A new guide on Indigenous allyship is now available from Turtle Island - Indigenous Student Services Centre (PROVIDED BY F. LOMASCOLO/University of Windsor)
By Kate Hargreaves
A new guide aims to support non-Indigenous members of the UWindsor community in building their knowledge and strengthening their allyship with Indigenous Peoples and communities.
Developed by Sisco Consulting in collaboration with the Turtle Island — Indigenous Student Services Centre, the document provides guidance to non-Indigenous students, faculty, staff and community members as they work toward allyship.
“To us, allyship is more than a title,” explains Fawne Lomascolo, Indigenous student success coordinator at Turtle Island.
“It is an ongoing practice rooted in learning, respect, accountability, authentic relationships and taking meaningful action.”
Indigenous outreach and retention coordinator Victoria Hecnar emphasizes that the guide not only helps non-Indigenous people learn about and Indigenous histories and local context but also lessens some of the burden on Indigenous faculty, staff and students who consistently field questions and requests about Indigenous perspectives.
“The Allyship Guide provides education, reflection and practical actions for becoming a stronger ally,” Hecnar explains.
“Participants move beyond awareness into action through learning, relationship-building, advocacy and accountability.”
Paired with the launch of the guide is the Indigenous Allyship Champions Program.
As Lomascolo notes, “the program is designed to foster meaningful, action-oriented allyship across the University community while recognizing individuals, departments, faculty members, staff and students who actively support Indigenous student success, Truth and Reconciliation and Indigenous Ways of Knowing.”
In the coming weeks, we will feature allies from across campus. Stay tuned to learn what allyship means to them and practical ways the UWindsor campus community is ensuring that allyship leads to action.
To access the Allyship Guide, visit the Turtle Island website.