Belleville, ON, Jan. 19, 2024 – Loyalist College is taking a significant step forward in committing to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, with the launch of the 4 Seasons of Reconciliation employee education program. Developed in partnership with the First Nations University of Canada, 4 Seasons of Reconciliation provides Loyalist College employees with foundational insights into the history of colonization and the evolving relationship between Canada and Indigenous Peoples.
Mark Kirkpatrick, President and CEO of Loyalist College, emphasizes how the program can be a catalyst for impactful and meaningful change: “As an educational institution and community resource, Loyalist College recognizes its responsibility in contributing to a more inclusive, equitable society. The 4 Seasons of Reconciliation is about empowering Loyalist College employees by providing the knowledge and tools they need to be community leaders in the process of decolonization.”
The 4 Seasons of Reconciliation program is a self-paced online education program, with modules covering a variety of subjects from the legacy of the residential school system to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), as well as Indigenous history and culture. The programming also includes content specific to the Loyalist College community, including a detailed exploration of the college’s new land affirmation.
President Kirkpatrick highlights how the program will transform Loyalist’s student experience. “As we collectively deepen our understanding of our shared history and commit to decolonization, our faculty and staff will continue to embed Indigenous knowledges, identities, and cultures into our support services, curriculum, and teaching practices,” he says. “By making our classrooms more inclusive, it will lead to more equitable workplaces and vibrant, culturally aware communities.”
After completing the required online modules, Loyalist employees will have the opportunity to participate in group sharing circles facilitated by the college’s Tsi Titewaya’taro:roks Indigenous Centre team. These sharing circles will enable employees to engage in open dialogue and reflection. Faculty members will also attend workshops outlining the practical application of the program’s teachings into course content and classroom management practices.
“The 4 Seasons of Reconciliation will help close critical knowledge gaps for Loyalist faculty and staff, ensuring we all start from a place of shared understanding of the history and impact of colonization,” says Jennifer Tewathahá:kwa Maracle, Executive Director of Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation. “Laying this foundation allows us to move forward in decolonizing and Indigenizing Loyalist College. This launch marks a significant milestone on our journey to a more equitable future for all members of our college community.”
About Loyalist College
Loyalist College is built upon the lands governed by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement. We affirm and thank the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg and Huron-Wendat nations for their continued caretaking of the land. At Loyalist, we empower our students with wraparound support services and hands-on training to succeed on any path they choose. Our academic programs are responsive and innovative, designed to solve pressing social and economic challenges and meet the evolving needs of our regional industry and community partners. Our graduates enter the workforce equipped with the knowledge they need to be better global citizens, and with future-focused skills to lead change in their fields. With a presence in Belleville, Bancroft, Port Hope, Tyendinaga and Toronto, we believe our institutional responsibility extends beyond the classroom to seeing the big picture for the communities we serve. Our expertise in applied research and deep connections to local industry support economic development, to the benefit of businesses, entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators. Our commitment to decolonization, and the pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable world, means we hold ourselves accountable to the diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences that shape our communities.
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Contact:
Hannah Brown
Director of Marketing and Communications
613-921-0784
hbrown@loyalistcollege.com