< Programs & Services
ABORIGINAL STUDIES
A Gathering Place
It wasn’t long ago that Aboriginal perspectives in the academy were virtually non-existent. Proudly, the University of Toronto was one of a handful of universities in Canada to first open its doors to Aboriginal Studies as a discipline.
Aboriginal Studies at U of T was first launched in 1994 at the downtown St. George campus with a minor program and only two course offerings. It didn’t take long for students to demonstrate their interest through increased enrolment and the demand for more Aboriginal perspectives in university curriculum. By 1999, the program had grown to offer a major and five courses. Years later, the program is still growing, now including a specialist option and over 20 courses taught by a group of exceptional Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars.
Today the University of Toronto prides itself on upholding respect for the diversity of ‘Indigenous intellectual heritages’, a term coined by former program Director Dr. Keren Rice. Recognizing the significance of language in the Aboriginal worldview the University offers Ojibwa, Iroquoian (Oneida) and Inuktitut courses at the introductory, intermediate and advanced levels. Just recently, students and faculty co-created an advanced Ojibwa language course with social interactive events to facilitate language acquisition. Alex McKay, the Ojibwa teacher, is also working on a language room where students will be immersed into a complete learning environment.
Aboriginal Studies also offers courses in a broad spectrum of disciplines – crossing the arts, social sciences, and humanities with courses in Aboriginal history, literature, geography, governance, health and healing. Course favorites include “Indigenous Theatre”, “Oral Tradition”, “Aboriginal Visual Expression and Methodology in Aboriginal Studies”. Perhaps, the cross-disciplinary nature of Aboriginal Studies is due to the nature of Indigenous knowledge itself; a complex system of knowledge rooted in language, land and history.
Over the years, the program has not only grown in terms of its course offerings, it has also expanded in terms of its physical presence on campus. Dr. Rice places emphasis on this reclamation of space: “Physical space is so important, as it breathes life into activities”.
The welcoming space draws in students from all backgrounds and the value of their coming together is palatable when visiting the program’s new site on the 2nd floor of the North Borden Building. With consultation from the Aboriginal community including Elders-in-Residence, students, staff and faculty, the department began its design and reconstruction for these offices in 2005. The vision was to co-create a space that would serve as a gathering place for Aboriginal people and the university community.
The Aboriginal Studies area is shared with the Centre of Aboriginal Initiatives – a newly developed centre that aims to contribute to Aboriginal research at the University of Toronto and in the wider community.
The importance of fostering community is nurtured in the program’s work, and with the commitment to not just recreate a new gathering place for Aboriginal peoples. The program’s new location is strategically situated below First Nations House (FNH) – Aboriginal Student Services at U of T. First Nations House has been physically grounded at the North Borden Building location since 1993 and has historically served as a bridge between the Aboriginal community and the University. The shared geographic location not only encourages partnerships between staff, students and faculty, it also gathers people at a common ground. Arguably, the meeting of people at a common place develops a synergy for the cultivation of respectful relationships that guide the collective teachings, partnerships and research projects between Aboriginal Studies, the Centre for Aboriginal Initiatives, First Nations House and the Aboriginal community at large.
There is so much exciting work happening through the ongoing relationships already built into the programming as well as through upcoming initiatives. Expertise and traditional grounding continued to be an important feature of the program when in 2007 Dr. Eileen Antone (Oneida) was appointed the Director. The program is committed to hiring more Indigenous faculty through joint appointments with other departments in the University. Hiring Indigenous faculty will bring new and exciting scholars to the University. Beyond the undergraduate program, Aboriginal Studies and the Centre for Aboriginal Initiatives are engaged in the early planning for the development of a Master’s program. In many ways, the Aboriginal Studies program is a gathering place – the gathering of people, ideas, community and spiritual energy through common ground, respect for ancestors and Indigenous knowledge(s) past, present and future.
For more information about the Aboriginal Studies Program at the University of Toronto please refer to the website at www.utoronto.ca/abs/
Candace Brunette
ABORIGINAL STUDIES
A Gathering Place
It wasn’t long ago that Aboriginal perspectives in the academy were virtually non-existent. Proudly, the University of Toronto was one of a handful of universities in Canada to first open its doors to Aboriginal Studies as a discipline.
Aboriginal Studies at U of T was first launched in 1994 at the downtown St. George campus with a minor program and only two course offerings. It didn’t take long for students to demonstrate their interest through increased enrolment and the demand for more Aboriginal perspectives in university curriculum. By 1999, the program had grown to offer a major and five courses. Years later, the program is still growing, now including a specialist option and over 20 courses taught by a group of exceptional Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars.
Today the University of Toronto prides itself on upholding respect for the diversity of ‘Indigenous intellectual heritages’, a term coined by former program Director Dr. Keren Rice. Recognizing the significance of language in the Aboriginal worldview the University offers Ojibwa, Iroquoian (Oneida) and Inuktitut courses at the introductory, intermediate and advanced levels. Just recently, students and faculty co-created an advanced Ojibwa language course with social interactive events to facilitate language acquisition. Alex McKay, the Ojibwa teacher, is also working on a language room where students will be immersed into a complete learning environment.
Aboriginal Studies also offers courses in a broad spectrum of disciplines – crossing the arts, social sciences, and humanities with courses in Aboriginal history, literature, geography, governance, health and healing. Course favorites include “Indigenous Theatre”, “Oral Tradition”, “Aboriginal Visual Expression and Methodology in Aboriginal Studies”. Perhaps, the cross-disciplinary nature of Aboriginal Studies is due to the nature of Indigenous knowledge itself; a complex system of knowledge rooted in language, land and history.
Over the years, the program has not only grown in terms of its course offerings, it has also expanded in terms of its physical presence on campus. Dr. Rice places emphasis on this reclamation of space: “Physical space is so important, as it breathes life into activities”.
The welcoming space draws in students from all backgrounds and the value of their coming together is palatable when visiting the program’s new site on the 2nd floor of the North Borden Building. With consultation from the Aboriginal community including Elders-in-Residence, students, staff and faculty, the department began its design and reconstruction for these offices in 2005. The vision was to co-create a space that would serve as a gathering place for Aboriginal people and the university community.
The Aboriginal Studies area is shared with the Centre of Aboriginal Initiatives – a newly developed centre that aims to contribute to Aboriginal research at the University of Toronto and in the wider community.
The importance of fostering community is nurtured in the program’s work, and with the commitment to not just recreate a new gathering place for Aboriginal peoples. The program’s new location is strategically situated below First Nations House (FNH) – Aboriginal Student Services at U of T. First Nations House has been physically grounded at the North Borden Building location since 1993 and has historically served as a bridge between the Aboriginal community and the University. The shared geographic location not only encourages partnerships between staff, students and faculty, it also gathers people at a common ground. Arguably, the meeting of people at a common place develops a synergy for the cultivation of respectful relationships that guide the collective teachings, partnerships and research projects between Aboriginal Studies, the Centre for Aboriginal Initiatives, First Nations House and the Aboriginal community at large.
There is so much exciting work happening through the ongoing relationships already built into the programming as well as through upcoming initiatives. Expertise and traditional grounding continued to be an important feature of the program when in 2007 Dr. Eileen Antone (Oneida) was appointed the Director. The program is committed to hiring more Indigenous faculty through joint appointments with other departments in the University. Hiring Indigenous faculty will bring new and exciting scholars to the University. Beyond the undergraduate program, Aboriginal Studies and the Centre for Aboriginal Initiatives are engaged in the early planning for the development of a Master’s program. In many ways, the Aboriginal Studies program is a gathering place – the gathering of people, ideas, community and spiritual energy through common ground, respect for ancestors and Indigenous knowledge(s) past, present and future.
For more information about the Aboriginal Studies Program at the University of Toronto please refer to the website at www.utoronto.ca/abs/
Candace Brunette
