The Aboriginal Students Centre at the University of Saskatchewan is partnering with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner to help educate people about what treaties are and why they are important.
The two parties made the announcement yesterday as the university kicked off Aboriginal Achievement Week.
The students centre and OTC signed an agreement which says they will form a working group to develop a treaty education strategy — including offering a series of eight treaty education talks in the next academic year.
They also plan to include treaty information in an Aboriginal students’ handbook and pow wow handbook, and plan to continue promoting information about treaties in the current student space and when the centre moves.
David Hannah is the Associate Vice President of Student and Enrolment Services.
Hannah is embarrassed to admit he is a perfect example of why such an agreement needs to be signed.
“As I look back on it, it’s kind of hard to understand how it’s possible that somebody like me, who grew up and lived most of my life in the Prairie provinces, could be so ignorant about the history and culture of Aboriginal peoples, of the evolving history of Aboriginal-newcomer relations, and of the treaties to which we all bound ourselves over 125 years ago.”
The students centre also plans to promote the OTC’s Speakers Bureau to any other parties on campus who might want to give a lecture about treaties.