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Funding Education

The Indigenous Education Council and Indigenous Initiatives (part of the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion) are responsible for guiding, developing and leading Indigenous education at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). The Council's work includes a focus on implementation of the Postsecondary Education Fund for Aboriginal Learners (PEFAL) through the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Curriculum Development Fund

Applications for 2023-2024

The Council believes that in order for Indigenous students to participate and be successful in postsecondary education, there is a need for Indigenous curriculum and programming, and for First Nations, Métis and Inuit faculty and students to be actively engaged in research on Indigenous topics.

The Council assists all schools and departments across Toronto Metropolitan University with their aims to embed Indigenous content within their curricula, thereby enabling TMU to deliver such content to all of its students. The Council believes that in order for truth and reconciliation to begin between Indigenous and non-Indigenous  people at the University, every student needs to be educated about Indigenous-settler relations. This includes the expansion of elective and mandatory courses which focus on content relevant to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, such as the history of colonization and Indigenous worldviews across the curriculum, the promotion of Indigenous content within general survey courses, professional development for faculty and sessional instructors and assistance with appropriate course materials. It also includes the support of faculty and graduate student research in areas that are of significance to Indigenous Peoples.

Past projects funded through the CDF

To date, the IEC has supported curriculum development on Indigenous content in many schools and departments including:

  • School of Early Childhood Education (2010 to 2011)
  • School of Child and Youth Studies (2011 to 2012)
  • School of Midwifery (2011 to 2012)
  • School of Nutrition (2012 to 2013)
  • School of Social Work (2012 to 2013, 2015 to 2016)
  • School of Journalism (2016)

In addition, the Council has helped to support educational events for:

  • School of Social Work (2014)
  • Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion’s Cultural Awareness Committee (2014)
  • Politics and Public Administration (2015)
  • Student Affairs (2015)
  • School of Journalism (2015)
  • School of Fashion (2016)
  • Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion’s Dine and Discourse (2016)

The IEC was also instrumental in the content design and application to the university Senate for approval of the Chang School of Continuing Education’s Certificate in Indigenous Knowledges and Experiences released in 2014. As well, the IEC and the Chang School have partnered to run the program, Indigenous Foundations, which is designed for Indigenous community members who seek to broaden their opportunities towards academic success.

Questions?

If you have further questions or require information on models/approaches for curriculum development or technical aspects of the proposal, please contact Joanne (Okimawininew) Dallaire (Chair, Indigenous Education Council) at jdallaire@torontomu.ca and Cher Trudeau (Coordinator, Indigenous Education Council) at cktrudeau@torontomu.ca.