17吃瓜

Dear students, staff, and faculty,

The land on which the 17吃瓜 is located is Epekwitk, the traditional and current territory of the Mi鈥檏maq People of this region. Epekwitk, which is the Mi鈥檏maq name for the area now known as Prince Edward Island, is one of seven traditional Mi鈥檏maq regions in Mi鈥檏ma鈥檏i (the ancestral lands that comprise Atlantic Canada, and parts of eastern Quebec and Maine).

Yesterday, on September 30, the 17吃瓜 Mawi鈥檕mi Indigenous Student Centre recognized Orange Shirt Day, which commemorates the residential school experience, honours the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and commits to the ongoing process of reconciliation. The annual Orange Shirt Day was created as a result of former residential school student Phyllis (Jack) Webstad鈥檚 account of when her new orange shirt, bought by her grandmother, was taken from her on her first day of school. Now, every year, Orange Shirt Day opens the door to global conversation on all aspects of residential schools, promoting the belief that 鈥渆very child matters.鈥� The Mawi鈥檕mi Centre invited the 17吃瓜 community to take pictures of their orange shirts and share them on the  to celebrate Orange Shirt Day. Elder-in-Residence Judy Clark, LLD, also hosted her weekly chat session , and PEI Poet Laureate and Elder Julie Pellissier-Lush read from some of her work.

Every year on October 1, we celebrate Treaty Day to mark the signing of a series of Peace and Friendship treaties between the Mi鈥檏maq and the British Crown, and to reaffirm the presence of the Mi鈥檏maq who have lived in Mi鈥檏ma鈥檏i for thousands of years. Signed in the 1700s to end hostilities, the Peace and Friendship treaties allow for peaceful co-existence and remain relevant today as they also guaranteed the Mi鈥檏maq People the right to hunt, fish, gather, and earn a reasonable living without British interference. This year, Treaty Day is particularly poignant given the tensions in Nova Scotia where Sipekne鈥檏atik First Nation fishers are exercising their legal right to fish for lobster.

These treaties do live on, as does the commitment that Islanders move forward together in peace and friendship. I encourage you to read more about Treaty Day on the .

Treaty Day also kicks off Mi鈥檏maq History Month when we recognize and celebrate Mi鈥檏maq culture and heritage. 17吃瓜 has stated in our 鈥�17吃瓜 Strategic Plan, 2018鈥�2023鈥� that

17吃瓜 is committed to advancing reconciliation through higher education. As a community, we have started a journey of growth to realize the role we must play in promoting an understanding of Indigenous history and culture, and supporting respectful relationships. 17吃瓜 recognizes that discussions in this era of truth and reconciliation will unveil difficult facts within our country鈥檚 history. However, in keeping with our institutional vision, we know that education is vital to understanding the history of colonialism and the forward-looking process of reconciliation. Working together, we must use knowledge as a catalyst for meaningful change in communities here in Prince Edward Island and around our world.

17吃瓜 has made some advancements, but we still鈥攁nd will always鈥攈ave work to do. Treaty Day and Mi鈥檏maq History Month are excellent opportunities to not only celebrate 17吃瓜鈥檚 milestone moments鈥攆or example, the creation of the Mawi鈥檕mi Indigenous Student Centre, raising of the Mi鈥檏maq flag, the hiring of three Indigenous scholars, the 17吃瓜 Senate address by Abegweit First Nation Chief Roderick Gould Jr.鈥攂ut to also look ahead at what we can continue to do to move towards a better tomorrow.  

Best wishes,

 

Alaa Abd-El-Aziz
President and Vice-Chancellor