Students at Lakehead University are voicing concerns regarding the school’s recently implemented Indigenous content requirement (ICR).
In May 2014, Lakehead made the decision to require all undergraduate students to fulfill an ICR in order to graduate, which came into effect at the start of 2016-17 academic year. Along with the University of Winnipeg (U of W), Lakehead is one of the only universities in Canada with an ICR requirement for students.
Under Lakehead’s requirement, students are expected to fulfill 18 hours of study of Indigenous content in a discipline-specific course, which is equivalent to 0.5 course credits, according to Lakehead’s website. To date, Lakehead has identified more than 60 courses currently being taught that students can choose from to meet the ICR requirement.
But students are concerned with the quality of education received through this requirement.
“I would say that all of the students within the Indigenous learning department, majoring or minoring, see an issue with the structure as it stands,” said Kayla Tanner, a fourth-year Indigenous learning student at Lakehead. “I believe the largest issue we all agree on is how the content is delivered to students enrolled in these courses.”
Jenna Carew, a graduate student in social justice at Lakehead with an undergraduate degree in Indigenous learning, said it is problematic that the ICR requires only 18 hours of Indigenous-related education.
“To think that we’re able to cram a whole bunch of history and happenings into 18 hours of instruction and have students leave with a well-rounded education on Indigenous peoples is kind of far-fetched,” Carew said. “I don’t think that’s long enough, and I think that’s almost kind of insulting.”
Both Carew and Tanner voiced these concerns in a CBC Radio story that aired Oct. 2 about the ICR at Lakehead.
According to Tanner, CBC first contacted Robert Robson, chair of Lakehead’s Department of Indigenous Learning, for comment.
After initially declining an interview, Robson agreed to speak with CBC alongside Tanner and Carew following conversations with students regarding ICR courses.
“The need became more prominent for students to speak about their opinions regarding the ICR, and the effect it was having on students,” Tanner said.
Another concern raised with ICR was the perspective being taught to students. Nearly 11 per cent of the student population at Lakehead is Indigenous, which translates to one of the highest aboriginal enrolments in Canada, according to Lakehead’s website.
“We have a lot of Indigenous students sitting in on these classes,” Carew said. “You don’t want them being taken by surprise by some of the things that the professors are saying because they’re not necessarily true or appropriate.”
Carew added that the content, although Indigenous, does not necessarily reflect an Indigenous perspective.
“It really depends where that information comes from,” he said.
Both Carew and Tanner stressed their opinion that ICR courses do not necessarily have to be taught by Indigenous instructors in order to be effective.
“When approached with an open mind and a preparedness to understand, any professor can have the ability to teach Indigenous content with the respect and appropriateness it deserves,” Tanner said.
The Lakehead University Student Union (LUSU) has expressed support for those raising questions about ICR. LUSU president Roman Jakubowski said in an emailed statement that students and faculty from the Department of Indigenous Learning have “raised important questions” about the ICR, and that the university should take their feedback into consideration.
Peggy Smith, interim vice-provost of aboriginal initiatives at Lakehead, said that she has spoken with Carew and Tanner following the CBC Radio interview to address their concerns.
“The goal is to make sure that students who graduate from Lakehead have at least a minimal understanding of Indigenous peoples and issues,” Smith said. “We’ve been working on the Indigenous content requirement for six years now, and we have understood from the start that this is just the beginning, and there will be issues.”
Smith added that Lakehead is looking to hire an Indigenous curriculum specialist to develop resources and conduct research on best practices.
Carew said she would like to see greater consultation between the university and the Department of Indigenous Learning.
“There have been movements towards opening a doorway for communication, but I think that consultation is a really big issue,” Carew said. “There has been very minimal consultation in the past.”
Rodney Nelson, chair of Carleton University’s Aboriginal Education Council, said collaborating with elders and community members is key to the success of ICRs.
“There’s a legitimacy question about who speaks for the content,” Nelson said. “You can’t teach something that you don’t know, and you can’t teach just history.”
Rodney said he thinks the only way universities can successfully incorporate an ICR “is by bringing in content experts if they’re going to have non-Indigenous professors teaching.”
“It’s important to remember that reconciliation is not just about our people, but about all people in Canada,” Nelson said. “It’s not just up to Indigenous people to undertake. It’s up to all Canadians to put their part in.”
