Integrating Indigenous perspectives into early childhood studies (ECS) and responding to the federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action are the goals of a landmark $1-million donation provided this month to the University of Guelph-Humber.
New funding from the Calgary-based Flanagan Foundation will support the hiring of an Indigenous faculty member through the University of Guelph as well as an Indigenous curriculum specialist for the ECS program offered at Guelph-Humber in Toronto.
The initiative will make Guelph-Humber one of only a few post-secondary ECS programs in Canada with a dedicated Indigenous faculty member, said Dr. Nikki Martyn, ECS program head.
Along with the new curriculum specialist, the new professor - to be hired through U of G's Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition (FRAN) - will help ensure that students gain exposure to Indigenous knowledge and experience.
Dr. Kim Anderson, a professor and Indigenous scholar in FRAN, has taught Indigenous units across the curriculum in her department and welcomes the expertise that an Indigenous early childhood education (ECE) professional will bring.
"This is a great opportunity to enhance child studies in FRAN," she said. "I'm very excited that our students will be able to learn about all the tremendous work that Indigenous communities have done in ECE over the years."
For more information
207 Humber College Blvd
Etobicoke Ontario
Canada M9W 5L7
www.guelphhumber.ca
