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| School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies (Trent University) | |
|---|---|
| Name | School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies |
| Parent institution | Trent University |
| Established | 2006 |
| Location | Peterborough, Ontario |
School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies (Trent University) is an interdisciplinary academic unit located at Trent University's Symons Campus in Peterborough, Ontario. The School brings together programs, research, and community engagement focused on the histories, cultures, and contemporary issues of Indigenous peoples in Canada, situating those within broader Canadian contexts such as the legacies of Treaty of Niagara (1764), the impacts of the Indian Act (1876), and the work of commissions like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. It collaborates with Indigenous Nations, national organizations, and institutions including the Assembly of First Nations, Métis National Council, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
The School was created within Trent University amid institutional reforms influenced by events such as the release of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the establishment of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres. Its founding reflected initiatives at comparable centres like the Centre for Indigenous Studies (University of Toronto), the First Nations House (McGill University), and the Department of Indigenous Studies (University of British Columbia). Early leadership engaged with figures and organizations including Shane Doyle, Robbie Dean, the Peterborough Native Advisory Circle, and scholars who had connections to programs at Ryerson University, Queen's University, and Wilfrid Laurier University. Over time the School responded to national milestones such as the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action and provincial policy shifts from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (Ontario).
The School offers undergraduate and graduate pathways that draw on methodologies and content associated with scholars like Taiaiake Alfred, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Glen Coulthard, and Bonita Lawrence. Programs include majors, minors, and honours degrees with coursework referencing texts by Scholars such as Howard Adams, Margaret Kovach, Evelyn Peters, and archival materials from institutions like the Library and Archives Canada and the Canadian Museum of History. Courses examine treaties such as the Treaty of Niagara, legal landmarks including R. v. Sparrow, policy frameworks like the Indian Act (1876), and cultural productions by artists associated with National Film Board of Canada collections. Joint offerings and cross-listed courses connect with departments and programs at Ontario Tech University, Queen's University, and University of Toronto.
Research at the School intersects with centres including the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies-style initiatives, local archives, and collaborative hubs tied to agencies such as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Projects have engaged with subjects like residential schools in Canada, archival repatriation with partners such as the Royal Ontario Museum, and Indigenous-led environmental stewardship connected to cases like Grassy Narrows First Nation and legal processes like Tsilhqot'in Nation v British Columbia. Researchers publish in venues alongside work by Lynn Gehl, John Borrows, Joanne Barker, and institutions such as the Native Women's Association of Canada.
Partnerships include formal relationships with local Nations and organizations such as the Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First Nation, the Mnjikaning First Nation, and urban Indigenous organizations like the Peterborough Native Services. The School collaborates on community-led initiatives, cultural revitalization programs inspired by leaders such as Wab Kinew and Ellen Gabriel, and educational exchanges with bodies like the National Association of Indigenous Friendship Centres. Engagement practices reflect frameworks articulated by Indigenous advocates including Florence Payée and Pam Palmater and respond to national dialogues exemplified by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Faculty comprise interdisciplinary scholars, community elders, and artists with affiliations to universities such as University of Victoria, University of Manitoba, McMaster University, and University of Calgary. Administrative structures align with university governance bodies including the Trent University Senate and the Trent University Board of Governors. Notable visiting scholars and adjunct faculty have included figures connected to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada-adjacent research, leaders from the Assembly of First Nations, and contributors to anthologies alongside Michelle Hopkins and Kim Anderson.
Students engage with peer networks and organizations like campus Indigenous student groups modeled after the Native Student Association (Toronto), cultural events featuring artists akin to Kent Monkman and Santee Smith, and academic supports comparable to the Trent International Student Services and the Trent Centre for Community-Based Education. Services include elder-in-residence programs, language reclamation workshops drawing on Anishinaabemowin and Cree resources, and practicum placements with partners such as Indspire and Indigenous Services Canada.
Located on Symons Campus, facilities include seminar rooms, an Indigenous resource commons, and archives informed by collaborations with repositories like the Peterborough Museum & Archives and the Trent University Archives. Campus landscapes connect to traditional territories recognized in statements referencing Nations such as the Mississauga of Scugog Island First Nation and regional treaty relationships. The School’s physical spaces host ceremonies, wampum displays, and exhibitions that have featured artists and curators associated with institutions like the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the Bata Shoe Museum.