Territorial recognition

A Sincere Co-creation Process

It is following the initiation of a sincere and sustained co-creation process with members of Indigenous communities that UQAT adopted the principle of territorial recognition. The Mamawi Mikimodan Service (working together) coordinated the process leading to the development of UQAT's territorial recognition principle. This service, reporting to the Vice-Rectorate for Reconciliation and International and Partnership Development, provides support for reconciliation through education and dialogue and works closely with First Peoples.

Creation of a Multidisciplinary Working Committee

An ad hoc joint committee was created with the mandate to reflect on the notion of territorial recognition with the aim of developing a representative statement that could be put into practice through concrete actions within UQAT.

Members of the Territorial Recognition Committee:

Sébastien Brodeur-Girard, School of Indigenous Studies, UQAT
Frédérique Cornellier, Mamawi Mikimodan Service (working together), UQAT
Sipi Flamand, Atikamekw Nehirowisiw, postgraduate student, UQAT
Nadine Gaudaur, Anicinape, Timiskaming First Nation
Chantal Gervais, First Peoples Pavilion (Val-d’Or Campus), UQAT
Tom Mapachee, Anicinape Elder, Pikogan
Isabelle Mapachee, Anicinape, Pikogan
Janet Mark, Eeyou, Mamawi Mikimodan Service (working together), UQAT
Allan McLaren, Anicinape, Timiskaming First Nation
Bérénice Mollen-Dupuis, Innu, Continuing Education Service, UQAT
Philippe Nadon, postgraduate student, UQAT
Kevin Papatie, Anicinape, Kitcisakik
Véronique Paul, Training, Development and Research Unit in Indigenous Context, UQAT
Éric Rosa, Institute for Mining and Environmental Research, UQAT
Linh Tran, Vice-Rectorate for Reconciliation and International and Partnership Development, UQAT

Developing an Authentic Principle

The Territorial Recognition Committee's work and reflections were conducted over several months. The word Pekact, which means "to take the time", punctuated the progress of the committee's reflections and decisions with the aim of respecting the pace and commitment of each person, while at the same time being in line with the desire expressed by the Indigenous persons to do things carefully, without rushing.

This pace allowed the reflections to emerge and led to the formulation of a strong, true principle approved by the whole group. Thus, the members met on several occasions, with working sessions taking place from January to November 2022.

Winter 2022 Creation of the Committee and Initiation of Reflections Learn more
Creation of the Committee and Initiation of Reflections
People with diverse backgrounds from the university community as well as from various Indigenous nations, such as Anicinape, Atikamekw, Eeyou and Innu, took part in this large-scale project. Whether in relation to education, territory, indigenous governance, cultures, languages or history, the Committee members' experiences and backgrounds are both rich and varied.

The committee based its work on the following principles:

Respect for people, their views and different knowledge for fruitful collaboration and co-development of knowledge;

Réciprocity of shared knowledge so that exchanges are made in a spirit of give and take;

Empathy between Committee members regarding the shared advice and recommendations.

The Committee had 14 members who met certain criteria established in advance and was assisted by a secretarial resource person:

Knowledge and experience related to territory and territorial recognition;

Diversity in the representation of First Peoples who attend and are part of UQAT;

Availability and interest in participating in the Committee's work, in order to ensure that the Committee remains stable throughout its mandate.
Spring-Summer 2022 Meetings with invited persons, exchanges, research and documentation on territorial recognition Learn more

Meetings with invited persons, exchanges, research and documentation on territorial recognition

An initial meeting allowed the Committee to familiarise itself with UQAT's mission and vision, to learn more about the various territorial recognition statements formulated elsewhere in Canada and to identify what this process represents from a personal point of view.

The following three meetings aimed to listen to the views of invited guests on territorial recognition. It was therefore through discussions with Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, who addressed various notions to feed the discussions, that the working committee members had to reflect on the notion of territorial recognition in an academic context. Members had the opportunity to meet Alexis Wawanoloath, Richard Kistabish, Maurice J. Kistabish, Pauline Lameboy, Pierre Corbeil, Éric Cardinal and Carole Lévesque.

In addition to these presentations, the members consulted several resources on the subject, including video clips, texts by Indigenous authors, reports and others. In order to keep track of the ideas proposed throughout the process, a compilation of the content exchanged was made after each meeting. Based on these summaries, a report was drafted and presented to the members during a brainstorming day held in Val-d'Or in the presence of three Anicinape Elders, namely Alice Jérôme (Pikogan community), Bernadette Cooper and Gilles Wabanonik (Lac-Simon community).

This brainstorming provided an opportunity to take stock of the progress made and to define the terms to be prioritised for the drafting of the territorial recognition principle, but also to identify concrete actions to be implemented in the process.
Summer 2022 Drafting of Statement by the Drafting Sub-committee Learn more

Drafting of Statement by the Drafting Sub-committee

Following the consultation day, a Drafting Sub-committee was set up. During the summer, this sub-committee developed a territorial recognition statement and identified concrete actions that would allow members of the university community to integrate and implement the territorial recognition principle.
Fall 2022 Validation of the Principle by the Committee Learn more

Validation of the Principle by the Committee

In early fall, the Committee members met to validate the proposed statement and the concrete actions developed. This meeting made it possible to clarify the drafting process, to specify certain terms used and to improve the statement so that it accurately reflects the members' discussions.
Fall 2022 Start of Internal Consultations at UQAT Learn more
Start of Internal Consultations at UQAT
Following the Committee's validation of the territorial recognition principle, an internal consultation process was conducted by the Mamawi Mikimodan Service (working together) to present the principle to staff members and the student community, explaining the process and its rationale. These consultations allowed people to ask questions, make suggestions and discuss the issue.

In addition to the three meetings proposed to the university community members, various UQAT authorities were informed and consulted, namely:

Board of Directors (twice)

Strategic Steering Committee

School of Indigenous Studies

Executive Committee

URFDEMA

Academic Council

UQAT's Indigenous students also received an email in which an explanatory video presented the entire process as well as the statement and the concrete actions. Those who wished to do so could contact the Mamawi Mikimodan Service (working together) to discuss, ask questions or provide clarifications.

At the end of the internal consultation process, the Committee met to discuss the issues and points raised during the consultation sessions. As there were many questions about some of the terms used in the statement, it was agreed to make changes and clarifications to the principle in order to come up with a final corrected and approved version.
Winter 2023 Adoption of the Principle by UQAT's Board of Directors Learn more

Adoption of the Principle by UQAT's Board of Directors

The territorial recognition principle was officially adopted by UQAT’s Board of Directors on February 7, 2023.
Summer 2023 Unveiling of the Territorial Recognition Principle Learn more

Unveiling of the Territorial Recognition Principle

UQAT's territorial recognition principle was presented at a rallying event on June 19, 2023, and various actions have been implemented in order to raise awareness of the approach, promote the deployment of the principle and share guidelines for using it.

What emerges from the co-creation process is the importance of recognition, in a broad sense. It is important to underline the First Peoples' contribution, in terms of knowledge, cultures, languages, history, presence, ethics, legal orders, etc. Concrete actions are essential to the ongoing process, as they support the statement and are part of a larger process of decolonisation and reconciliation.

In the Course of our Reflections

The co-creation process was one of discussions, meetings and readings about territorial recognition, which supported and nurtured the process. Significant keywords emerged from the discussions and allowed us to grasp the subtleties of the territorial recognition principle in an academic context.

Respect

Respect is a life skill that is essential in our relationships. The territorial recognition principle, through its statement and actions, needs to be put forward in respect of First Peoples, thus creating a healthy environment favourable to exchanges and encounters. It is with a respectful attitude that we can move forward on the path of reconciliation.

Recognition

It is of paramount importance to respectfully acknowledge this enduring heritage of Indigenous cultures. It is important to highlight the contribution of First Peoples in terms of knowledge, culture, language, history, presence, ethics, legal systems, etc. This recognition gives visibility and value to Indigenous peoples.

Heritage

Heritage refers to the transmission of knowledge, skills and traditions from generation to generation. Ancestors are honoured for the rich heritage they have provided over thousands of years.

Making them visible

Indigenous peoples are still invisible in Quebec and Canadian society. It is important to change this reality and to highlight their age-old presence.

Believing

Adhering to the territorial recognition principle means believing in it.

Sincerity

Moving forward by voicing the statement and taking action comes with sincerity.

Avoiding repetition

Repetition does not make the statement more alive or present. It is important to choose the right moments to say or write it. As the Quebec expression goes: "Too much is like not enough".

Importance of words

As demonstrated by the many back and forth experiences with the Territorial Recognition Committee, each word was carefully chosen to make the statement accurate and truthful.

Commitment

By adopting the territorial recognition principle, UQAT is clearly stating that it is ready to fully recognize the contribution of Indigenous peoples to society, and more specifically to the world of education. Moreover, in order to support this statement, the institution is committed to take concrete actions.

Important leverage

Territorial recognition becomes a lever for the university by clearly stating its position on the path to reconciliation. This commitment will also support the initiatives and concrete actions that will be deployed in the coming years.

Going the extra mile

A major aspect was identified at the first Territorial Recognition Committee meeting, namely the importance for the statement to be followed by concrete actions. According to the members, without concrete action, territorial recognition becomes meaningless and worthless. Thus, the adoption of the territorial recognition principle represents the first step, which must be followed by several steps on the path to reconciliation through the implementation of concrete measures that recognise the place of First Peoples within the institution.

Raising awareness

The entire process, the statement and the concrete actions will serve as a means of raising awareness in order to make Indigenous peoples visible, to reduce the lack of knowledge about them and to support them in their affirmation.

Education

Education is an important means of reducing the education gap between Indigenous peoples and the Quebec population. As Murray Sinclair, Ojibwe judge and commissioner for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, puts it so well, "It is precisely because education is the primary tool for the oppression of Indigenous peoples and the miseducation of all Canadians that we have concluded that education is the key to reconciliation".

Dialogue

The statement and the actions that support it open the door to otherness. It is a call for sincere dialogue to bring people together.

A Dynamic Process

The territorial recognition principle is the result of a dynamic process and will evolve over time. The territorial recognition statement and the concrete actions developed by the Territorial Recognition Committee will be revised at regular intervals. This validation will give UQAT the opportunity to consolidate over time its relationships with First Peoples and to ensure that the means deployed always meet the needs of the region's Indigenous people.

The committee also felt it was necessary to develop 5 success factors when UQAT adopted the territorial recognition principle, in order to ensure that concrete actions are taken:

Have budgets that are consistent with the concrete actions;
Have a person dedicated to ensuring the follow-up of territorial recognition (Mamawi Mikimodan Service (working together));
Set a 3-5 year timeframe before renewal;
Ensure a public follow-up of the concrete actions;
Make internal presentations of the accompanying guide (awareness-raising of UQAT staff).

Information

Mamawi Mikimodan Service (working together)
mamawimikimodan@uqat.ca