National Forum on Indigenous Reconciliation in Higher Education: Unveiling of the 2021 Program

Québec City, September 15, 2021 – The Université du Québec network and Université Laval, in partnership with Indigenous organizations focused on education for the 11 Nations in Québec, have unveiled the program for the 6th edition of the National Building Reconciliation Forum. The event will be held for the first time in Québec, from September 21 to 23, 2021, and will be in virtual format.

In addition to the extensive program of the pre-forum organized by the Kiuna Institute—the only Indigenous college in Québec—the Forum activities will reflect the commitment of the university community to do more and do better with First Peoples. Some twenty original commitments and initiatives will be discussed during the event workshops and panel discussions. Registration is still open.

Under the theme "Falling into step with First Peoples students," the Forum supported by Universities Canada follows in the wake of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which flagged education as one of the keys to reconciliation. The 2021 National Building Reconciliation Forum was developed in a collaborative process and seeks to rally and unite the main actors in the world of Indigenous education and all post-secondary institutions in Québec and across Canada. The event also marks a commitment to take concrete action aimed at overcoming systemic barriers to the success of Indigenous students.

Five preparatory webinars attracted hundreds of participants, and highlighted—through the testimonies of students and graduates, as well as ambassadors from each of the 11 Nations in Québec—the realities of First Peoples with regard to education. The webinars also provided an opportunity to propose potential solutions. The Forum will continue in the same vein, encouraging participants to share their experiences on themes such as raising awareness among post-secondary institutions about the realities of First Peoples; access to higher education; support and services for students; as well as teaching, research, and institutional governance.

The Forum will spur participants to take further action, over and above the practices and measures already in place at each of the 19 university establishments in Québec, a portrait of which was prepared under the direction of the President of the Université du Québec and co-chair of the Forum, Johanne Jean.

As pointed out by the co-chairs of the Forum Ms. Jean, President of the Université du Québec, and Senator Michèle Audette, Senior Advisor, Reconciliation and Indigenous Education at Université Laval, "We believe the Forum is more than just a gathering; it’s an opportunity to engage and take action—together—to co-construct a shared future built on respectful and inclusive relationships. We hope you can join us!"

About Université du Québec

Université du Québec was founded 50 years ago. A French-language collaborative network that's outward-looking and extremely diverse, UQ has helped Québec grow thanks to its affordable, high-quality academic programs; outstanding international research; and valuable and wide-ranging partnerships. As they strive to address the challenges facing our societies, close to 3,000 professors create, transfer, and mobilize knowledge in every field of study, helping position the network among the top 10 universities in Canada for the volume of research it conducts. Each year, the network's 10 institutions welcome fully one-third of all Québec's university students. A total of nearly 100,000 students are enrolled in one of the 1,300 undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programs offered by Université du Québec à Montréal, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, École nationale d’administration publique, École de technologie supérieure, and Université TÉLUQ.

About Université Laval

Driven by innovation and the pursuit of excellence, Université Laval is one of Canada’s leading research universities, ranking 7th in the country, with over $400 million in research funding last year. A leader in distance education, it boasts more than 1,650 professors as well as 2,300 lecturers and other academic and research staff who share their knowledge with some 45,000 students, 29% of whom are enrolled in graduate studies. The university values diversity and is proud of the members of its community, who hail from 135 countries. The oldest French-language university in North America, Université Laval has, to this day, educated more than 326,000 people who each contribute in their own way to the advancement of society.