IN-PERSON Barcelona. Section A

Abstract

In recent years, Indigenous, non-Indigenous, and international students have expressed increased interest in Indigenous issues; however, many are unaware of the history of deprivations experienced by Canada’s Indigenous populations. The news stories we hear are often from remote Indigenous communities, which may be difficult to relate to for urban students. Although we have some common challenges, such as housing and food insecurity, others are distinct for Indigenous populations, such as distrust in educational, medical, or judicial systems. In 2022, I received a small grant to research and write an Indigenous Toronto Research Resource (Jenkins & Charette, 2023), and allocated those funds to hiring an Indigenous research assistant. The purpose of this open educational resource is to support students and instructors exploring urban Indigenous issues in Toronto, Canada. Approximately 70,000 Indigenous people live in Toronto, and about 90% live at or below the poverty line (Toronto Foundation, 2020); many are homeless, and largely invisible in the broader urban context. This educational resource is divided into sections on land and housing, nutrition and food, education, health, and justice, offering a window into history, the current situation in Toronto, and Indigenous efforts to support their community. What can non-Indigenous populations learn from those who lived on these lands for centuries before colonialism? Could adopting Indigenous ways of knowing, cultivation and diet, as well as notions of justice and medicine benefit urban communities? How could such sharing of knowledge improve Toronto’s livability and support efforts at reconciliation?