Indigenous Peoples

Boozhoo, Sge’no, Hé

The University of Windsor sits on the lands and waters traveled, inhabited and cared for by Indigenous peoples since time immemorial. The lands are honoured by the wampum treaties; agreements amongst the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Lenni Lenape and allied nations to peacefully share in and care for the non-human persons around the Great Lakes region. We wish to specifically acknowledge the presence of the Three Fires Confederacy, of the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi and the Huron/Wendat peoples. This land acknowledgement recognises the ongoing presence of Indigenous peoples in this area and our responsibility to the land and water. It is among the first steps in the journey towards reconciliation and will continue to develop as we walk together towards a better future.

Migwech, Nyá: Węh, Waníshi.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, under Action 80, called upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish a statutory holiday “to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.” In response to this Call to Action, October 2, 2023 has been designated federally as the “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation”.

While the University will be open, and classes will be held, September 30 has been designated as a ‘meeting-free’ day for staff and faculty in order to enable reflection and participation in community events. A cross-campus steering committee has been established to lead planning for the day: more details about available resources, events, and activities can be found on the Orange Shirt Day page.

Treaty Canoe

NEWS: Treaty Canoe on display at Leddy Library
Treaty Canoe, a full-size art installation by artist Alex McKay (BFA 1990), will be on display in the Leddy Library’s Student Research Collaboratory for Treaties Recognition Week. [ Read more from the UWindsor Daily News ]

commemorative plate recognizing Excellence in Diné Studies

NEWS: Award recognizes researcher’s study of Navajo culture
Kathy M’Closkey, an adjunct professor in the UWindsor Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology, has won recognition for her research into the culture of the Diné people — commonly referred to as Navajo. [ Read more from the UWindsor Daily News ]

head shot of Bev Jacobs

NEWS: Law professor awarded membership in Order of Canada
UWindsor law professor Bev Jacobs was one of 105 appointments to the Order of Canada announced June 29 by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette. Jacobs will be invested as a member of the order — one of the country’s highest civilian honours — at a ceremony to be held later. [ Read more from the UWindsor Daily News ]

Detail of Leddy Library Indigenous collections

NEWS: Library expands collection of Indigenous-themed materials
As part of an ongoing strategic investment in its book collection, informed by academic needs, Leddy Library has purchased more than 100 items by Indigenous and other authors and publishers across a range of disciplines. Further resources are being ordered. The library is currently displaying many of these new books, along with select artifacts contributed by the Aboriginal Education Centre, in cases and on bulletin boards on its main floor.

Image of dancer in traditional dress at ceremony

NEWS: University of Windsor dedicates Turtle Island Walk
"It was a great step by the University of Windsor to dedicate its newly constructed primary campus corridor Turtle Island Walk, said members of the area’s Indigenous community . . ." [ Read more from the Windsor Star ]

Indigenous Education Council
Indigenous/First Nation education at the University of Windsor is represented by the Indigenous Education Council. The Indigenous Education Council provides advice on all issues affecting education in Indigenous/First Nations communities.Indigenous Education Centre
The Indigenous Education Centre, also known as Turtle Island, provides support to self-identified Indigenous students at the University of Windsor, helping them reach their highest potential in a culturally supportive atmosphere.Report of the Senate Working Group ... in Relation to Universities Canada 13 Principles on Indigenous Education (pp. 59-105)
This document expresses the University of Windsor's renewed commitment to hear the voices of Indigenous communities and embrace their perspectives, history, knowledge and contributions.

President's Indigenous Peoples Scholars Program
In keeping with the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Universities Canada Principles of Indigenous Education, the University of Windsor has established the President’s Indigenous Peoples Scholars program. Through this initiative, intending to address the historic under-representation of Indigenous peoples in leadership roles on campus, the University has allocated five tenure-track faculty positions for the appointment of Indigenous scholars.

University of Windsor Indigenous Faculty Profiles
Several University of Windsor faculty members, across multiple disciplines, self-identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit. In this space, as a sample, we introduce individual members of this community and foreground their unique contributions to teaching and learning, research and innovation, and community outreach.

Indigenous Students at Windsor Law
Windsor Law is working to ensure Indigenous legal traditions and perspectives are fully acknowledged and respected in its teaching, research, and community engagement. It currently boasts a small but vibrant community of Indigenous and Métis students, faculty, and staff. The Faculty of Law warmly welcome applications from prospective students, and encourages the Program of Legal Studies for Native People as a useful stepping stone to the Faculty.

Indigenous Ways of Knowing at the Faculty of Education
The Faculty of Education has developed a selection of inclusive, culturally appropriate cross-curricular resources in an effort to enable teachers to be able to bring Indigenous studies into the mainstream classroom. The Faculty of Education believes that we, as Canadians, have a responsibility toward reconciliation. Teachers have a unique opportunity to take steps forward by teaching indigenous pedagogy as well as Canadian truths to their students.

Universities Canada Principles on Indigenous Education
Indigenous students continue to be underrepresented in Canadian higher education institutions. In the spirit of advancing opportunities for Indigenous students, the leaders of Canada’s universities commit to a set of 13 principles, developed in close consultation with Indigenous communities. Leddy Library Resources Related to First Peoples for Faculty and Administration
Leddy Library at the University of Windsor maintains a digital repository of curriculum- and research-related resources, plus a selected list of university reports on indigenization. Leddy Library Resources Related to First Peoples
Leddy Library also maintains a robust, regularly updated list of resources related to Indigenous studies and Indigenous communities for the benefit of our Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, faculty, and staff.

University of Windsor Indigenous Research Directory [coming soon]
We are working with Leddy Library to compile a centralized directory of original University of Windsor research that investigates and intersects with subjects related to Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This valuable resource will foreground the many contributions related to this broad area study that have been made, and are being made, by UWindsor faculty and students.

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR)
The NCTR at the University of Manitoba was created to preserve the memory of Canada’s Residential School system and its legacy in perpetuity. It is the permanent home for all statements, documents, and other materials gathered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). In order to help redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation, the University of Windsor heeds the TRC's Calls to Action, as outlined in the "Reports" section.

Note: This site is a living document. Our project of cataloguing the important work being done by, with, and for Indigenous Peoples at the University of Windsor is only beginning. As we nurture and grow this site, we are eager to collaborate with the campus community. If you can identify any knowledge gaps, missing resources, or outdated or erroneous information, please contact studentexperience@uwindsor.ca. Similarly, we encourage any members of the campus community who would like to see their work represented here to get in touch.