New Indigenous Wellbeing and Cultural Practice Leave
To: All faculty and staff
September 30 marked Ozaawaa Babigoyaan Giizhigad (Orange Shirt Day) and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. On Friday, the Toronto Metropolitan University community gathered to commemorate this significant day that serves as a reminder of the enduring impacts of the Canadian Indian Residential School System and government policies imposed on Indigenous Peoples. We acknowledge the profound harm and injustice that has been carried out in our country’s history, including the intergenerational legacy of residential schools and the ongoing uncovering of children’s unmarked graves.
New leave to support Indigenous wellbeing
At Friday’s gathering, I shared that as part of the university’s commitment to systemic changes that support Indigenous community members, TMU is implementing an Indigenous Wellbeing and Cultural Practice Leave. Through this new leave, eligible Indigenous staff from Canada can take up to five paid days per year to support healing and wellbeing, including cultivating cultural interests and practices in whatever ways they so choose.
The leave is a direct response to recommendations from the TRC Community Consultation Summary Report and Standing Strong Task Force Report, as well as the broader historical context in which Indigenous People have systematically been denied the right to practice their cultural and spiritual traditions. It is my hope that this provides a tangible, yet small step in our university’s continued path of reconciliation.
Developed in consultation with Indigenous employees
This initiative was developed in consultation with Indigenous staff and faculty from across the university and involved research, environmental scans and in-depth interviews. Key contributors included Joanne Okimawininew Dallaire, Elder (Ke Shay Hayo) and senior advisor for Indigenous relations and reconciliation and Monica McKay, director, Indigenous Initiatives, Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI). It also included members of the Indigenous Education Council, OVPECI including Indigenous Initiatives and members of Human Resources (HR), including Workplace Wellbeing Services. I am grateful for their work, and for creating change that I hope makes TMU a more inclusive employer for Indigenous employees.
More work to be done to continue reconciliation journey
More information about this leave, including leader and employee guides, will be shared with leaders and eligible employee groups by HR and the OVPECI in the coming days. I encourage leaders to familiarize themselves with the leave and its processes, and to work with HR if they have any questions on implementation so that Indigenous staff can make use of it.
As an institution, we recognize that there is still much more to do to support Indigenous community members and this work will continue as we endeavour to make progress on the university’s shared path of reconciliation.
Mohamed Lachemi
President & Vice-Chancellor