The land on which the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is located is Epekwitk, the traditional and current territory of the Mi’kmaq People of this region. Epekwitk, which is the Mi’kmaq name for the area now known as Prince Edward Island, is one of seven traditional Mi’kmaq regions in Mi’kma’ki (the ancestral lands that comprise Atlantic Canada, and parts of eastern Quebec and Maine).

UPEI is committed to advancing reconciliation through higher education. As a community, our University has started a journey of growth to realize the role we must play in promoting an understanding of Indigenous history and culture, and supporting respectful relationships. UPEI recognizes that discussions in this era of truth and reconciliation will unveil difficult facts within our country’s history. However, in keeping with our institutional vision, we know that education is vital to understanding the history of colonialism and the forward-looking process of reconciliation. Working together, we must use knowledge as a catalyst for meaningful change in communities here in Prince Edward Island and around our world.

To assist UPEI in this journey and in achieving our Vision as a learning community, the Office of Indigenous Affairs plays a leadership role in planning, developing, and implementing Indigenous initiatives at UPEI. This includes providing guidance on stakeholder collaborations and helping to develop a better understanding of and response to the Calls to Action that relate to post-secondary education as outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s final report.

The Office works in collaboration with the UPEI campus community to facilitate a growing level of idea sharing, information and knowledge exchange, and a better understanding of Indigenous history and culture. Working with members of the University community and communities throughout PEI, the Office plays play a key role in identifying opportunities to build awareness of Aboriginal issues through curriculum and the development of training programs.  The Office also plays a key role in progressing policy and processes that help advance decolonization and Indigenization at the University.

Office of Indigenous Affairs

• Provides strategic and operational advice to UPEI’s leadership team on Indigenous initiatives.
• Works collaboratively with diverse University and community working groups on developing, implementing, and evaluating activities that advance reconciliation at the University.
• Works with campus partners to develop and implement an Indigenous Strategy for the UPEI community.
• Participates on working groups and committees to confirm and support UPEI’s goals and objectives as they relate to respectful conversations, decolonization, and Indigenization at the University.
• Identifies, supports and coordinates policy development, implementation, and review to facilitate full and equitable participation of Indigenous peoples and communities at UPEI.
• Works with UPEI’s EDI Office and other training partners, to oversee the identification, development, delivery, and evaluation of training programs for the UPEI community.
• Demonstrates the University’s Value of Equity, Inclusion and Reconciliation by promoting a culture of respect, knowledge, and inclusion and developing initiatives that support a welcoming learning and work environment for individuals with diverse backgrounds and identities.