Hoop 2: Faculties, departments, programs

Why

While it is unlikely that all faculties will be able to hire Indigenous professors, this cannot be a barrier to including Indigenous epistemological and ontological knowledge and methodological approaches within their curriculums. Therefore, uOttawa encourages all teaching programs on campus to consider introducing Indigenous principles specific to their disciplines, because they have the potential to effectively support student learning while also promoting innovation through new forms of knowledge production. For instance, the Faculty of Engineering could work with Indigenous knowledge holders to develop curriculum around the principles of canoe and kayak construction or around the issues of water conservation, management and protection by working with knowledge holders who carry the teachings related to water. The Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics’ expertise in climate change could be strengthened by the introduction of traditional knowledge around hydrology, changes in plant life and animal behaviours. Curriculums will be supportive of generative practice. Additionally, support should be provided to those professors, departments and faculties interested in curriculum revitalization and transformation in this fashion.

This dual strategy will engage Indigenous students more effectively and increase enrolment at uOttawa.

When

Short term

How

Ensuring that there are appropriate support people in various sectors of the campus, such as the Indigenous community engagement officer at Mashkawazìwogamig (position already filled) who can assist with building the appropriate community connections faculty members need to pursue new research programs.

Additional support is required in the form of an Indigenous curriculum specialist within the TLSS to assist faculty members.

This additionally requires the creation of a place within the University where there is a critical mass of Indigenous scholars who can bring in Indigenous intellectual traditions, to rethink existing fields, disciplines and approaches across campus (see hoop 2.2 and 2.3). It is not feasible for each program or faculty to develop this capacity on its own.

There are also specific goals/targets that each faculty should meet to make this happen:

• Each faculty should commit to seconding one or more of its professors to be trained as academic Indigenization leads.
• Each faculty should establish a committee on academic Indigenization that will work with the Indigenous Affairs office and the academic Indigenization leads.
• Training should be coordinated by the Indigenous Affairs office and the renewed Institute of Indigenous Research and Studies.

Cost

Hire, at a minimum, one Indigenous curriculum specialist within the TLSS (with a goal to hire others as need arises).

Potential for creation of new course code(s) as curriculum is redesigned due to research directions and outcomes.

Who

Provost | Deans | Vice-Provost, Academic Affairs | Vice-Deans

Why

The program was created in 2004 at their behest of the Algonquin community with a view to making uOttawa a safer place for their young people and as such, it serves as the cornerstone of any uOttawa plans to Indigenize the campus.

Any Canadian university seeking to be a world-class centre for research innovation must have a strong Indigenous studies program because it is the intellectual space in which the exploration of traditional knowledge as a body of thought can be undertaken within the cultural contexts that created it, and not as a comparative form of study. Furthermore, for research and teaching to be truly thoughtful and innovative, it requires dedicated spaces where Indigenous scholars are pushing the boundaries of existing disciplines, identifying and questioning disciplinary practice, and remaking field after field. This must be done in our university.

When

Short term to start, long term commitment

How

While preparing the paperwork to completely transform the program and its offerings by conceiving an Institute of Indigenous Research and Studies, the undergraduate EAS program underwent and is undergoing an external review. The external reviewers’ report supports the overall direction that the program is proposing—one centred on the hiring of a cohort of dedicated professors specializing in Indigenous studies and dedicated to Indigenous research methods and principles.

The revitalized institute and program can tap into the enormous potential, in the National Capital Region by providing a professional master’s and a PhD program integrating Indigenous knowledge(s). Such programs will be of interest to people working in national Indigenous organizations and the federal government. Graduate- level programs build innovative research and the capacity that they build can help lead the academic Indigenization of uOttawa. Furthermore, the addition of graduate studies to EAS will service a region with no obvious competition; the nearest Indigenous studies graduate program is at Trent University, which offers collaborative graduate studies programming with Carleton. There are no stand-alone Indigenous studies graduate program in eastern Ontario.

The only viable alternative to re-creating EAS is to shut down the program altogether. This would be an unmitigated disaster in terms of our relations with the local Algonquin community, as well as other local Indigenous communities and organizations, one that would put at risk all of the University’s Indigenization efforts and its research with Indigenous communities.

Cost

Currently the program relies on the teaching of three cross-appointed professors in geography, history and political studies (and two of those three have direct contractual obligations and responsibilities to the program), a research chair whose courses are cross-listed to the program, an instructor on a limited term contract and a range of part-time professors. The program was allocated two new positions and hiring has taken place, with a Tier 2 CRC and regular faculty member in place January 1, 2020 and July 1, 2019 respectively. The Institute also received permission to hire two additional faculty members for 2020-21. While these hires are in the right direction, in and of themselves they are not enough to support the teaching needs of the undergraduate program, let alone build a graduate program. Indeed, the program needs to continue to grow if the University is to keep these new hires.

Additionally, new tenure-track faculty members are needed to support the teaching program and the development of the institute’s research mandate. As recommended by the external evaluators, this must also include a senior Indigenous scholar with the administrative experience to develop a graduate program and to support the research junior faculty in establishing their careers.

Funding for an Indigenous expert council to advise and support the department is required; their role will be to ensure that quality of the program in relation to community needs and inclusion of traditional knowledge.

Support the establishment of a visiting scholar program, which will require space allocation and IT support but no other financial commitments.

A fellowship located at the Institute for Indigenous PhD candidates who are in the last years of completing their dissertation would give uOttawa an edge in recruiting new faculty (see hoop 1.2 & hoop 2.5).

Who

Provost | Dean of Arts (primary) | other Deans (secondary)

Why

uOttawa recruited two Tier 2 CRCs in Indigenous Intellectual Traditions, who will begin work at uOttawa in 2019–2020 and has the Chair in Métis Research, a provincially endowed chair that has existed since 2010. With these three research chairs, as well as a strong cohort of Indigenous faculty (those already here and those to be hired), uOttawa can move forward with building an interdisciplinary research centre, housed in, and supported by, the now renamed Institute of Indigenous Research and Studies, focused on cutting edge research methodologies specific to Indigenous scholars. While the name has changed, additional work needs to be done to build IIRS in a manner that fulfills its potential.

When

Medium term

How

This requires the collaboration of the VP research in order to include planning for the Research Centre and Institute policy, work that’s already underway.

Cost

Space needs be provided in a manner that draws together scholars engaged in Indigenous research and fosters collaborative interaction. The Indigenous Studies program is currently housed in William Commanda Hall, and for the time being that space is adequate. However, as this initiative grows, a new allocation of space will be required.

IT, special projects, financial and academic administration, and research outreach support will be required to assist with the administration of the academic and research programs within the Indigenous Studies and Research Centre.

Who

VP Research, Provost, Deans

Why

Undergraduate students have been asking for more experiential learning and research opportunities in, with, and for Indigenous communities. At this time, there are some opportunities available because of connections made by individual faculty members and their funded research programs, but there are no course-based experiential learning opportunities. It is possible to create these types of courses through Indigenous Studies in particular, but also in the faculties of Education and Law, and the Social Work program, for example. Experiential, including (but not limited to) land-based courses, can provide students with immersion experiences in language and community history and politics. If properly done, they will strengthen the University’s relationships with Indigenous communities and increase possibilities for collaborations and research.

When

Medium term

How

Creating these opportunities requires building capacity by hiring additional Indigenous faculty members as well as appropriate supports in the form of Indigenous Affairs personnel within faculties.

Cost

Set up a system of fee payment to communities. Students can pay additional tuition for experiential courses, but uOttawa needs to develop a policy for paying communities and/or knowledge keepers for their expertise, whether it is in the form of a sessional stipend to the additional instructors or a contribution agreement with the community, or both. This cost cannot be entirely assumed by students via tuition; this would be prohibitive for students.

Who

Provost | Vice-Provost, Academic Affairs | AVP, Student Life

Why

To create pre- and postdoctoral positions as well as allocate scholarships and bursaries to support Indigenous graduate students to complete their studies. This will ensure that Indigenous graduate students are appropriately positioned to take their places in the academy.

The University would benefit by having these graduate students teach at least one course and present their research. They would be paired with a supervisor/mentor within the institution for support and mentorship, which would, in turn, contribute to the building of sustainable relationships.

When

Medium to long term

How

There are several models uOttawa can adopt, for example:

• Dartmouth offers the Charles Eastman Pre-doctoral fellowship
• The University of Michigan offers the Rackham Pre-doctoral Fellowship program
• Michigan State University offers the Pre-doctoral Fellowship in American Indian and Indigenous Studies
• Queen’s University offers the Pre-doctoral Fellowship for Indigenous Students

Cost

• Realistically, each faculty should be able to fund at least one such postdoc.
• Reallocation of some of the existing research development funding to ensure that there is institutional money available for supporting such post-docs.
• Can also work with External Relations to locate potential donors for the establishment of such a program.
• Faculties must commit a sessional stipend to ensure that these postdoctoral students teach, at a minimum, one class while in residence at uOttawa.

Who

Provost | Vice-Provost, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies | AVP, Enrolment Management

Why

Recognizing that first-year students come to the university from a variety of backgrounds and informed by multiple experiences, our intent is to develop a pathway with academically-grounded programming that builds the confidence, knowledge and skills to be successful. At the same time, we will connect them to one another and our campus community. Students in this pathway will be brought together as a Learning Community. This Indigenous Learning Community will begin their university careers surrounded by students with similar interests and goals, be introduced to programs and colleges across campus related to their interests, and be assigned peer mentors—a team of expert learners—who will help first-year students develop the academic skills needed to flourish. The University will establish this program through the shared participation of Indigenous Affairs and Academic Accommodations Service who can collaborate with the appropriate faculties to develop core academic support programs to nurture an annual cohort of Indigenous learners following admission and registration. Indigenous course components should be a core requirement within this pathway.

When

Medium term

How

Planning will be undertaken and managed by Indigenous Affairs, the Office of the Registrar, and Academic Accommodations Service and will involve those faculties such as Arts, Social Sciences, and Science with BA and BSc programs to negotiate the right course structure. Cost Tuition can be the vehicle to support this program and the mentorship/tutoring supports, but there may be some costs associated with the administrative startup. We will consult with FNMI governing bodies to ensure that the pathway developed is fundable based on their financial procedures/ requirements.

Who

Provost, academic and administrative support units as required

Why

Ottawa is home to all of the major governance organizations (federal government departments as well as AFN, MNC, NWAC, ITK, CAP, etc.), national heritage organizations (NAC, LAC, NAG, etc.) and community support service organizations (Minwashin Lodge, Wabano Centre, Odawa, etc.), ideal employers/placements for co- op and internship opportunities that will enhance student experience.

When

Long term

How

The CO-OP Office will work with the Indigenous Affairs team (with the expectation that there are designated support staff within various faculties) to develop and facilitate placements with Indigenous and Canadian governance bodies/organizations and the national heritage institutions for co-op placements designed for Indigenous learners.

Cost

Resource implications are low. The administrative infrastructure for the development of co-op and other placements is already in place.

Success relies on the ability of the University to make meaningful connections and relationships with the governance bodies, organizations and heritage centres. To be able to do this effectively, we need to ensure that faculties interested in developing such programs are prepared, by first hiring the appropriate support staff of Indigenous affairs coordinators (see Hoop 1.3), who will work with the director of Indigenous affairs, the team at Mashkawazìwogamig and the CO-OP Office.

Who

Vice-Provost, Academic Affairs | AVP, Student Life

Why

Through Mashkawazìwogamig, uOttawa has already developed and facilitated a number of successful mentorship programs for students in STEM and will continue to engage with these programs. It is now time to begin creating similar educational and mentorship opportunities for students within their faculties.

When

Short to medium term

How

We would need to rely on the expertise inherent within interested faculties to develop the most appropriate form of student mentorship programs.

Cost

TBA

Who

Vice-Provost, Academic Affairs | Vice-Deans

Why

The former Institute of Canadian and Aboriginal Studies had an international visitorship program which provides a letter of invitation and working space to different types of scholars looking to be in Ottawa. With the eventual closing of the Canadian Studies program, these visitorships will be reimagined as an Indigenous visiting scholars program.

When

Long term

How

Requires the collaboration of the Faculty of Arts and the newly formed IIRS. Partnerships with other faculties can help facilitate the recruitment of national and international Indigenous scholars with research expertise based on distinctive disciplinary perspectives, and assist with the funding of different events including, for instance, a speaker series and/or conference.

Cost

To the extent that existing funds can be repurposed (see above), the incremental cost should be minimal.

Who

Provost | Dean of Arts | Academic delegate for Indigenous engagement | Chair or Director, ICAS

Why

There are practical, ethical, and moral considerations involved in working with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, which have cultural and procedural requirements based on their own governing practices and expectations. Faculty and students at uOttawa should be aware of these considerations when developing their Indigenous-focused research projects.

Within Indigenous communities, the most widely referenced framework for governance over research, community knowledge and data, is known as OCAP:

• Ownership: Indigenous communities have ownership over their information and cultural knowledge.
• Control: Indigenous communities have control over how their information is used or accessed— and must be consulted and give informed consent to all stages of the research cycle.
• Access: Indigenous communities must have access to their own information and ultimately decide on group and individual access rights based on cultural needs and protocols.
• Possession: Indigenous communities are stewards of their own information and data and responsible for its security.

Many FNMI communities have developed research protocol agreements that researchers are required to consult and/or follow by any researcher working specifically with them but there are also university-specific statements, as well as the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans, ch. 9.

Currently, uOttawa does not have a clear statement or protocol about how to undertake research with Indigenous communities, and that gap must be closed.

When

Medium term

How

During summer 2020, the academic delegate for Indigenous engagement and the Indigenous Affairs team will undertake a survey of best practices regarding Indigenous research protocols as developed by Indigenous communities/governing bodies, universities, and agencies that oversee institutional research, in order to begin developing a uOttawa Indigenous research protocol guide. Following that, we will work to implement this IRPG with the University of Ottawa’s Office of Research Ethics and Integrity.

Cost

TBA

Who

The academic delegate for Indigenous engagement will begin a consultation with the director of the Office of Research Ethics and Integrity.