Our land acknowledgement is now displayed at Waterfront Campus, highlighting our treaty partners and the Indigenous land on which George Brown College (GBC) operates.
A plaque inscribed with our land acknowledgement in English and Anishinaabemowin is located on the east side of the main lobby at the Daphne Cockwell Centre for Health Sciences. More plaques will be installed at Casa Loma and St. James campuses this year.
The recent installation is another step towards creating a more visible Indigenous presence on campus, which is one of the commitments laid out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) we signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) on June 21, 2022. It is also part of GBC’s longer-term commitment to our Indigenous Education Strategy. Other commitments within the MOU include working together on innovative access programming, co-creating curriculum and bringing Indigenous guest speakers into the classroom.
“This initiative stems from the over-arching legislation of the Indigenous Languages Act, enacted in 2019, to revitalize, maintain, and strengthen Indigenous languages. The implementation of the land acknowledgement plaque in Anishinaabemowin is an initial first step that GBC has taken towards preserving and protecting Indigenous languages in post-secondary institutions,” said Audrey Rochette, Director of Indigenous Initiatives at George Brown College.
“Indigenous languages preservation, incorporation and engagement are central to themes of resistance, resilience and recovery. Having the LAS visible in Anishinnabemowin is an intentional act of reconciliation. Miigwech to all of the translators.”
In August 2022, the MCFN crest and the George Brown Indigenous Initiatives Star Blanket medallion were added to campus entrances across the college.
Learn more about treaties and the treaty land on which George Brown College is located.
