The University of Winnipeg moved forward with a proposal that would require all students to complete classes in Indigenous studies.
The idea was proposed by the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association and Aboriginal Students’ Council, with consultation by the Indigenous Advisory Council.
On Thursday, the university’s senate voted to approve the proposal in principle.
“Ultimately this is a day to celebrate what we’ve accomplished, to acknowledge how far we have to go yet, and to embrace the opportunities before us,” said UWSA President Rorie Mcleod Arnould.
The vote means the administration supports the idea, but it’s not a done deal. Months of consultations and planning will follow before the requirement can be put in place.
“It’s really just a start of process is some ways. Now we’ve got to go through and figure out how exactly do we roll it out,” said Wab Kinew, Assistant Vice President of Indigenous Studies at U of W.
Required course work is nothing new at U of W. Students already must complete courses in writing, literature and science.
This proposal would add one more requirement to that list, one that student Charlie Crowe thinks will benefit Canadian and international students.
“With our university we have a… high student body of newcomers who will not know anything about indigenous students,” said Crowe.
The University-College of the North in The Pas, and the University of Regina already have required indigenous content for some students.
Lakehead University in Thunder Bay is also working towards implementing required Indigenous Studies in 2016.
The earliest U of W students could see the new requirement is Fall 2016.
