FASS accepts that the challenges set out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report’s Calls to Action require a multi-faceted, holistic approach to intergenerational change in the academy and continuous collaboration in building a new relationship with Indigenous students, faculty and staff and Indigenous communities.

FASS’ five-year academic plan (2019–2023) states that: “Advancing reconciliation means improving the success rates of Indigenous students and increasing research opportunities for Indigenous scholars. It also means mobilizing Indigenous ways of knowing, and FASS must go further in our commitment and find new models of academic governance, develop new programs, and allocate the resources to do so.”

FASS is pleased to have relaunched the FASS Reconciliation Working Group (RWG) in Fall 2022. The RWG is currently co-chaired by Tim Michel (FASS Director, Indigenous Relations) and Melek Ortabasi (Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programming). First introduced in 2020 but shortly delayed due to staff renewal and the COVID-19 pandemic, this marks a new beginning in FASS’ continued commitment to decolonization and reconciliation.