Principles

1. Ensure institutional commitment at every level to develop opportunities for Indigenous students.
2. Be student-centered: focus on the learners, learning outcomes and learning abilities, and create opportunities that promote student success.
3. Recognize the importance of indigenization of curricula through responsive academic programming, support programs, orientations, and pedagogies.
4. Recognize the importance of Indigenous education leadership through representation at the governance level and within faculty, professional and administrative staff.
5. Continue to build welcoming and respectful learning environments on campuses through the implementation of academic programs, services, support mechanisms, and spaces dedicated to Indigenous students.
6. Continue to develop resources, spaces and approaches that promote dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.
7. Continue to develop accessible learning environments off-campus.
8. Recognize the value of promoting partnerships among educational and local Indigenous communities and continue to maintain a collaborative and consultative process on the specific needs of Indigenous students.
9. Build on successful experiences and initiatives already in place at universities across the country to share and learn from promising practices, while recognizing the differences in jurisdictional and institutional mission.
10. Recognize the importance of sharing information within the institution, and beyond, to inform current and prospective Indigenous students of the array of services, programs and supports available to them on campus.
11. Recognize the importance of providing greater exposure and knowledge for non-Indigenous students on the realities, histories, cultures and beliefs of Indigenous people in Canada.
12. Recognize the importance of fostering intercultural engagement among Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, faculty and staff.
13. Recognize the role of institutions in creating an enabling and supportive environment for a successful and high-quality K-12 experience for Aboriginal youth.

Recognizing that other stakeholders have a role to play – governments, businesses, Indigenous organizations – university leaders also commit to the following actions to bring these principles to life:

1. Raise awareness within institutions about the importance of facilitating access and success for Indigenous students on campus.
2. Raise awareness among government partners and stakeholders of these commitments and the importance of investing in sustainable initiatives that advance higher education opportunities for Indigenous youth.
3. Raise awareness in public discourse of positive Indigenous students’ experience in university and their contributions to Canadian society.
4. Develop partnerships with the private sector to foster opportunities for Indigenous people.
5. Continue to listen to and collaborate with Indigenous communities.

https://www.univcan.ca/media-room/media-releases/universities-canada-principles-on-indigenous-education/