“Olds College is signing the CICan Indigenous Protocol with humility and understanding that there is still much work to do in contributing to our Indigenous communities,” comments Stuart Cullum, President, Olds College. “Through this signing, we are formally acknowledging and committing to continuing our work, including through our recently launched Indigenous Strategy, which is guided by the Protocol.”
The CICan protocol is founded on seven principles, by signing the protocol Olds College will:
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Commit to making Indigenous education a priority
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Ensure governance structures recognize and respect Indigenous peoples
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Implement intellectual and cultural traditions of Indigenous peoples through curriculum and learning approaches relevant to learners and communities
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Support students and employees to increase understanding and reciprocity among Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples
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Commit to increasing the number of Indigenous employees with ongoing appointments throughout the institution, including Indigenous senior administrators
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Establish Indigenous-centred holistic services and learning environments for learner success
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Build relationships and be accountable to Indigenous communities in support of self-determination through education, training and applied research
Last year in the spirit of reconciliation, the Olds College Indigenous Advisory Circle, comprised of settlers and Indgenous members, worked with key partners including elders, Indigenous educators, community leaders and students to develop the Olds College Indigenous Relationship Building Strategy and Action Plan.
“Our goal is to foster an environment of respect and trust among all learners,” comments Dr. Peter Mal, Associate Vice President Students and Registrar at Olds College. “We humbly recognize that our Canadian history informs current and future action, and we wish to support Indigenous learners in an honest, truthful, and accountable manner as they pursue their studies with us.”
For more information on National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous People’s Day at Olds College,click here.