Indigenous Education Council

OCAD University's Indigenous Education Council (IEC) (formerly Aboriginal Education Council) was established in 2008 with a mandate to make recommendations and share strategies that will provide direction and guidance in the ongoing development, maintenance and implementation of Indigenous-related initiatives and programming. The IEC is made up of volunteer members that represent the interests and concerns of the internal and broader Indigenous community. The Council identifies, facilitates and strengthens collaboration and partnership with Indigenous communities, public sector bodies and other relevant stakeholders.

The IEC has a university-wide mandate to promote, guide and oversee the implementation of Indigenous priorities and objectives in the Academic and Strategic Plan 2022-2028 building on the previously established priority of Indigenous Learning: Nothing About Us Without Us, which was first adopted by OCAD U as a shared institutional principle in its former Academic Plan 2017-2022.

View the Indigenous Education Council's Terms of Reference.

Council Meetings

The Indigenous Education Council currently meets four (4) times annually.

The next meeting is on Friday, May 24, 2024.

Membership

CURRENT MEMBERS (2023-2024):

Tannis Nielsen, IEC Co-Chair  
Elizabeth Osawamick, Elder

Local Community Members:  
Denise Bolduc  
Ange Loft

Regional Community Members:  
Anong Migwans Beam  
Jackson Leween, Two Bears

Out of Province/National Members:   
Leah Fontaine

At-Large Members:  
Beth Kotierk

Internal OCAD U Members:  
Tristan McTague, Indigenous Student Association Co-President  
TBA, Indigenous Graduate Student  
Emilia Nahdee, Indigenous Undergraduate Student   
Julia Rose Sutherland, Indigenous Faculty Member  
Melissa General, Manager, Indigenous Student Association   
Susan Blight, Chair, Indigenous Visual Culture Program  
Peter Morin, Special Advisor to the Provost, Indigenous Knowledge, Practices and Production  
Amy Reader, Executive Director, Indigenous Engagement (Oshkabewis) 

Non-voting Members:   
Ana Serrano, President and Vice-Chancellor  
Caroline Langill, Vice-President, Academic and Provost  
Deanne Fisher, Vice-Provost, Students and International  
Jules Goss, Chair, OCAD University Senate   
Tanya Bowes, Board Secretary & Director, Strategic Planning   
Stephen Foster, Dean, Faculty of Art  
Sarita Srivastava, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science  

All OCAD U Indigenous faculty, students and staff are welcome and encouraged to attend Council meetings.  
 

PAST MEMBERS (2008-2023)

Contact

If you have questions about the Indigenous Education Council, please contact:  
Natalie Nanton, Secretary to the IEC at nnanton@ocadu.ca or 416.977.6000 Ext.2856