By Karen Kelly
In 2016, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission called on Canadians to “redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation.” At the same time, it called on universities to increase the “integration of Indigenous knowledge” into the classroom. The Faculty of Public Affairs has sought to answer that call by bringing Indigenous history, perspectives and expertise into the curriculum.
One of the most significant initiatives in FPA is the Indigenous Policy and Administration program within the School of Public Policy and Administration, which began in 2014. Offering both a diploma and a concentration within the master’s degree, the program has graduates working with First Nation, Métis and Inuit governments and organizations, as well as in the governments and NGOs that work with these communities.
“Our program is a crossroads for exchange and learning among Indigenous and settler scholars, students, and communities,” says Jerry Sabin, the IPA graduate supervisor. “Our programs are grounded in a commitment to Indigenous self-determination and the development of policy tools that support the aspirations of Indigenous nations and their governments.”