New Indigenous Studies Dual Credit Program Launched In Partnership With Trent University & Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board

High school students in the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDSB) can now earn a credit in Indigenous Studies from Trent University while completing their Ontario Secondary School Diploma with the launch of a new dual credit program.

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

“For decades, Trent has been creating curriculum and opportunities to engage students at all levels in Indigenous education. It has been wonderful to partner with the innovative team at Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board to create this unique pathway for students,” said Marilyn Burns, Trent vice president of Communications & Enrolment. “As HPEDSB students gain exposure to Indigenous scholarship and ways of knowing, they are also gaining real university academic experience and getting a head start on their degree.”

The program is in place for the 2025/26 academic year. It gives students in the HPEDSB enrolled in two high school credit courses (Contemporary Indigenous Issues and Perspectives in a Global Context or First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Governance in Canada) the opportunity to earn a 0.5 university course credit in INDG 1001H: The Foundation of Reconciliation at Trent. This means students who are accepted to Trent University in the future will begin their studies with half a credit already earned for their degree.

The Foundation of Reconciliation half-credit course at Trent also fulfills the University’s Indigenous Course Requirement (ICR), which was implemented in 2018 to ensure all undergraduate students take at least one course focused on Indigenous topics during their degree. Over 20,000 students have completed the ICR since its introduction according to Trent.

The new dual credit program will be piloted at Eastside Secondary School in Belleville. As part of the program, students will engage in land-based learning activities and events, receiving instruction and teachings led by faculty and staff from Trent’s Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies. Students will deepen their understanding of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives and build real-world skills through university-level study.

“This agreement reflects our shared commitment to advancing Indigenous education and creating meaningful learning opportunities for students that translate into strong community relations,” said Katherine MacIver, HPEDSB director of education. “This opportunity will no doubt help students strengthen their academic foundation, foster critical thinking, and build confidence for the transition to postsecondary education.”

“This is a perfect opportunity to support students along their learning journey, to build relationships and friendships across our institutions, and to connect students directly with professors, elders, and knowledge holders,” added Dr. Kevin Fitzmaurice, associate professor in the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies.

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Trent University Adds New Indigenous Resource Hub to Advance Learning and Reconciliation

As part of actions to mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Trent University has launched an updated Indigenous Protocol Guidebook and a new Indigenous Resources and Initiatives website to support ongoing work to advance learning and reconciliation across the campus and community. 

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

“As part of Trent’s leadership and ongoing journey toward reconciliation, I recognize that sustained efforts in truth-seeking and education are essential to the whole process of reconciliation and taking action,” said Dr. Cathy Bruce, Trent president and vice-chancellor. “The updated Trent guidebook and new website represent important steps in advancing knowledge and supporting the learning of all, with resources that encourage understanding, reflection and respectful engagement.”  

The guidebook provides students, faculty, and staff with information and support on relationship-building and developing a deeper understanding of the Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg according to Trent. Their treaty and traditional territory is where Trent’s campuses are situated. First published in 2019, the now-expanded and updated guidebook includes information about Inuit, Métis, and Urban Indigenous Peoples, alongside local history, treaty responsibilities and cultural practices.

The new Indigenous Initiatives website serves as a centralized hub with educational resources like the Protocol Guidebook, cultural knowledge and community-driven initiatives. It has video and written resources, including cultural teachings, academic programming, student support, community partnerships and information about Indigenous events and observances. Updates on institutional initiatives and tools to guide engagement with Indigenous communities are also on the website.

“Reconciliation begins with understanding where we stand,” said Professor Jack Hoggarth, chair of Anishinaabe Knowledge and assistant professor in the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies at Trent. “As Senator Murray Sinclair-iban (Mazina Giizhik-iban) reminds us, ‘Reconciliation is not an Aboriginal problem; it is a Canadian one. It requires the whole of society to change.’ The Truth and Reconciliation Commission charged all of us with uncovering the full truth of Canada’s history and living out its 94 Calls to Action. To answer that call, we must learn about the Anishinaabeg and the many Nations across Turtle Island, face the enduring impacts of settler colonialism, and build relationships rooted in reciprocity. In doing so, our Trent community can honour those truths and walk together toward a future of justice, mutual respect, and shared responsibility.”

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Red Dress Community Art Installation Relocated and Extended to City Hall

The City of Peterborough has relocated and extended the Red Dress community art installation to the City Hall lobby, announced on Monday. 

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Created in recognition of Red Dress Day, Canada’s National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ people, the Red Dress installation invites the public to pause, reflect and bear witness to the lives lost and the voices that continue to call for justice.

Each piece of red fabric, yarn, or beading in the dress was contributed by members of the community, making it not only a symbol of loss but also of solidarity and shared responsibility. 

The collaborative art installation originated at the Peterborough Public Library in May.

“Bringing the installation to City Hall ensures it remains visible in the heart of our civic space,” said Councillors Lesley Parnell and Alex Bierk in a joint statement. “It is a reminder that remembrance and reconciliation are not passive acts. They require presence, dialogue, and continued effort from all of us.” 

“This installation holds space for grief and remembrance, but also for learning and collective action. By moving the dress to City Hall, we are continuing to centre the importance of truth-telling and inviting all residents to take part in this journey,” said Shelley Knott, Indigenous Relations Advisor with the City. “The Red Dress is a reminder of the disproportionate violence faced by Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people, a crisis rooted in colonialism and systemic inequity. According to Statistics Canada, more than 63 per cent of Indigenous women in Canada have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime.” 

Visitors can view the installation at City Hall, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They are also invited to engage in learning, allyship, and advocacy.  

According to a press release, the City encourages all community members to: 

• Learn more about the National Inquiry into MMIWG2S+ and its final report.   

• Support Indigenous-led organizations doing front-line and advocacy work 

• Attend public events, smudges, and ceremonies 

• Reflect on how to foster safety and accountability in the community 

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First Peoples House of Learning Grateful For Community Donations To Aid Sandy Lake First Nations Evacuees

The community showed up for the Sandy Lake First Nation as Trent University’s First Peoples House of Learning (FPHL) is at capacity for accepting donations to help the evacuees.

Dr. Dawn Harvard, Trent University Director of First Peoples House of Learning, helps volunteers go through community donations at the Benedict Gathering Place (Ska'nikón:ra) to help refuged Sandy Lake First Nation residents. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Since Saturday, Sandy Lake First Nations residents have had to evacuate due to out-of-control wildfires spanning roughly six kilometres.

FPHL was supporting 300 evacuees and had collected community donations at the Benedict Gathering Place (Ska'nikón:ra in Mohawk, meaning ‘gathering our minds together’) that included clothing, food, towels, reusable water bottles, baby items and more.

“We’re grateful so many people has donated so many things. We really appreciate it,” said Dr. Dawn Harvard, director of the Trent University FPHL. “As of now, we’re good but if we need more things, we’ll reach out.”

A call was issued for donations on Wednesday but a day later, the Gathering Place placed a hold on donations due to overwhelming community outreach.

Despite putting a hold on donations, Harvard says FPLH are open to donation suggestions but is grateful for the quick response from Peterborough.

“I’m truly touched by the number of people at the very last minute to round up so many beautiful things,” said Harvard. “People have obviously have given from their hearts so we appreciate the community is all about and this is what Peterborough is all about.”

In addition to Trent, the City of Peterborough served as a host community. Emergency Management Ontario confirmed that approximately 200 evacuees arrived on Tuesday evening, with additional evacuees in the coming days. 

“When Peterborough was asked if it would be a host community for evacuees from areas that are threatened by the wildfires that are raging, there was no hesitation in opening the doors to our community,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “Our community is quickly mobilizing to support those in need who are being forced to leave their homes because of the wildfires. Thank you to the numerous community agencies that are showing compassion and commitment to the well-being of the evacuees.”

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Healing Circles to Take Place In Response to Nogojiwanong Project Vandalism

In response to the vandalism of the Nogojiwanong Project Panels in Millennium Park, the City of Peterborough is holding a Healing Circle for those who may have been affected by the incident, announced on Wednesday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The graffiti was reported on June 3.

The City is providing the following reference to available supports: 

• Talk 4 Healing, a culturally grounded, fully confidential help line for Indigenous women that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, provided by Aboriginal Alert, Canada’s Indigenous Awareness, 1-855-554-4325, https://www.aboriginalalert.ca/service-providers/talk-4-healing 

• Provincial mental health supports directory provided by Canadian Mental Health Association, https://ontario.cmha.ca/provincial-mental-health-supports/ 

• Kids Help Phone, Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to Canadians aged 5 to 29 who want confidential and anonymous care from trained responders. Visit the Kids Help Phone website for online chat support or to access online resources for children and youth. 

• Hope for Wellness Help Line, Call 1-855-242-3310 (toll-free) or connect to the online Hope for Wellness chat. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples seeking emotional support, crisis intervention, or referrals to community-based services. Support is available in English and French and, by request, in Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut. 

A virtual Healing Circle will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday and an in-person Healing Circle will be held at the Nogojiwanong Project location in Millennium Park from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on June 17. Participants of the in-person Healing Circle are asked to bring their own lawn chair, if desired. 

The virtual Healing Circle is created as a safe and supportive space for community members to share and reflect on the impact of the recent defacing of the Nogojiwanong Project — a set of three interpretive panels commemorating the 200th anniversary of Rice Lake Treaty No. 20. This gathering is especially intended to support Indigenous community members and allies, offering an opportunity to come together, listen, and contribute to the healing process. 

Registration is required to attend the virtual Healing Circle. Registration closes at noon on June 16. Space is limited to ensure that all attendees have an opportunity to participate. Those who register will receive the link to attend the meeting. The registration form is available on the City’s website at https://form.peterborough.ca/Virtual-Healing-Circle-Registration.

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Millennium Park's Nogojiwanong Project Panels Vandalized

The Nogojiwanong Project Panels in Millennium Park have been vandalized with graffiti on two of its three panels reported on Wednesday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The City of Peterborough discovered the vandalism when they visited the area, and community members had already cleaned up a portion of the vandalism prior to their arrival.

Mayor Jeff Leal calls this ‘an act of disrespect’ during National Indigenous History Month.

The project is called Gathering, a public artwork by Michael Belmore. It consists of a grouping of glacial erratic boulders, carved and fitted to sit slightly apart, giving the appearance of heat radiating. The stones are embellished with the Treaty 20 Clan Dodems. It was unveiled to the public on Nov. 10, 2022.

The Nogojiwanong Project is a collaboration undertaken in the spirit of kinship between local First Nations, Indigenous peoples and the City of Peterborough, in recognition of the 200th anniversary of Rice Lake Treaty No. 20. Through this collaboration, a gathering space was created in 2019. The space encourages learning and reflection through a series of interpretive panels highlighting the evolution of local treaties and the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples.

The display is located next to the Trans Canada Trail near the south end of Water Street in Millennium Park. The piece marks the completion of the Nogojiwanong Project.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Leal has issued the following statement:

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the recent vandalism of the Nogojiwanong Project panels at Millennium Park, interpretive signs that honour the 200th anniversary of the signing of Rice Lake Treaty No. 20 and the enduring presence of the Williams Treaties First Nations in this region.

This act of disrespect, particularly during National Indigenous History Month, is a painful reminder of the work still needed to advance truth, understanding, and reconciliation in our community. These panels are more than signs, they are a reflection of the stories, rights, and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, and a vital part of how we share and learn from the land we call Nogojiwanong.

While the act of vandalism is deeply disappointing, I am heartened by the swift response of community members. When City staff visited the site this morning, the panels had been restored. I want to sincerely thank those who stepped up and removed the graffiti with care and respect. Your actions speak volumes. You have demonstrated what it means to be true allies.

Millennium Park is also home to the public artwork titled The Gathering by Anishinaabe artist Michael Belmore. This artwork further invites reflection, dialogue, and connection, a space for all of us to come together in recognition of Indigenous history and futures.

Let us use this moment as a call to action, to learn more, to speak out against hate, and to stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities not only this month, but always.”

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Photos: PVNC Students Get Hands-On Experience With Indigenous Skilled Trades Day

Around 215 Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic students from 26 schools got their hands-on learning experience at the Indigenous Skilled Trades Day at Trent University on Wednesday.

Zain Kailsli, 12 (left), gets a hands-on quilling lesson from Sandra Moore of Creators Gifts Fabric & Art (right). All Photos by David Tuan Bui.

There were 30 tradespeople vendors, with nearly half as Indigenous, showcasing their respective trades. These including quilling, hide scraping and more. Other trades were present at the event that included framing, carpentry, welding and others.

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Photos: City of Peterborough Proclaims Red Dress Day For Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

City Hall was covered in red dresses to mark the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirited People (MMIWG2S) in a ceremony on Monday morning.

All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Mayor Jeff Leal proclaimed Monday as Red Dress Day, recognizing Indigenous women who were missing or murdered throughout Canada.

“Red Dress Day is a powerful reminder of the heartbreaking and ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people in Canada,” said Leal. “The red dresses hanging in silence call out for justice, action and for the recognition of lives lost and families forever changed. On the National Day of Awareness, I encourage all residents of Peterborough to take a moment to reflect on the lives behind the statistics, and to consider hanging a red dress in a window, on a porch, or in a public space as a powerful symbol of remembrance and solidarity.”

The ceremony had smudging, drumming and singing, speeches and stories told throughout the event. A red flag with a black handprint was flown at half-mast as City Hall to mark the event.

“We cannot turn away from the systemic racism and gender-based violence that have made Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people disproportionately vulnerable,” said Shelley Knott, Advisor, Indigenous Relations with the City of Peterborough. “As a country, and as a community, we have a responsibility to listen, to learn, and to act. On this National Day of Awareness, we ask that you stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities in honouring the memory of those who are missing or murdered—and in committing to a future where all people can live in safety, dignity and respect.”

City Hall’s windows have red dresses hung inside to show solidarity with the event.

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City of Peterborough to Mark Red Dress Day On Monday

Red Dresses will be hanging in the windows of City Hall to mark the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirited People (MMIWG2S) on Monday.

File Photo.

Mayor Jeff Leal will proclaim May 5 as Red Dress Day during a commemorative ceremony on Monday at 10 a.m. at City Hall. All are welcome to attend. 

“Red Dress Day is a powerful reminder of the heartbreaking and ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people in Canada,” said Leal. “The red dresses hanging in silence call out for justice, action and for the recognition of lives lost and families forever changed. On the National Day of Awareness, I encourage all residents of Peterborough to take a moment to reflect on the lives behind the statistics, and to consider hanging a red dress in a window, on a porch, or in a public space as a powerful symbol of remembrance and solidarity.”

“We cannot turn away from the systemic racism and gender-based violence that have made Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people disproportionately vulnerable,” said Shelley Knott, Advisor, Indigenous Relations with the City of Peterborough. “As a country, and as a community, we have a responsibility to listen, to learn, and to act. On this National Day of Awareness, we ask that you stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities in honouring the memory of those who are missing or murdered—and in committing to a future where all people can live in safety, dignity, and respect.”

The ceremony will include a smudging ceremony, singing, traditional drumming and speeches from local dignitaries.  

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Peterborough Public Library Hosting Interactive Community Art Installation For Red Dress Day

The public is invited to a community art installation of ‘The Red Dress’ hosted and occuring at the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Legacy Space in the Peterborough Public Library at noon on Monday.

According to Statistics Canada, more than 63 per cent of Indigenous women in Canada have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Public Library.

The event is in recognition of Red Dress Day, which is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ people (MMIWG2S+) according to the Library.

The dress is on display from April 28 to May 5. The installation invites the community to contribute pieces of red fabric, yarn, beading or other textiles to help create a large, collective red dress. All are welcome to participate and materials will also be provided on site for those who wish to contribute in the moment.

There will be an opening ceremony and smudging with Drumming in the Legacy Space at noon.

Daily smudges will take place each morning from April 29 through May 5 as the installation continues to grow with community contributions.

This project has been developed in partnership with Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle and the Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre.

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