We Stand with the Indigenous Community

In a college community as diverse as ours, we are often affected by events that happen locally, nationally and globally. And as a Humber family, what impacts some of us impacts us all.

I recognize that this has been a difficult period for Indigenous individuals and communities here at Humber and across the country.

I would like to reaffirm our commitment as a college to valuing diversity, inclusion and respect. At Humber, we make it a priority to honour Indigenous peoples and culture. I take pride in our efforts, including the excellent work led by our Aboriginal Resource Centre, to stay true to the commitments that we have made and will continue to pursue on the path to reconciliation.

To that end, we have recently engaged in a process of developing Indigenous Cultural Markers for both North and Lakeshore campuses. The development of the markers and the related stories have been led and told by Indigenous voices – Elder Shelley Charles, our Aboriginal Education Council Elders, our communities and our students.

These markers will be prominent and will place Humber College in the context of the long history of Indigenous peoples in our region. I look forward to their unveiling this spring and fall, and to the stories that they will tell our current community and future generations who have a relationship with Humber.

As well, the building of a medicine garden at the McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg, in collaboration with our Aboriginal Resource Centre staff, Indigenous elders and community organizations, provides outdoor teaching and learning opportunities for the whole family.

The project will restore native plants into the local environment along the Humber River. I encourage everyone to visit and learn about the Indigenous presence on the land which the McMichael is situated.

Chris Whitaker
President, CEO Humber I.T.A.L.