(Ottawa – June 21, 2023) The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day and honours the significant contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities in Canada. On this day, CAUT celebrates Indigenous peoples’ achievements in universities and colleges, while recognizing the need for further action to be taken toward greater Indigenization of post-secondary education and national reconciliation.

“CAUT and its member associations have worked with Indigenous members to ensure our collective agreements and practices promote and respect the rights of Indigenous faculty, staff and students,” said CAUT president Peter McInnis.

To guide academic staff associations’ Indigenization work at universities and colleges across Canada, CAUT’s Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education Working Group has created a checklist for the Indigenization of the academy.

Indigenization of the academy begins with implementing the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report, specifically those related to post-secondary education.

This National Indigenous Peoples Day, CAUT encourages its members to reflect on concrete and transformative ways to restore, renew and regenerate Indigenous knowledge, practices, and languages in the academy.