Why
Indigenous Affairs is responsible for hosting a range of activities on campus for students and staff for them to experience and participate in aspects of Indigenous culture, including the annual pow wow, lectures by Indigenous speakers and other events.
Dates and times in the calendar specifically commemorated by Indigenous Peoples in Canada should be a part of the University calendar.
Raise the profile of Indigenous intellectuals and activists by encouraging faculties to nominate at least one Indigenous person annually to receive an honorary doctorate.
When
Short term
How
Develop a list of dates and events that are central to the lives of Indigenous Canadians and ensure that uOttawa commemorates these dates. This list might include a dedicated holiday and/or days of observance such as Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), Riel Day (Nov 16), Treaty Recognition Week (Nov), etc., to make Indigenous life a part of the campus
Provide an annual reminder to faculties to consider nominating an Indigenous person who has had an impact on the lives of Indigenous societies for an honorary doctorate.
Cost
There are no incremental resource implications to acknowledging these types of dates or pursuing these types of honorifics.
Who
Communications Directorate | Ceremonies and Events | Provost | Deans (for nominations of honorary doctorate candidates)
Update
The University of Ottawa has successfully incorporated important FNMI commemorations into its institutional calendar, demonstrating a commitment to recognizing significant cultural events.
Building on this foundation, campus units can integrate Indigenous commemorations into their regular programming cycles and leverage existing event frameworks to maximize participation. Coordinating these efforts across the University helps embed Indigenous celebrations into the rhythm of campus life while optimizing available resources.