The IEC, therefore, represents the interests and concerns of local Indigenous communities and is committed to the educational success of current and future Indigenous learners.  Its University-wide mandate is to develop and implement relevant policies, programming, services and spaces that affect and impact Indigenous postsecondary success.

The IEC will initiate a review of the terms of reference as needed to ensure their relevancy to the context in which they are working.

The Indigenous Education Council’s key goals are:

• create a respectful, inclusive environment within the University that values Indigenous languages, cultures, worldviews, histories, and knowledges
• foster a more culturally-sensitive and supportive environment that will help Indigenous students achieve their highest academic potential
• encourage the recruitment and participation of First Nations, Métis and Inuit in the University of Ottawa’s workforce
• facilitate intellectual partnerships with Indigenous peoples drawing on the traditional knowledges and cultural protocols of Indigenous teachings specific to different nations

The University of Ottawa, a publicly-funded institution receiving targeted Postsecondary Education Funding for Aboriginal Learners (PEFAL), has a responsibility to ensure that Indigenous people are consistently and regularly engaged in decision-making processes within the University. The University of Ottawa is therefore responsible for ensuring that the IEC, the body that represents local Indigenous communities, has direct access to the Board of Governors and the Senate. To accomplish this, the president or provost and vice president academic, or the academic delegate on Indigenous engagement of one or the other, will serve as a member of IEC.

Furthermore, the University of Ottawa’s academic delegate on Indigenous engagement will serve as the liaison between the IEC and senior administration by serving as co-chair or the IEC as well as chair of uOttawa’s Standing Committee on Indigenous Engagement, which will be the body that will assist the provost and vice-president academic to identify priorities and to develop policies required to implement activities and processes related to the University of Ottawa’s Indigenous portfolio. One member of the IEC will be appointed to sit on the Standing Committee.

The IEC is comprised of people from local Indigenous communities who work in partnership with the University of Ottawa to support the needs of Indigenous students, faculty and staff. It does this by identifying and articulating priorities for policy, program, and service development geared towards the successful recruitment, admission, retention, graduation and employability of Indigenous students along with the recruitment and retention of Indigenous faculty and staff.

Council’s responsibilities

To fulfill its responsibilities, the Indigenous Education Council will:

• Promote the academic and student support needs of Indigenous students success by assisting in the development of programs, services, and policies.
• Approve the PEFAL operational budget and review activities outlined in the work plan on a quarterly basis.
• Promote the University’s programs and services to Indigenous communities by encouraging and maintaining communication with Indigenous communities and their education authorities.
• Provide knowledge and expertise in developing, on a cyclical basis, the uOttawa Indigenous Action Plan, which will become a part of the University-wide strategic plan.
• Support the University of Ottawa’s Indigenous Resource Centre activities and staff.
• Advise and support the University in the recruitment and retention of Indigenous faculty and staff.
• Advise and participate in financial planning and decision making with regards to externally generated funds specifically targeting Indigenous education, such as PEFAL.

Community members 

Anita Tenasco, director of education, Kitigan Zibi Education Sector, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg (or delegate)

Veronica Jacobs, postsecondary manager, Ahkwesahsne Mohawk Board of Education (or delegate)

Della Meness, manager, education services, Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation (or delegate)

Jennifer Lafrenière, director of employment and education at Tungasuvvingat Inuit (or delegate)

Marie-Louise Perron, councillor, Ottawa Region Métis Council (or delegate)

Karen Green, lawyer and consultant, citizen of the Tyendinega Mohawk Territory

uOttawa student members

Tagwanibisan Armitage-Smith, undergraduate student representative

Monica Cote, graduate student representative  

uOttawa staff support

Claudette Commanda, elder-in-residence, Faculty of Law

Jerome Lanouette, director of Indigenous affairs (interim)

Brenda Macdougall, academic delegate for Indigenous engagement