Welcome to the CISCE Policies & Procedures page! This is a dedicated space where we share the foundational protocols, guidelines and practices that shape how we engage with Indigenous students, faculty, staff and the wider Carleton community. Rooted in respect, relationality and responsibility, these resources support the university’s commitments to Indigenous resurgence, cultural safety and meaningful collaboration.
Here you will find:
- Clear, culturally-grounded guidance for practices such as land acknowledgements, smudging and tobacco offering
- Policies that uphold the rights of Indigenous peoples to participate in spiritual, cultural and intellectual life at Carleton, including protections for traditional spiritual practices
- Practical protocols for working respectfully with Elders and Knowledge Keepers, and for ensuring Indigenous-specific opportunities (in hiring, awards, and teaching) maintain integrity and trust
- An acknowledgement that these are not static documents but living commitments, meant to guide our shared responsibility to foster belonging, honour Indigenous rights and support transformative learning
We encourage all members of the Carleton community, whether you are an Indigenous student, faculty or staff, a non-Indigenous ally, or a visitor to the Carleton campus, to engage with these policies. They provide the language, pathways and expectations for making this environment more inclusive, respectful and aligned with Indigenous worldviews.
Please take the time to browse the individual sections below:
Learn about Carleton University’s acknowledgement of the Algonquin Nation, on whose unceded and traditional territory the university stands, and how to offer respectful territory acknowledgements in your classes, events, and daily practice.
The purpose of this Policy is to verify the Indigenous identity of applicants who apply to Indigenous-specific program seats or awards, grants, bursaries, and scholarships. It will be used in conjunction with existing admissions requirements and procedures. In accordance with Section 14 of the Ontario Human Rights Code, some designated program seats and awards will be limited to Indigenous candidates (First Nation, Métis and Inuit).
Want to wear your traditional regalia for graduation? Follow this link to learn about Carleton’s guidelines for wearing Indigenous regalia at convocation and how to participate in this important celebration of identity and culture.
Learn more about working respectfully with Elders and Knowledge Keepers, including when to offer honoraria, how to prepare for their visits, and ways to build meaningful relationships.
The purpose of this Policy is to verify the Indigenous identity of applicants who apply for employment opportunities at Carleton that are reserved for Indigenous candidates. This verification and assessment process will maintain the integrity of Carleton’s hiring practices and will strengthen community connections, contribute to the safety of all Indigenous faculty, contract instructors and professional staff and increase collective knowledge in academia.
Follow this link to request an Elder or Knowledge Holder for your class, event, or gathering, and learn how to engage with them in a respectful and culturally appropriate way.
Learn about Carleton’s policy supporting Indigenous spiritual practices, including where smudging is permitted on campus and how to request a temporary pass to make a space smudge-friendly.
Click this link to learn when and how to offer tobacco in a good way when engaging with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and during cultural or ceremonial practices.