The Centre for Teaching and Learning has approved nine proposals for the Nanadagikenim - Seek to Know grant.

Jaimie Kechego, Indigenous curriculum and pedagogy project co-ordinator at the Centre for Teaching and Learning, said she felt an immense sense of pride as she read the proposals.

“It’s nice to see the support by the University and the initiatives taken by faculty, staff, and students,” she said.

She said she felt relieved when the Office of the Provost was able to garner more funds so that nine of the grants could be funded.

“I thought that all the grant proposals were fantastic in the way they incorporated Indigenous knowledge and community,” said Kechego.

With successful partnerships established with the Bkwjwanong (Walpole Island), she said she hopes the projects will lead to new developments that include and support respectful partnerships with other Indigenous communities, both urban and rural.

CTL director Erika Kustra expressed thanks for those who helped with the process.

“We appreciated the time and thoughtful contributions of the grant review committee with representation from the Indigenous community, including an elder from Caldwell First Nation,” she said.

The grant is a response to the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) and the Universities Canada Principles on Indigenous Education.

Among the critical principles of reconciliation found in the TRC report are: the importance of healing relationships through public truth sharing, apology and commemoration to acknowledge and redress past harms, and an emphasis on creating a more equitable and inclusive society by closing the gaps in social, health, and economic outcomes that exist between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.

The list of proposals is available on the CTL website.