Indigenous university officially opens in Sault Ste. Marie
The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation served as the backdrop for the grand opening of Sault Ste. Marie’s Indigenous university and teaching lodge.
Staff, elders and other local dignitaries gathered Friday morning for the official ribbon cutting ceremony at Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig (SKG).
Ribbon cutting ceremomy at new Indigenous university in Sault Ste. Marie. Sept. 30/22 (Mike McDonald/CTV Northern Ontario)
It’s one of nine Indigenous post-secondary institutions in the province and offers degree programs in Anishinaabe culture and language.
"Hosting the grand opening on a day that is meaningful about what happened when our children went to educational systems, educational schools that weren’t our own, versus today, when we can finally open our doors and say 'we’re here and present' to educate our learners in a way that’s relevant," said Lauren Doxtater, the director of academics at SKG.
Batchewana First Nation Chief Dean Sayers, who serves on the school’s board of directors, said the grand opening of the post-secondary school was a long time coming.
"It’s the culmination of darn near a couple hundred years of effort," Sayers said.
"Finally, we have our teaching lodge. Where we can teach our people our world view through our lens through an accrediting process that’s going to be really sensitive, really reflective or who we are as a people."
On truth and reconciliation, Chief Sayers said there is still more work to be done, while acknowledging some progress has been made.
"I appreciate the national statutory holiday," he said.
"I would hope all the provinces adopt that and that all of them really encourage and promote the actual reconciliation that we need."
Across the street at Algoma University, a plaque commemorating Shingwauk Hall -- a former residential school -- is being replaced with something that is more historically accurate.
The old plaque was erected in 1977 and did not elaborate on the purpose of residential schools, nor did it detail the experiences of the students.
Two plaques will now stand in its place, with inscriptions in Anishinaabemowin, Swampy Cree, English and French. The plaques were unveiled in what turned out to be an emotional ceremony, with residential school survivors in attendance.
Residential school survivors in Sault Ste. Marie were emotional as two new plaques, reflecting a more accurate history, were unveiled at the site of a former school site. Sept. 30/22 (Mike McDonald/CTV Northern Ontario)
"In terms of reconciliation, things have to be put back that was taken away," said Jackie Fletcher, of the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association.
"And I see this as being a start."
The plaques come as the result of a partnership between the Children of Shingwauk, Algoma University, and the Ontario Heritage Trust.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
The ongoing intergenerational trauma caused by the residential school system can cause distress for some Indigenous people. If you or someone you know is struggling, help and support is available. Find more information here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.
Parliamentary report on Emergencies Act decision is 18 months past due — and counting
The erstwhile group of senators and MPs studying the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act over the "Freedom Convoy" was supposed to present its findings in December. December of 2022, that is.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
A candidate for Germany's key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections
A candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left party in next month's election for the European Parliament was beaten up and seriously injured while campaigning in an eastern city, the party said Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.