Cambrian College has received national recognition for its commitment to Indigenous education.
The Sudbury school received the Silver Award for Indigenous Education Excellence from Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), a national institute that advocates for Canada’s public postsecondary colleges and institutes.
Cambrian has won the award previously, including in 2017.
“It is an incredible honour to be recognized in this way, because providing a learning environment that celebrates and respects Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island is one of our strategic priorities, and this award validates those efforts,” explains Kristine Morrisey, the incoming president of Cambrian College, in a news release.
Cambrian has taken a number of steps toward Indigenous inclusion, including signing the CICan Indigenous Education Protocol.
Launched in response to recommendations made in the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, the protocol serves as a roadmap to how CICan members can support Indigenous students in their learning experience.
Among other activities, Cambrian has created Indigenous-themed classrooms, hired Indigenous faculty, developed programming with Indigenous specialization, and created scholarships and bursaries specifically for Indigenous students.
There are also support services in place for Indigenous students — through the Wabnode Centre for Indigenous Services and Wiidokaaziwin (The Gathering Place), the latter of which opened in 2022.
