Welcome to spring! A time of renewal and new beginnings. For us at Indigenous Initiatives, we are leaning into this time of connection, growth, and care. Are you planting seeds for future projects? Students are fantastic leaders in teaching and learning and now is a great time to begin exploring ways we can support students stepping into leadership. We recommend checking out the March Classroom Climate workshop: Student-led Indigenization and Curriculum Review! Join us for an engaging afternoon with faculty and students from the Coordinated Arts Program and learn how they welcomed Indigenous students to complete a student-led curriculum review. We are excited to see you there!

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What role(s) can students play in Indigenizing our curriculum? This workshop will walk through the steps our team has followed in incorporating the perspectives of Indigenous students as we work on goals related to the Indigenous Strategic Plan (ISP). In the Coordinated Arts Program’s (CAP) ISP self-assessment, the experiences of Indigenous students in our First Year, university gateway program were unknown. Dr. Husain then led an initiative to hire two Indigenous former students to plan and enact a student-led review of curriculum and study experiences. The resulting work our team has done over the past year and a half has informed curricular changes in CAP and addresses some concerns raised in scholarship around institutional Indigenization efforts. 

Date: March 25, 2025
Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: Irving K. Barber Learning Center, Room 2.22

We welcome you to attend one of CTLT Indigenous Initiatives‘ monthly Virtual Coffee Hours. They are an informal space to connect with consultants on the team and other colleagues across the university. Some common topics that come up include:  

• Professional development plans for individuals, teams, and departments  
• Engaging with the Indigenous Strategic Plan
• Fostering a respectful classroom and campus climate
• Connecting with a network of people across the university
• Locating relevant resources
• Meaningful land acknowledgements

…and more!

Upcoming Dates: 

• March 27, 2025
• April 22, 2025
• May 21, 2025

Drop-in yoga and fitness classes for Indigenous students and staff are available at the Longhouse, instructed by Dr. Rosalin Miles. Made possible through the Healthy Workplace Initiatives Fund, six classes are offered throughout Term 2, 2024W. In the fast-paced environment of university life, yoga and fitness provide essential benefits:

• Stress Relief and Mental Clarity: Escape academic pressures and find relaxation through yoga and light cardio band exercises. It helps manage stress, reduce anxiety, and enhances mindfulness for better focus.
• Physical Health and Wellbeing: Improve your fitness, flexibility, and posture while fostering community connections among peers.

Classes feature band workouts, as well as Yin and Hatha yoga, focusing on breath work, meditation, mindfulness, and gentle stretches. Yoga mats, blocks, and bands will be provided to those who need them.

Dates: March 31
Location: Multipurpose Room, East Wing
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM