Hydro One is investing $20,000 into Confederation College as part of the college’s efforts to Indigenize campus spaces.
The funds will be focused on improving the college’s new smudging room.
Funds will also be used to incorporate Indigenous languages, symbols, art, and design elements into spaces around the campus.
The changes are meant to help create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for members of the Indigenous community, whether students, employees, or simply visitors.
The college frames the move as more about reconciliation and respect than simple renovation.
“This investment from Hydro One supports our efforts to create environments where Indigenous students, employees, and members of the community feel seen, valued, and supported, and where non-Indigenous visitors to the college can gain some understanding of our rich Anishinaabe culture,” says Wendy Landry, Vice President of Indigenous Leadership, Partnerships, and Strategies at Confederation College.
The college also launched an Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan earlier this year, which includes initiatives such as flying the Fort William First Nation flag on its campus.
