Kejitu’sip!

Did you know…?

Mi’kmaq aq pilui- L’nuk ta’n telo’tisnik sa’q aq ta’n telo’tijik kiskuk !

Mi’kmaq and Indigenous,
The way we were in the past and the way we are today

The land on which the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is located is Epekwitk, the unceded and traditional 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).

“Across countless generations, and changing environments, comforted by the safety of the sounds of the language (lnui’simk) and ceremonies, the elders, knowledge keepers, storytellers and families have relied on and revealed the structure and teachings of the Lnu’uk civilization. The Lnu’uk civilization establishes the foundation of at least seven other civilizations of L’nu, including the Mi’kmaw civilization” - (Source: Elikewake Compact The Mi’kmaw, Wolastoqey, and Passamaquoddy Nations’ Confederation with Great Britain, 1725-1779- Volume 1)

Reconciliation

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, L’nu Relations and Reconciliation 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 the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) document and the responses to the Calls to Action and the Calls for Justice that relate to post-secondary education as outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRCC) Report and Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls's (MMIWG) final report.