Developed by Durham College’s (DC) Indigenization Council, under the guidance of team members from the First Peoples Indigenous Centre (FPIC), and in consultation with our Indigenous Advisory Circle, the DC Indigenization statement is a declaration of our commitment and intentions in connection with Indigenization on campus.

Durham College (DC) recognizes that Indigenization is a continuous process requiring each member of our campus community to actively commit to reconciliation, with the goal of building respectful, reciprocal relationships that will contribute to better educational outcomes for all students. Inherent among this commitment is our pledge to uphold the seven principles of the Indigenous Education Protocol for Colleges and Institutes, of which DC is a proud signatory.

The Seven Principles are:

1. Commit to making Indigenous education a priority.
2. Ensure governance structures recognize and respect Indigenous peoples.
3. Implement intellectual and cultural traditions of Indigenous peoples through curriculum and learning approaches relevant to learners and communities.
4. Support students and employees to increase understanding and reciprocity among Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
5. Commit to increasing the number of Indigenous employees with ongoing appointments throughout the institution, including Indigenous senior administrators.
6. Establish Indigenous-centred holistic services and learning environments for learner success.
7. Build relationships and be accountable to Indigenous communities in support of self-determination through education, training and applied research.

We encourage the campus community to take advantage of the many resources and learning opportunities available to assist in increasing understanding of the past, while recognizing our role and responsibility in reconciliation. For more information, visit the First Peoples Indigenous Centre.