Fleming College

Peterborough ON – (September 26, 2019) – Fleming College recently passed a policy, approved by the College’s Board of Governors, that honours the rights of Indigenous Peoples. This is the first policy of its kind for the College, titled Honouring the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and was officially launched on Wednesday, Sept. 25 as Fleming staff and students were joined by members of the Indigenous community to celebrate at Fleming’s Sutherland Campus. The event included a ceremonial hanging of tobacco ties with Fleming College President Maureen Adamson, members of Fleming’s Board of Governors, Elder Shirley Williams and Elizabeth Osawamick.

“Fleming must continue to carve a path to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and experience into our curriculum and do our part to educate all our staff and students,” said Fleming College President Maureen Adamson. “We must play our integral role as a community college toward Truth and Reconciliation by ensuring all staff and students are part of the process.” 

The new policy is intended to meet the requirements of the United Nations Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), as well as the CiCAN Indigenous Education Protocol. Fleming College believes in and promotes the rights of all First Nations (status and non-status), Inuit and Métis peoples. The College recognizes the unique histories and experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada and the ongoing impacts of colonization.

“I am excited to see and hear that this is happening for Fleming College,” said Elder Shirley Williams, Fleming Indigenous Education Council. “Committing to an Indigenous rights policy ensures that the Anishinabeg‎ get their education as part of reconciliation. I am thankful for Fleming making this commitment with an eagle feather present, as this will symbolize the commitment of truth.”

The policy affirms the College’s commitment to equity and inclusion, and providing a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indigenous Peoples and their ways of knowing. The policy will support the College community in the process of Truth and Reconciliation via education, training and acknowledgement, with the formation of an Honouring the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Committee (HRIPC). It will ensure that the College makes every reasonable effort to ensure Indigenous peoples, languages and ways of knowing are represented in all College operations and spaces.

“We recognized that we did not need to wait for legislation to pass in order to do the right thing, we could create a higher level of expectations for our college community now, and that is what this policy will do,” said Kylie Fox-Peltier, Manager, Indigenous Student Services, Fleming College.

For more information about the policy, please contact kylie.fox-peltier@flemingcollege.ca

About Fleming College
Fleming College respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg lands and territory. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 6,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 75,000 alumni.

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Media, for more information please contact:

Sara O’Halloran

Communications Officer 

sara.ohalloran@flemingcollege.ca

705.749.5530 x 1366