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Walking the Path of Reconciliation Together

Walking the Path of Reconciliation Together

Tega Ubor

Tega Ubor

June 14, 2023

For at least four years, Ontario Tech is a place we call home, and that home is bustling with a mosaic of cultures, perspectives, and peoples from all walks of life, including Indigenous students, faculty, and staff.

June is Indigenous History Month, but as we are all treaty people in Canada, it’s important for us to recognize that on our collective path to reconciliation, every day of the year is a day to learn about the history of Indigenous people of Turtle Island, also known as North America.

In honour of Indigenous Peoples Day, Ontario Tech is holding its annual National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration on Polonsky Commons on June 19 from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. To mark the occasion, the OTSU will be there with a table for students to make pledges to deepen their knowledge of the life, pain, memories, and heritage of Indigenous peoples. The OTSU believes in the importance of bridging the knowledge gap and educating ourselves in these matters, because from there we can all move forward together from a place of mutual understanding.

As we move forward on this path of reconciliation together, we encourage all students to:

  • Actively learn and deepen our knowledge of Indigenous history and heritage
  • Attend Indigenous events, workshops, and ceremonies to learn from the perspective of Indigenous lived experiences (with permission obtained and with meaningful intentions to assist where needed)
  • Decolonize our beliefs and unlearn biases
  • Honour Indigenous ways, especially in areas where Indigenous voices and perspectives may not be as present
  • Acknowledge the lands that we reside on with reverence and respect

During the month of June we take more intentional time to reflect on how we can move forward as allies, but there are a ton of great resources, books, videos, documentaries, lectures and presentations that we can learn from all year round. Whether you have a sound understanding of Indigenous issues, or are encountering these conversations for the first time, today is always a great day to learn from the past.

We are honoured to be able to attend the event hosted by the Indigenous Education and Cultural Services on June 19. We are also hopeful to be part of the movement towards reconciliation and relationship building with local Indigenous folks at Ontario Tech and the Durham community at large.

We encourage everyone to take some time to have a look at some of the following resources to begin learning more:

WARNING: some of the following content deals with sensitive subject matter, including suicide, and may be emotionally challenging. If you need any mental or emotional support, please reach out to the resources listed in the campus and community resources section below.

Community Resources and Media Recommendations:

Campus and community resources:

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Send your questions or feedback by reaching out to us at otsu@ontariotechu.ca.