WLU launches first-ever Indigenous Strategic Plan

Wilfrid Laurier University has announced the implementation of its first-ever Indigenous Strategic Plan.

The announcement came as the school, the province, and the country marked National Indigenous Peoples Day on Wednesday.

In doing so, WLU said the new plan is aimed at weaving Indigenous knowledge, perspectives, and experiences into the fabric of the university itself.

“We’re trying to Indigenize something that is inherently non-Indigenous,” said Darren Thomas, Associate Vice-President: Indigenous Initiatives, Wilfrid Laurier University.

“When we think about a university we think about the academy of higher learning, we know its roots are from Western Europe, and now we’re trying to take the opportunity; how do we bring Indigenous thought and philosophy into the university setting in moving beyond just token gestures.”

Thomas said the plan looks to act on a number of sector-related Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

These include calls to close an educational attainment gap for Indigenous learners, to respect and honour treaty relationships, to support Indigenous languages, to integrate Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods into classrooms, and to advance an understanding of reconciliation through research.

Thomas did also note, however, the plan does not promise overnight results.

“There just is ongoing barriers,” he said. “These systems are so entrenched in the way in which they do things, to try to transform them into a different way of operation takes time–and it takes resources.”

“I’m one person, I’ve got a strong team, but part of that is building the team. So we’ve hired more staff, we’ve hired more Indigenous faculty, and we’re seeing more Indigenous students come to our campus.”

The university also said some parts of the new plan are already in action, including the international recruitment of Indigenous faculty and new educational programming aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of Indigenization, reconciliation, and decolonization within the university community.