(Ottawa – June 21, 2024) On National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) honours the enduring achievements and culture of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada.

The day is a reminder to affirm our individual and collective commitments to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission 94 calls to action. CAUT encourages academic staff associations to negotiate amendments to collective agreements to advance greater Indigenization at universities and colleges.

“CAUT and our member associations have pushed for meaningful action on all the recommendations contained in the TRC report, and we will continue to engage with Indigenous members for greater respect of Indigenous knowledge and thought in post-secondary education,” said CAUT president Peter McInnis.

On October 4 and 5, 2024, CAUT is organizing the Aboriginal Academic Staff Conference in Regina, Saskatchewan, to take stock of accomplishments and discuss Indigenous representation and recognition of Indigenous knowledge in post-secondary education.

To guide academic staff associations’ conversations about the experience of Indigenous academic staff and the effectiveness of Indigenization plans, CAUT’s Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education Working Group created an Indigenization of the Academy checklist.

As we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, CAUT shares academic staff associations’ commitment to setting up equitable policies and practices and urges academic staff to engage in meaningful dialogue, leading to understanding and reconciliation.