Maggie Quirt

In the wake of the release of the final report of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission, universities are being encouraged to “Indigenize the academy”. This initiative includes hiring more Indigenous faculty and staff, recruiting more Indigenous students, and ensuring that curricular offerings are written by and for Indigenous peoples. What is the role of a non-Indigenous ‘ally’ in this process? How might instructors encourage decolonizing practices at public academic institutions? In terms of teaching Indigenous content, where does solidarity end and appropriation begin? Most importantly, how can teachers of all kinds work with existing services at York, such as the Centre for Aboriginal Student Services (CASS) and the Indigenous Council (IC), to support Indigenous learners? This workshop will invite participants to share best practices so that teaching – and unlearning – can proceed in a good way.