UTSC Sub-Committee for Indigenous Placemaking

Preamble

As the University of Toronto Scarborough continues on the path of inspiring inclusive excellence, we are always mindful of the fact that our success has been made possible by the exceptional opportunity given to us by our host Indigenous communities to operate on their lands. We are grateful for that generosity and cherish our continuing partnerships with them. We remain resolute in our commitment to addressing the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We also strive to realize the recommendations from the Answering the Call – Wecheehetowin: Report of the Steering Committee for the University of Toronto’s Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and UTSC’s Strategic Plan, Inspiring Inclusive Excellence: A Strategic Vision for the University of Toronto Scarborough (2020-2025), with the guidance and support of local Indigenous communities.

Mandate

The UTSC Sub-committee for Indigenous Place-making is advisory and functions as a sub-committee of the UTSC Truth, Reconciliation & Indigenous Initiatives Advisory Committee. It is responsible for generating ideas, making recommendations, and/or offering feedback on initiatives to support creation of welcoming spaces for Indigenous staff, faculty, students and community members through visible representations of Indigenous language, knowledge, history, cultures, and art on campus.

Under the direction of the UTSC Truth, Reconciliation & Indigenous Initiatives Advisory Committee, this sub- committee will:

• engage in thoughtful discussion with stakeholders and communities;
• plan awareness, education and communication around named spaces;
• align and link work with University commitments and the TRC Calls to Action;
• develop protocols and processes for identifying and naming spaces that present naming opportunities, including consultations, languages to be used, and project selection  framework; and
• explore, identify, prioritize, and recommend implementation plans for place-making and wayfinding on campus, including timelines, renaming of existing plaques, walkways or spaces.

Composition and Membership

The sub-committee shall be composed of a maximum of 7 ex-officio members and 4 members approved by Vice-President & Principal under advisement from TRIIAC as identified below.

Co-Chairs

The committee shall have two co-chairs (ex-officio), one of whom will be the Assistant Director, Indigenous Initiatives and the other who will be the Campus Architect and Director of Architecture, Planning and Project Development.

Ex-Officio Members

• Assistant Director, Indigenous Initiatives, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Office, UTSC (Co-chair)
• Campus Architect and Director of Architecture, Planning and Project Development (Co-chair)
• Director, Office of the Vice-President & Principal, or designate
• Collections Coordinator, Doris McCarthy Gallery, or designate
• 3 Members of the UTSC Elders’ Circle

Appointed Members

• 1 member from the UTSC Truth, Reconciliation & Indigenous Initiatives Advisory Committee, not including the Assistant Director of Indigenous Initiatives
• 1 faculty or staff member with expertise relevant to the sub-committee’s mandate
• 1 representative from Marketing & Communications
• 1 Indigenous student (graduate or undergraduate)

Tenure of Appointed Members: Student members shall serve one-year renewable terms while other members shall serve two-year renewable terms, with membership staggered to ensure continuity.

Guest Involvement

The committee may choose to invite guests with relevant insights and expertise to its meetings to assist in deliberations. These may include Elders, Knowledge Keepers, community leaders, members of the Executive Team, UTSC/UofT faculty, staff and students, external professionals and scholars.

Quorum and Voting

• At least 50% of current members, including co-Chairs, must be present to constitute a quorum
• All members are voting members
• Decisions would normally be by consensus, otherwise they will be determined by a simple majority of members present

Meeting frequency

The committee will normally meet twice in each of the fall and winter terms and on an ad hoc basis as required.