College/Institute Faculty, Staff and Administrators
- Prepare the college/institute community for the proposed increases in Aboriginal
students, as well as new Aboriginal programming and services. In order for Aboriginal
students to feel welcome and included, Aboriginal cultures also have to be welcomed
and included. An innovative practice in this area is provided by Georgian College
through the Native Way Training (12 full days) provided to all of the Senior Management,
before any services or programs were ever brought on board. This was a clear
demonstration that the College was committed to the Aboriginal community. This was
only the first of such training opportunities and Georgian College continues to provide
this type of training as much as possible to both staff and students.
- Institutions need to acknowledge that racism does exist and must work to ensure that
new faculty and student success staff receive cross-cultural and anti-discrimination
training, and include cross-cultural skills and knowledge as a core competency for
college/institute staff.
- Hire Aboriginal faculty who are knowledgeable about and experienced with Aboriginal
communities and issues.
- It is important that college and institute administrators have sensitivity and support the
consultative approaches required for working effectively with Aboriginal communities.
Program and Service Funding
- Ensure that the decision making and budgeting process related to Aboriginal
programming and services is transparent and open to the Aboriginal community.
Partnerships
- Building and developing partnerships is key, and how to take care of those partnerships
so that they mean more that just financial arrangements.
- It is important that institutions that partner with the Aboriginal communities have a
shared vision and shared resource, financial base.
Words of Wisdom
- Maintain a balanced approach to new initiatives: respecting the past while planning the
future. “The teachings of the circle."
- Absolutely - be learner-centered!
- Share and maintain complete openness.
- Understand the funding complexities.
- Listen.
- Don't assume.