Concerns raised over Founders' Day presentation at Algoma U

NEWS RELEASE

SHINGWAUK ANISHINAABE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION

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Shingwauk Anishinaabe Students Association displeased with Founders' Day annual Spring Celebration presentation

Following the annual Founder's Day Spring Ceremony event held on the Algoma University campus on Monday, April 2, 2012, SASA has been receiving numerous concerns from students, community members, residential school survivors and special guests regarding several comments made during the presentation on the History of Residential Schools, including suggestions that the residential school system was not an act of cultural genocide.

SASA is deeply concerned about the devastating impact these comments have had on our relatives, our partners, our fellow students and ourselves.

The Shingwauk Anishinaabe Students Association is committed to representing Anishinaabe students on campus and to acknowledge and respect the language, culture and social diversity of all Anishinaabe students.

Our belief is centered on the appropriate and respectful support of Anishinaabe students during their social, cultural, political, and academic endeavors while attending Algoma University.

We seek to promote a safe environment free of racism and discrimination for all students; both Anishinaabe and non-Anishinaabe. 

In response to the concerns and reports that SASA has received by many community members, we would like to assure everyone that we are making this issue our number one priority as we have also been directly impacted by the comments made at the presentation.

We also seek to ensure that this issue is addressed at an institutional level in a way that provides a safe avenue for all affected individuals to express their experiences so that the issue may be addressed and reconciled in a respectful and positive manner for all parties involved.

We have brought our concerns before the Algoma University Senate and are in the process of making a formal complaint to the university.

We are seeking to address the issues including the incident that occurred and the broader issues it raises about Algoma University. 

We hope to seek support from other people, organizations, and institutions wanting to stand with us against those who would dismiss the harms caused by the residential school system. 

We would also like to be assured that the students involved will be free of all repercussion.

For further information, please e-mail.

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