The Anishinaabe philosophy is that through living well, life continues to improve, and the seven Grandfather Teachings are considered reminders of how to do that, says David Pitawanakwat, Indigenous justice co-ordinator at Legal Assistance of Windsor.

These seven concepts are represented along Turtle Island Walk. Starting today in observance of National Indigenous Peoples Day and extending over the next several weeks, DailyNews will feature perspectives from members of the campus community on each.

“These words are the guiding foundation for Anishnabek peoples, our nation, our laws, and our ways of relating to the world,” Pitawanakwat says. “Each Grandfather Teaching is a gift the Anishinaabeg carry, a tool for living the good life, Mno Bimaadziwin.”

He says the English word “respect” does not carry the full meaning of the concept of “Piitendaagziwin.”

“What is lost in translation is the positive duty to respect the earth and respect each other,” says Pitawanakwat.

He says cultural knowledge is shared through stories and offers the example of hunting.

“Most youths today think food comes from the store, but that was a living creature with a spirit. When we kill and when we harvest, we say a prayer, we drop tobacco — our most sacred medicine. We thank the animal for feeding us. Our young people see the work that goes into growing your food. It is a spiritual exercise that is designed to instill a profound sense of respect for all of creation and the help you receive to live your life.”

He says failure to follow this teaching runs the risk of going out of control and over-consuming: “All of creation is a delicate balance that requires all of these teachings together to thrive.”

Watch for articles on the other teachings — Love, Truth, Bravery, Wisdom, Generosity, Humility — in upcoming editions of DailyNews.

Thirty teacher candidates participating in the Global Community Engagement Program spent three weeks teaching and doing humanitarian and development work in the east African country of Tanzania as part of the Vulnerability, Marginalization, and Education service-learning course in the Faculty of Education.

Led by UWindsor vice-president, people, equity and inclusion Clinton Beckford and assisted by Black student support co-ordinator Kaitlyn Ellsworth and Fatima Fakih, a PhD student and sessional instructor in the Faculty of Education, the students collected hundreds of supplies to bring to Tanzania with them. They filled more than 45 hockey bags with over 2,000 lbs of school supplies, sports equipment, and feminine hygiene products, which were distributed to schools and communities in the Kilimanjaro and Singida regions of Tanzania.

Once in Tanzania, the teacher candidates worked in groups to facilitate a Girls’ Leadership and Empowerment Program to 150 female high school students and 15 female teachers from 12 schools in the Singida municipality. The teacher candidates put together workshops that covered such topics as mental health and well-being, healthy relationships, gender-based and intimate partner violence, menstruation, oral hygiene, sexually transmitted diseases, goal setting, and leadership.

Hailey Noble, a fourth-year student of concurrent history and education, participated in the trip in 2023 and decided to join again this year.

“My heart is so full after this trip to Tanzania,” she said. “I will never forget the friends and memories made there. The week-long Girls Empowerment and Leadership Program was my favourite part. Being able to connect with young women and girls, as well as their teachers, meant so much to me.”

Another community project for the teacher candidates involved adults and children with albinism. The students held an event where they distributed skin and eye care protection products, hats, and food to more than 50 individuals with albinism who met with a doctor and community development workers as well.

Like Noble, third-year forensic science major Hayley Rogers participated for the second time.

“It’s hard to put into words what these three weeks have meant to me’” said Rogers. “I have grown in the way I see others and the world. I am so lucky to have experienced this.”

At least six of the participating students are enrolling in the Master of Education program at the University of Windsor and a couple of others at universities closer to their homes.

One of the students hoping to enroll at Windsor is Emma Thwaites, who plans to pursue studies under Dr. Beckford’s supervision. She told Beckford: “I want to do my master’s degree, I want to do a thesis, and I want to do something about Tanzania.”

Students received scholarships from the University of Windsor’s iWIL Go Global program to participate in this opportunity. iWIL Go Global is a Global Skills Opportunity project that is funded by Employment and Social Development Canada and administered jointly by Universities Canada and Colleges and Institutes Canada.

The University of Windsor has been recognized for its significant rise in the QS World University Rankings, earning the “Most Improved – Canada” Award from Quacquarelli Symonds, highlighting institutions that have shown the greatest improvement over a five-year period.

Windsor’s ranking climbed to 547 in the 2025 QS World University Rankings, a substantial improvement of about 100 spots from 2024 and more than 200 spots since 2021. This achievement places Windsor in the top tier among more than 5,600 universities evaluated worldwide and the 1,503 universities that were ranked.

“Our remarkable progress in such a short period is a testament to the dedication and excellence of our faculty and staff,” said UWindsor president Robert Gordon. “This recognition by Quacquarelli Symonds underscores our commitment to enhancing our academic and research prowess, while also elevating our impact on Canada’s higher education sector and the broader community.”

The award was announced June 4 at the QS EduData Summit in Washington D.C., where global educational leaders gathered to celebrate outstanding achievements in higher education.

Registration continues for Lancer youth summer camps engaging in a range of activities as well as sports.

The varsity camps teach campers the fundamentals of the games: baseball, softball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, volleyball, and track and field.

In general interest camps, children will develop skills and memorable experiences.

Lancer Camps promise crafts, team-building activities, and daily swimming in age groups from 4-year-old Little Lancers to 13-year-old Senior Lancers. Other camps will focus on dance, creative writing, science and engineering, personal safety, and more.

Find details on the Lancer Camps website.

University employees can join a Drupal training session on Thursday, June 27, to enhance their web development skills.

The online session, led by team leader Rob Aitkens, will cover creating webpages, uploading graphics, organizing menus, and understanding web standards, accessibility, usability, and functionality.

The training is open to all faculty, staff, and student employees who maintain content on UWindsor’s official website. Register for the session, running 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, June 27.