September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Posted on Tuesday, September 26th, 2023

Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honors the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.

Algonquin College campuses (Ottawa, Pembroke and Perth) are located on the traditional unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin People. The Algonquin People have inhabited and cared for these lands long before today. We take this time to show our gratitude and respect to them, and to the land for all that it provides us: trees to give shade, water, and food to sustain us, and paths to connect us. As a post-secondary institution, we embrace the responsibility to help ensure that the next generations of land stewards are respectful and grateful for the bounty of this land on which we all live, work, play, and study.

We commit to continue to explore and make meaningful contributions to the Calls to Action that result from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC).

Algonquin College Campus Events

  • The Ottawa campus Library will be screening several short films about residential schools. This will take place on Friday, September 29th in the Kejeyàdizidjigwogamig, or the Knowledge Keepers Place (Room C350) from 1:00pm – 2:00pm. We also have a new film available in our streaming collection, Colonization Road, can be watched online at any time. We also encourage the college community to explore the books, videos, and other library resources featured on the Aboriginal Studies Guide
Colonization Road
  • Please join President Brulé in Nawapon on Sept. 29 at the Ottawa Campus to listen and learn Indigenous story-telling with community Knowledge Keeper and Indigenous Rights Advisor, Michael Desautels. All Algonquin College employees are welcome to attend. This event takes place at 9:15 AM to 9:50 AM in the Nawapon (C100), Ottawa Campus and livestream via Youtube.
    Please register to attend in-person here.
  • The AC Hub will be decorating orange paper T-shirts and hanging them on windows. Partake in a selection of Indigenous teas, coffee, and foods, and engage with a variety of learning materials and resources as we strive to create a more inclusive and informed future and campus community. You are encouraged to wear an orange T-shirt.
    This event takes place on the 2nd Floor of the Student Commons (E) Building on Friday, September 29 from 10:00am-12:00pm. Click here to learn more.

Indigenous Spaces

Algonquin College takes pride in its commitment to making Indigenous Knowledge and traditions an integral part of the institution’s culture. Over the years this has included establishing a variety of Indigenous Spaces on Campus. Learn more about these spaces:

DARE District’s three-storey mural

Empower with The Learning Portal’s Maamwi Hub

The creation of the Learning Portal’s Maamwi Hub was inspired by the TRC 94 Calls to Action to ensure that the 24 Colleges of Ontario lead in the education of both staff and students on Indigenous history, culture, knowledge, and current Indigenous worldviews.

The word “Maamwi” means “Together” in Anishinaabemowin, one of the widely spoken Indigenous languages in the territory currently referred to as Ontario.

Developed in partnership with the Indigenous Peoples Education Circle and College Libraries Ontario, and part of the ongoing reconciliation journey, the Maamwi Hub serves as a collaborative pathway to learn and reflect on the past and present impacts of colonial history on Indigenous Peoples. Discover an expansive collection of credible and relevant educational materials, explore ways of connecting and collaborating with Indigenous communities, and become an active participant on the path towards reconciliation.

The Maamwi Hub is made up of 5 major sections: About, Discover, Inquire, Inspire, and Empower. This week, we wanted to focus on the Empower section as it provides users with resources to connect and collaborate, share ideas, learn from one another, and support each other on the path to reconciliation.

  • Expand your understanding: Resources to support with engaging with Truth and Reconciliation, using respectful terminology, and expanding your understanding of stereotypes & racism.
  • Participate: Resources providing an overview of days of significance, events, and Indigenous organizations.
  • Explore & Connect: Provides an overview of Indigenous communities, places, and spaces within Ontario.
  • Learning Resources: A selection of resources which may help broaden awareness and understanding of Indigenous topics within Canada.Maamwi Hub

“Rather than having a single goal related to Truth and Reconciliation or Indigeneity, we must be committed to adapting our processes and practices to honor and reflect Indigenous ways of knowing.” Click here to learn more about what this means for Algonquin College.


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