As part of actions to mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and a decade since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, Trent University is launching a refreshed Indigenous Protocol Guidebook and new Indigenous Resources and Initiatives website to support ongoing work to advance learning and reconciliation across the campus and community.

“As part of Trent’s leadership and ongoing journey toward reconciliation, I recognize that sustained efforts in truth-seeking and education are essential to the whole process of reconciliation and taking action,” says Dr. Cathy Bruce, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “The updated Trent guidebook and new website represent important steps in advancing knowledge and supporting the learning of all, with resources that encourage understanding, reflection, and respectful engagement.”

The updated Indigenous Protocol Guidebook is a reflection of Trent’s long-standing commitment to creating spaces of dignity and respect for Indigenous Peoples, promoting dialogue and collaboration, and contributing to reconciliation. Trent’s 60 years of leadership in Indigenous education and Indigenization is a history of firsts, including establishing Canada’s first Indigenous Studies program and appointing the country’s first Indigenous chancellor.

The guidebook provides students, faculty, and staff with information and support on relationship-building and developing deeper understanding of the Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg, on whose treaty and traditional territory Trent’s campuses are situated. First published in 2019, the now expanded and updated guidebook includes information about Inuit, Métis and Urban Indigenous Peoples, alongside local history, treaty responsibilities, and cultural practices.

The new Indigenous Initiatives website serves as a centralized hub that brings together educational resources like the Protocol Guidebook, cultural knowledge, and community-driven initiatives. It encompasses a wide array of video and written resources, including cultural teachings, academic programming, student support, community partnerships, and information about Indigenous events and observances. Visitors will also find updates on institutional initiatives and tools to guide engagement with Indigenous communities.

“Reconciliation begins with understanding where we stand,” said Professor Jack Hoggarth, chair of Anishinaabe Knowledge and assistant professor in the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies at Trent. “As Senator Murray Sinclair-iban (Mazina Giizhik-iban) reminds us, ‘Reconciliation is not an Aboriginal problem; it is a Canadian one. It requires the whole of society to change.’ The Truth and Reconciliation Commission charged all of us with uncovering the full truth of Canada’s history and living out its 94 Calls to Action.

"To answer that call, we must learn about the Anishinaabeg and the many Nations across Turtle Island, face the enduring impacts of settler colonialism, and build relationships rooted in reciprocity. In doing so, our Trent community can honour those truths and walk together toward a future of justice, mutual respect, and shared responsibility.”

In addition to introducing these resources, Trent will offer a series of on-campus commemorations and learning opportunities on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. These events will provide space for reflection, dialogue, and community gathering, honouring survivors and their families while encouraging the Trent community to deepen their understanding of reconciliation.

The campus and wider community are invited to both campuses for ceremony and connection. A sunrise ceremony will be hosted at 6:30 a.m., and a campus wide gathering and moment of silence at 9:30 a.m., both at the Champlain College Fire Pit on Trent’s West Bank of the Symons Campus.  A ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Durham Campus Medicine Garden.

In the latest episode of Making Strides, President Bruce speaks with Dr. Jackson Pind, assistant professor in the Chanie Wenjack School of Indigenous Studies, about truth and reconciliation. They discuss insights from Professor Pind’s new book, Students By Day, about the former Indian Day School at Curve Lake First Nation, and the role of youth and young generations. Watch the full episode at trentu.ca/makingstrides.

Visit the new Indigenous Resources and Initiatives website. For more information on National Truth and Reconciliation Day commemorations, as well as resources, visit trentu.ca/truthandreconciliationday.