UPEI unveils The Sisters’ Teaching and Knowledge Garden

Four faculties at the University of Prince Edward Island have announced a joint initiative that will support efforts to indigenize the curriculum. This is another step being undertaken by the University to honour its commitment to the recommendations and calls to action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report.

The Faculty of Education, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science, and School of Nursing will create The Sisters’ Teaching and Knowledge Garden, a place where ancient seeds of knowledge are planted and where new knowledge is sown and grown.

“This new knowledge,” says President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, “will be centred on infusing Indigenous ‘ways of knowing’ into the academy, as well as supporting Indigenous students on their journey to and through post-secondary education.”

As with Indigenous ways of knowing—where silos of understanding do not exist since everything is connected—UPEI’s Garden will be interdisciplinary and inclusive in nature.

President Abd-El-Aziz adds, “The Garden will nourish many aspects of UPEI and will be tended to by the Faculty of Education’s Dr. John Doran, along with three new faculty members who will be cross-appointed to the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science, and School of Nursing, as well as by students, faculty, and staff from across campus.”

The UPEI Faculty of Education has a long tradition of dedicating energy and resources to create programming to support Indigenous students and conducting research for the sake of Indigenous peoples. The Faculty recently hired Dr. Doran as assistant professor of Indigenous Education and Social Studies. Along with the three new faculty to be hired, he will engage in activities to rethink and reimagine how the University’s curriculum can change to include Indigenous ways of teaching, learning, living, and knowing.

Many First Nations peoples believe that life is a circle, and a garden, along with the metaphor of sisters, is often given as an example to demonstrate this cyclical pattern. Traditionally, the "sisters" were themselves corn, squash, and beans who came to the support and aid of one another. Just as the Indigenous sisters nourished one another, the four UPEI faculty “sisters” will join together to grow the collective vision for the University to enhance programming and deepen and spread the engagement of Indigenous ways of learning throughout the campus.

The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.