It's been three years since President Mohamed Lachemi struck the Standing Strong Task Force, and just over two years since the task force released their final report with 22 recommendations. TMU is taking this time to reflect on progress of the work and what's ahead.
President Mohamed Lachemi struck the Standing Strong Task Force (SSTF) nearly three years ago, in November 2020, to seek an understanding of both Egerton Ryerson's life and legacy and the role of commemoration in our community.
Over the following nine months, the SSTF oversaw an in-depth historical research project, a two-month community engagement period and learned from Traditional Knowledge Keepers and various subject matter experts about the life and legacy of Egerton Ryerson, statues as forms of public art and memorialization, the history of colonization, Traditional Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and place-making, the naming of public spaces, the Indian Residential School System, the public education system, segregated and separate schooling, Truth and Reconciliation, and the uses of commemoration.
The 22 recommendations in the Standing Strong Task Force Report reflect the SSTF's learning, the voices of TMU's community members and the deeply held values of our university. In August, 2021 the recommendations were unanimously approved by the Board of Governors, marking the start of our Next Chapter - a chapter that builds on TMU's history and addresses the legacy of Egerton Ryerson.
The work to date
"We are delighted by the progress of the Next Chapter initiatives over the past two years," says Catherine Ellis, professor, and co-chair of the SSTF. "The unprecedented levels of community input that shaped the SSTF recommendations have continued throughout all our work as a community, and the continuity of engagement is evidence of the interest and commitment to the work."
All of the SSTF's 22 recommendations reflect on the legacies of colonialism in our education system, says Ellis, with an emphasis on a path forward. "They reflect the kind of ancestors we wish to become, or the legacies that we are creating. The Next Chapter carries on that spirit by bringing the community together to create institutional change that will have an ongoing impact."
Since the Board's approval of the Standing Strong Task Force Report and Recommendations, the university has made great progress and remains committed to ensuring all 22 recommendations are addressed in a timely and meaningful way.
To date, the university has undertaken the renaming of the university, including changing signage on campus, transforming old branded materials into something new and selecting a new mascot.
Introducing Indigenous Ways of Knowing into courses across campus has been underway, and with the creation of the new role, special advisor to the president, equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization, this will be made a priority over the coming years.
University educators are introducing Indigenous Ways of Knowing into their courses across the university, including in science and business. Jennifer Simpson is the special advisor to President Mohamed Lachemi and is actively working to ensure academic programs across the university contain learning opportunities about Indigenous history and Indigenous and colonial relations for all students.
The university launched its Black Studies minor in the fall of 2022, among the first of its kind in Canada, with courses from 13 departments and schools within the Faculty of Arts, The Creative School and the Ted Rogers School of Management.
TMU reflected back on its past, commemorating the last 75 years of scholarship and achievements.
New artworks are a result of the recommendations as well, with one large-scale mural on Kerr Hall West and The Ring installed at the intersection of Gould and Nelson Mandela Walk.
New public art has been commissioned for our campus spaces, including The Ring installed at the intersection of Gould and Nelson Mandela Walk to honour the Dish with One Spoon Territory, and the large-scale mural on Kerr Hall West that's meant to unify the traditions and cultural legacies of the Arctic and Amazon regions and honour global Indigeneity.
New community spaces have been prioritized and created, to increase everyone's connection to campus. The Black Student Lounge, Indigenous Student Centre and International Student Support offer affirming places where students across marginalized identities can heal, access resources and find connection in shared experiences.
Ted Rogers announced its planning phase to develop an Indigenous Healing Garden in the outdoor courtyard of the school, and a few plots in the ENG rooftop garden were designated to grow culturally significant crops for the Indigenous Foodways program. In 2022, this program was expanded to the rooftop garden on the Daphne Cockwell Complex.
"The SSTF's work presented our campus with knowledge, but there is a difference between knowledge and understanding - understanding requires relationships," says Joanne Okimawininew Dallaire, Elder (Ke Shay Hayo) and senior advisor, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, and co-chair of the SSTF. "Over the past two years, it is the relationships that have been developed through each initiative that have fostered an understanding of who we are and who we want to be that have made the progress so successful."
Two years later, much has been accomplished, but the work is ongoing. Guided by the university's values, the SSTF continues to invite all students, faculty, staff and others to celebrate the progress we've made while continuing to learn and contribute as co-authors of our Next Chapter. Have your voice heard by participating in the Next Chapter Community Check-in survey for students, faculty, staff and the wider TMU community and share with us your thoughts on what our Next Chapter could look like and what you'd like your role to be.
