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What responsibility do we have as educators to decolonization? We know education is important but more than importance, education carries power. And that power has historically been used as a tool for oppression of Indigenous people. As educators, we can create new opportunities for Indigenous voices to be heard within post-secondary.

Indigenous pedagogies view land as a living being that teaches us a way to be in the world through relational and reciprocal relationships with all our relations. Deep wisdom, knowledge and understanding of the land are held by Traditional Knowledge Keepers.

The Indigenous Curriculum Grants, launched in 2022, aim to bring that knowledge into more academic courses and programs at the ��ݮ����Ƶ����. Offered by the , with support from the Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning) and the , the grants provide up to $10,000 to support initiatives that will advance Indigenous engagement and Indigenous perspectives in the curriculum.

"The Indigenous Curriculum Grants program creates spaces for Indigenous pedagogies and perspectives in teaching and learning at the ��ݮ����Ƶ����," says Dr. Michael Hart, PhD, vice-provost (Indigenous Engagement). "It's important to connect Indigenous knowledges and ways to student experiences, to align with ii' taa'poh'to'p (��ݮ����Ƶ����'s Indigenous Strategy) and make meaningful connections with Indigenous communities."

Previous grant holders have proposed projects on land-based learning, respectful engagement of Elders and/or Traditional Knowledge Keepers, resource development, and community engagement and consultation.

"Our institutions need to transform themselves in dialogue with Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing, and this work often begins with thoughtful teaching and learning practices," says Dr. Derritt Mason, PhD, acting senior director of the Taylor Institute. "These grants celebrate initiatives that align with the Indigenous Strategy's recommendations, and they support work happening across our faculties that centre Indigenous perspectives and pedagogies."

Grant applications are open until Jan. 31, 2025. Read the full grant details and criteria.