Our Vision
Biskaabiiyang: Returning to Ourselves, Reimagining the Future
Our Vision
Biskaabiiyang: Returning to Ourselves, Reimagining the Future is both a vision and a call to collective action at Humber Polytechnic and the University of Guelph-Humber. It invites all members of our communities to actively engage in reconciliation through Indigenous education that is meaningful, relational, and accountable and guides how we carry forward our responsibilities to Indigenous students, communities, and knowledge systems — through relationship, action, and sustained commitment.
Our vision was shaped by our institutional commitments. It reflects the voices and feedback of the Humber Polytechnic and University of Guelph-Humber communities. It is living, evolving in response to the voices and leadership of Indigenous communities and will guide our work for as long as it remains meaningful, relevant, and in alignment with our shared responsibilities.
Our vision for Indigenous Education is grounded in our commitment to building respectful, reciprocal, and accountable relationships with Indigenous Peoples, communities, and knowledge systems.
We envision a community where Indigenous learners thrive and see themselves reflected across every part of Humber & University of Guelph-Humber: in people, practices, spaces, and leadership.
Pathways for Transformation
Through the lens of Biskaabiiyang, our four interconnected pathways for transformation build on the frameworks that shape our curriculum - Humber’s Indigenous Teaching & Learning Bundles and the Humber Learning Outcomes. They guide how we honour our responsibilities to Indigenous students and communities, not only as institutional commitments but as living practices that shape Indigenous education in both present and future contexts.
Pathways
Being
Who we are, how we see ourselves, and how we show up in this work.
Being
Who we are, how we see ourselves, and how we show up in this work.
Being
Knowing
What we understand, carry, and share as knowledge and truth.
Knowing
What we understand, carry, and share as knowledge and truth.
Knowing
Relating
How we connect, build trust, and uphold responsibilities to others.
Relating
How we connect, build trust, and uphold responsibilities to others.
Relating
Doing
The actions, structures, and systems we create to carry forward our commitments.
Doing
The actions, structures, and systems we create to carry forward our commitments.
Doing
First Phase Goals
Our Action Plan outlines our first phase priorities, reflecting the goals and priorities of the Indigenous Peoples Education Circle (IPEC) – a body representing Indigenous Education Councils at Ontario’s 24 colleges and the CICAN Indigenous Education Protocol.
Guiding Targets
- Indigenous education remains a priority within Humber Polytechnic and the University of Guelph Humber’s institutional strategies.
- Year over year increases in institutional policies and practices that undergo an IWBKD review.
- Increases in year over year Humber programs with Indigenous learning outcomes.
- Increase year over year faculty and staff trained in IWBKD and cultural safety.
- Increase year over year in Indigenous learner application and conversion rates
- Increase year over year retention rates for Indigenous learners
- Increase year over year Indigenous learner program completion rates
- Increase year over year Indigenous learner post-graduation employment (6 months from graduation)
- Increase year over year in Humber’s Indigenous employee recruitment rates
Enabling Success
To achieve our goals, we need to be mindful of how we engage and that our processes move us closer to their achievement. We have identified the following key enablers:
- Accountability & Indigenous Self-determination: Partnership and collaboration with Indigenous organizations, communities, and institutes.
- Relationship-building Systems: Ethical Indigenous community engagement protocols and systems.
- Performance Monitoring: A robust planning, monitoring and evaluation system to track IEP progress.
- Communications: Processes and practices that amplify the work.
- Resourcing: Exploration of opportunities and collaborations to resource key initiatives.
2011
- Aboriginal Resource Centres are established at Humber’s Lakeshore and North Campuses.
- An Indigenous Student Success Coordinator is hired.
- The beginning of the Indigenous Medicine Garden. Located in the Humber Arboretum, the garden includes 3 of the sacred medicines; Asemaa (tobacco), Muskodaywushk (sage) and Weengushk (sweetgrass).
2011
- Aboriginal Resource Centres are established at Humber’s Lakeshore and North Campuses.
- An Indigenous Student Success Coordinator is hired.
- The beginning of the Indigenous Medicine Garden. Located in the Humber Arboretum, the garden includes 3 of the sacred medicines; Asemaa (tobacco), Muskodaywushk (sage) and Weengushk (sweetgrass).
2013
An Indigenous Outreach Coordinator is hired.
2013
An Indigenous Outreach Coordinator is hired.
2014
- Humber is one of the first Canadian colleges to sign the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) Indigenous Education Protocol.
- The first Indigenous Knowledge Gathering is held, becoming an annual event.
2014
- Humber is one of the first Canadian colleges to sign the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) Indigenous Education Protocol.
- The first Indigenous Knowledge Gathering is held, becoming an annual event.
2016
- Humber begins collecting Indigenous learner identity data.
- A Manager, Indigenous Education & Engagement is hired.
2016
- Humber begins collecting Indigenous learner identity data.
- A Manager, Indigenous Education & Engagement is hired.
2017
- Humber partners with Otago Polytechnic on a study abroad course. The course runs from 2017 – 2019.
- A Dean of Indigenous Education & Engagement is hired.
2017
- Humber partners with Otago Polytechnic on a study abroad course. The course runs from 2017 – 2019.
- A Dean of Indigenous Education & Engagement is hired.
2018
The installation of Indigenous Cultural Markers commences across Humber’s campuses. They also become a part of a showcase of Indigenous architects from Turtle Island (Canada & the USA) at the Venice Biennale of Architecture.
2018
The installation of Indigenous Cultural Markers commences across Humber’s campuses. They also become a part of a showcase of Indigenous architects from Turtle Island (Canada & the USA) at the Venice Biennale of Architecture.
2019
An Indigenous Strategic Initiatives Administrator is hired.
2019
An Indigenous Strategic Initiatives Administrator is hired.
2020
- Humber starts offering the cultural awareness training, 4 Seasons of Reconciliation, to employees and students.
- The Aboriginal Resource Centres are renamed to Indigenous Education & Engagement.
- The Indigenous Education Council (IEC) and All Our Relations Committee are formed.
- An Indigenous Student Advisor and Associate Dean of Indigenous Education & Engagement is hired.
2020
- Humber starts offering the cultural awareness training, 4 Seasons of Reconciliation, to employees and students.
- The Aboriginal Resource Centres are renamed to Indigenous Education & Engagement.
- The Indigenous Education Council (IEC) and All Our Relations Committee are formed.
- An Indigenous Student Advisor and Associate Dean of Indigenous Education & Engagement is hired.
2021
- Humber’s first Indigenous Education Plan is launched - Naawsidoong Mino Nawendiwin: Building Good Relationships (2021-2023).
- An Indigenous and Pedagogy Specialist is hired.
- Humber launches the "Two-Eyed Land-Based Play and Co-Learning" course in Early Childhood Education.
2021
- Humber’s first Indigenous Education Plan is launched - Naawsidoong Mino Nawendiwin: Building Good Relationships (2021-2023).
- An Indigenous and Pedagogy Specialist is hired.
- Humber launches the "Two-Eyed Land-Based Play and Co-Learning" course in Early Childhood Education.
2022
- Humber undertakes an Inclusive Hiring Initiative to secure Indigenous full-time professors.
- The installation of Indigenous murals and artwork commences across Humber’s campuses.
2022
- Humber undertakes an Inclusive Hiring Initiative to secure Indigenous full-time professors.
- The installation of Indigenous murals and artwork commences across Humber’s campuses.
2023
- Indigenous Education & Engagement becomes part of the new Inclusion & Belonging Division with the Office of EDIB and Sustainability.
- An Indigenous Rugby Jersey is developed.
- Humber launches the Equity & Inclusion Hub which profiles Indigenous Education resources.
- Humber adds the Mississaugas of the Credit and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy flags to its flagpoles.
- The IWBKD is added to the Humber Learning Outcomes Framework.
- Indigenous Education & Engagement launches its first Learning Bundle, All Our Relations.
- Indigenous Education & Engagement and Humber Global partners with Kaua’i Community College on a study abroad course. The course runs successfully for two cycles, June 2023 and June 2024.
2023
- Indigenous Education & Engagement becomes part of the new Inclusion & Belonging Division with the Office of EDIB and Sustainability.
- An Indigenous Rugby Jersey is developed.
- Humber launches the Equity & Inclusion Hub which profiles Indigenous Education resources.
- Humber adds the Mississaugas of the Credit and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy flags to its flagpoles.
- The IWBKD is added to the Humber Learning Outcomes Framework.
- Indigenous Education & Engagement launches its first Learning Bundle, All Our Relations.
- Indigenous Education & Engagement and Humber Global partners with Kaua’i Community College on a study abroad course. The course runs successfully for two cycles, June 2023 and June 2024.
2024
- Humber offers Indigenous students from 8 Ontario First Nations communities tuition waivers.
- A second Indigenous Student Advisor is hired.
2024
- Humber offers Indigenous students from 8 Ontario First Nations communities tuition waivers.
- A second Indigenous Student Advisor is hired.
2025
- A second Indigenous Curriculum and Pedagogy Specialist is hired.
- Indigenous Education & Engagement launches its second learning Bundle, Land as First Teacher.
2025
- A second Indigenous Curriculum and Pedagogy Specialist is hired.
- Indigenous Education & Engagement launches its second learning Bundle, Land as First Teacher.
2025 - 2028
- New Indigenous academic programs and courses are developed.
- New IWBKD Employee Education is launched.
- An Indigenous Learner Outreach and Recruitment Strategy & Action Plan is launched.
- New Indigenous Learner Retention Protocols & Practices are launched.
- An Indigenous Employee Recruitment Strategy is launched.
- Indigenous Employee Retention & Advancement Protocols & Practices are launched.
- Humber’s Indigenous Advisory Groups undergo a review.
2025 - 2028
- New Indigenous academic programs and courses are developed.
- New IWBKD Employee Education is launched.
- An Indigenous Learner Outreach and Recruitment Strategy & Action Plan is launched.
- New Indigenous Learner Retention Protocols & Practices are launched.
- An Indigenous Employee Recruitment Strategy is launched.
- Indigenous Employee Retention & Advancement Protocols & Practices are launched.
- Humber’s Indigenous Advisory Groups undergo a review.
Miigwetch, Nia:wen, Kinanâskomitin, Yaw^Koh, Wela’lioq, Maarsii
As we move forward with Biskaabiiyang: Returning to Ourselves, Reimagining the Future, we build on the journey that began with Naawsidoong Mino Nawendiwin: Building Good Relationships. This living framework, grounded in Indigenous Ways of Being, Knowing, Relating, and Doing, continues this path.
We are deeply grateful for the broad engagement across Humber Polytechnic and the University of Guelph-Humber.
Thank you to the Indigenous communities, faculty, staff, students, and alumni who contributed and shared their perspectives, and to the non-Indigenous employees and students who engaged in these conversations with a shared commitment to walking together with care and respect.
We also acknowledge those who have shaped the frameworks guiding Indigenous education locally and globally, helping us move toward Biskaabiiyang.