To advance UCN’s reconciliation mandate, Academic Development and the Truth and Reconciliation Steering Committee began by developing understandings of key terms. Definitions of reconciliation, indigenization, decolonization, and indigegogy are provided below.

Reconciliation

• Requires a rejection of paternalistic and racist foundational systems that govern society by learning and understanding historical events that have created havoc on Indigenous communities and peoples.
• Depends on building and developing ongoing, mutual, reciprocal relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples is center.
• Strives for the creation of a shared vision is imperative so that future generations have the opportunity to live in a fair and equitable life.

Indigenization

• Is a collaborative process of naturalizing Indigenous content, interactions and processes to transform spaces, places, and hearts. Indigenous ways of knowing and doing are perceived and practiced as equal to Western ways of knowing and doing
• Source:  Pulling Together: A Guide for Front-Line Staff, Student Services, and Advisors by Ian Cull, Robert L. A. Hancock, Stephanie McKeown, Michelle Pidgeon, and Adrienne Vedan is used under a CC BY-NC 4.0 licence. 

Decolonization

• Is the process of deconstructing colonial ideologies of the superiority and privilege of Western thought and approaches
• Involves dismantling structures that perpetuate the status quo and addressing imbalances in power dynamics
• Involves valuing and revitalizing Indigenous knowledges and approaches and weeding out settler biases or assumptions that have impacted Indigenous ways of being
• Necessitates shifting our frames of reference with regard to the knowledge we hold; examining how we have arrived at such knowledge; and considering what we need to do to change misconceptions, prejudice, and assumptions about Indigenous peoples
• Source:  Pulling Together: A Guide for Curriculum Developers by Asma-na-hi Antoine, Rachel Mason, Roberta Mason, Sophia Palahicky, and Carmen Rodriguez de France is used under a CC BY-NC 4.0 licence. 

Indigegogy

• Uses Indigenous knowledge, literature and scholarship and is centred on land-based education. Indigegogy engages Indigenous methodology such as circle work and lifts up traditional teachings, ceremonies and practices. Indigegogy is a decolonizing practice that builds on the resurgence of Indigenous ways of knowing, teaching and learning. (Laurier, Wilson)
• Source: Laurier Centre for Indigegogy. (2021). What is Indigegogy? https://www.wlu.ca/academics/faculties/faculty-of-social-work/centre-for-indigegogy/index.html

Connecting Reconciliation, Indigenization, Decolonization and Indigegogy

Reconciliation is achieved through indigenization. Indigenization is achieved through the institution’s adoption of decolonizing processes and ideology and the implementation of indigegogy across the organization.