Q. How is the Writing Centre taking action toward Truth and Reconciliation?

As explained in RRU’s Commitment to Indigenous Peoples, Royal Roads University (n.d.) has an ongoing commitment to serving Indigenous Peoples, with the following principles leading the way:

• We acknowledge that Indigenous Peoples have lived in the Lands we now call Canada since time immemorial. We specifically acknowledge the campus is located on the traditional Lands of the Lekwungen Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.
• We acknowledge and respect the diversity of Indigenous Peoples across Canada and around the world and their ownership of their cultures.
• We recognize the strength and resiliency of Indigenous Peoples.
• Immigrant-descendants and immigrants who work at Royal Roads are committed to listen and learn to create a new way forward with Indigenous Peoples.
• We are committed to having the difficult conversations that are a natural part of change, and we affirm the right of everyone to be treated with respect as we navigate these together (para. 4).

In the Writing Centre, we are taking to heart this commitment that aligns with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Right of Indigenous Peoples. In response to those demands for action, we strive to decolonize the Writing Centre’s services and resources and welcome Indigenous Knowledge and other ways of knowing and being into our daily work of supporting RRU students. We recognize our privileges as white settlers who have received opportunities at the expense of Indigenous Peoples. We also recognize that we’ve been indoctrinated by Western and Canadian educational, political, and social systems and the systemic racism embedded in those systems.

We want to be transparent about and accountable for the actions we’re taking toward Truth and Reconciliation, and we’re committed to keeping this FAQ updated to share information on our initiatives. We know progress isn’t going to be linear and that we’ll make mistakes along the way, but we are approaching this work with good hearts and a commitment to learn from our mistakes so that we can do better in the future. Our goal is to build respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Knowledges so that we can walk together in good ways.

See below for more information; click on each item to view the description beneath the heading. To reflect the importance of story in Indigenous ways of knowing and being, the descriptions are intentionally presented as short paragraphs instead of bulleted lists. The headings are not intended to provide a linear timeline as the actions all involve personal learning, unlearning, and integration of new understanding that is ongoing.

If you are a member of the RRU community and you have questions or feedback, please feel welcome to contact us via the form on the WriteAnswers home page.

Reference

Royal Roads University. (n.d.). RRU’s commitment to Indigenous Peoples. https://www.royalroads.ca/about/indigenous-engagement/rrus-commitment-indigenous-peoples