Loyalist College has taken another step in its commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
The college has launched the 4 Seasons of Reconciliation employee education program providing Loyalist employees with foundational insights into the history of colonization and the evolving relationship between Canada and Indigenous Peoples.
Developed in partnership with the First Nations University of Canada, the 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.
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 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.”
