The Dean’s Office would like to take this opportunity to provide further information on the decision to form a First Peoples Leadership Advisory Group for the Daniels Faculty.

This development significantly expands the existing First Peoples Leadership Advisor role from one to three positions, diversifying the Indigenous perspectives and experiences within the Dean’s Office. It also evolves the existing role, creating pathways for all members of our Faculty—academic and administrative leaders, students and staff—to access this support and expertise. Moreover, it formalizes and sustains what has, to date, been a part-time and time-limited appointment. Advertising an open call to all qualified candidates and affirming the value of both lived and academic experience express the Faculty’s long-term commitment to providing meaningful and culturally appropriate support to all members of our community. Recognizing the foundational contributions of the inaugural First Peoples Leadership Advisor, our current Advisor was invited and encouraged to apply to join the Advisory Group, and a contract extension to bridge the transition was offered and accepted prior to the public announcements of the open call. 

The Dean’s Office arrived at the decision to evolve the First Peoples Leadership Advisor position after consulting Indigenous and non-Indigenous members at the Daniels Faculty, members of Indigenous organizations at U of T, and Indigenous experts beyond the University. Consultation will continue to play a primary role in decision-making as we collectively build on the Faculty’s work to answer the Calls to Action articulated by the University’s TRC Steering Committee.  

Banner image: A Master of Architecture student presents her Design Studio 2 (ARC1012) project for review in the Daniels Building earlier this year. Part of the Faculty’s ongoing commitment to integrating meaningful Indigenous content into the curriculum, the studio tasked students with designing a seedbank for the non-profit Kayanase organization using both science-based approaches and Traditional Ecological Knowledge. The course addresses Call to Action No. 17 in U of T’s response to the report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and was developed in collaboration with multiple Indigenous experts. (Photo by Harry Choi)