TMU Marks 10 Years of Indigenous Reconciliation Progress

Ten years after Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its 94 Calls to Action, Toronto Metropolitan University is celebrating real progress while doubling down on future commitments.

The university launched the First 10/Next 10 Poster Series to honor the anniversary. The project showcases institutional changes made since 2015 and outlines concrete goals for the decade ahead.

TMU's Truth and Reconciliation Strategic Working Group has guided campus-wide changes since 2018. The group coordinates everything from curriculum updates to student support programs, ensuring Indigenous voices shape every decision.

Recent wins show how this commitment translates into daily practice. The Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching now offers faculty one-on-one consultations, workshops, and curriculum design support to weave Indigenous knowledge into courses. Contract lecturers and professors can access resources that strengthen their teaching while honoring Indigenous pedagogies.

The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is conducting a full audit of online courses in partnership with Indigenous faculty, advisors, and Elders. Courses with content harmful to Indigenous peoples have already been revised, and students received updated materials immediately.

TMU's brand-new School of Medicine built Indigenous perspectives into its foundation from day one. Holistic admissions consider lived experiences alongside academics, creating clear pathways for Indigenous applicants and underrepresented groups.

Student life reflects this cultural shift too. Gdoo-maawnjidimi Mompii Indigenous Student Services hosted high school visits from Mushkegowuk/James Bay and Toronto's Wandering Spirits School, building bridges for future students. The department also launched TMU's first Cedar and Smoke Winter craft market, welcoming 25 Indigenous vendors and over 150 community members to campus.

The Ripple Effect

Summer brought Indigenous students together on TMU's Urban Farm rooftop for the Tea n Talk Series. Students created garden signage through wood-burning while learning about medicines growing in the Indigenous Foodways Medicine Garden, strengthening relationships in a supportive space.

Indigenous Education and Treaties Recognition Week featured Duke Peltier, former Chief of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. He shared insights on the Robinson Huron Treaty Settlement Process, Indigenous governance, and the path to self-determination with the campus community.

These aren't just symbolic gestures but structural changes touching curriculum, admissions, student services, and campus culture. The work responds to evolving community needs while implementing recommendations from the Standing Strong Task Force.

A decade of progress proves that reconciliation requires daily action, not just acknowledgment.