task Force鈥檚 Call to Action #51, which calls upon 91直播 to, 鈥渃reate a formal Indigenous Advisory Board or Indigenous Education Council with a defined mandate, whose composition includes community leaders and stakeholders at 91直播.鈥�

Note that this initiative is also linked to Call #22, which calls on 91直播 to 鈥渆stablish mechanisms that provide Indigenous community representation in central organs of University governance, in particular, the Board of Governors and University Senate, and at central University ceremonies, including convocations鈥�.

The Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII) is happy to lead this important initiative. To support this work, the OII has partnered with the Indigenous advisory firm First Peoples Group, as well as a Kani茅n鈥檏ehaka advisor on Indigenous governance, Dr. Taiaiake Alfred, of Kahnaw脿:ke. These advisors, in collaboration with the OII, will play an integral role in ensuring that the approach taken to establish the IAC is inclusive and respectful of the Indigenous communities and Nations on whose traditional territories 91直播 resides, and is grounded in Indigenous governance principles.

91直播 recognizes the importance of having Indigenous community leadership, as well as Indigenous community internal to 91直播 (faculty, staff and students), participate in this process. It is necessary that we listen to, and are informed by, the perspectives of Indigenous community members as we take this significant step, in the spirit of working together and honoring Indigenous governance and leadership in this initiative. The OII is currently holding engagement sessions with Indigenous community leaders to inform the development of the IAC鈥檚 Terms of Reference.

Throughout the process of establishing the IAC, the OII is taking care to respect the relationships 91直播 has with different Indigenous communities and organizations via longstanding academic initiatives at the University and strengthen our partnerships with these groups.

If you are interested in participating in this process, or should you have any questions, please contact us at indigenousinitiatives [at] mcgill.ca.

91直播 is proud to continue on its journey of Reconciliation through the implementation of the TRC鈥檚 Calls to Action, recognizing and honoring Indigenous community members and partners 鈥� past, present and future. We look forward to having you join us.

Terms of Reference for the 91直播 IAC Steering Committee

The Indigenous Advisory Council Steering Committee was formed in October, 2023 to develop the Terms of Reference for 91直播鈥檚 inaugural Indigenous Advisory Council. In doing so, the Steering Committee will ensure that the IAC鈥檚 Terms of Reference are aligned with the University鈥檚 commitments to Truth and Reconciliation and Calls to Action.

The Steering Committee is comprised of a team of Indigenous faculty members, staff and community advisors committed to embodying and employing, in their work and relations with each other and with the wider 91直播 community, the values of the core cultural teachings of Kah鈥檔ikonhri:io (The Good Mind) and the Seven Grandfather Teachings.

The IAC Steering Committee created a Terms of Reference to guide their work in providing strategic advice to the University on the design, development, and implementation of the IAC.

You can find the Terms of Reference for the 91直播 IAC Steering Committee here:聽 IAC Terms of Reference

91直播 IAC Steering Committee Meeting Summaries

Over the past months, First Peoples Group supported 91直播鈥檚 Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII) in conducting Indigenous engagement sessions for the purposes of informing the development of the Terms of Reference for the University鈥檚 inaugural Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC). Five (5) group sessions were carried out for members of the Indigenous community within 91直播 (inclusive of faculty, staff and students) and nine (9) sessions were carried out with representatives of local/regional Indigenous governments/political-territorial organizations. This report summarizes what First Peoples Group heard from these engagements.

Read the What We Heard Report here:聽 IAC_What_We_Heard

Steering Committee Membership

The Steering Committee consists of an entirely Indigenous membership and includes representation from both academia and Indigenous communities. The Steering Committee is chaired by the Associate Provost of Indigenous Initiatives and includes the Senior Advisor, Indigenous Initiatives, two Indigenous students, representatives from the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, and a retired Indigenous faculty member and/or 91直播 alumni. It has extended invitations for Indigenous representation from across 91直播鈥檚 Faculties/Schools. Additionally, the Steering Committee involves several Indigenous community advisors with at least one being Kani茅n鈥檏ehaka Kahnawa鈥檏ehr贸:non (Kahnaw脿:ke Mohawk) and one being Anishinabeg.

External Resources Reviewed

The following external reports are being reviewed and consulted by the IAC Steering Committee:

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