I. Indigenous Spaces II. Wonderful Progress Has Been Made III. Next Steps, Looking Forward IV. Resistance and Reserves - Bobbi Lee Editorial Team
- bobbileejournal
- Jul 3
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 31
Featured in Bobbi Lee - Issue 1
The Bobbi Lee Editorial team would like to hold literary space to showcase what institutional space we, as Indigenous people, are afforded at the University of Toronto. We feel that the explicit words expressed by the Calls to Action’s Steering Committee, members of the community, and other university reports speak volumes to the types of spaces that have been allocated for Indigenous Studies and Indigenous students in an institution that operates on Native land.
“First Nations House, located in Borden Building North, is not a native place.”
-Indigenous Faculty and Staff Working Group Report, Final Report of the Steering Committee for the University of Toronto Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, January, 2017.
“The Indigenous Faculty and Staff Working Group took this one step further and recommended that a more prominent, visible space at the very centre of the St. George campus be dedicated as an Indigenous space. The current Front Campus redesign exercise was noted as a potential opportunity for the designation of such a space.”
-Steering Committee for the University of Toronto Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, January, 2017.
“As this annual progress report makes clear, the U of T community has taken some important first steps in addressing the Calls to Action. I would like to thank the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and all those who have made these developments possible. The Provost and I were deeply honoured to receive the Eagle Feather, when the TRC Steering Committee presented its Final Report, and we reaffirm the University’s commitment to continuing the journey we began together that day.”
-Meric Gertler, President of the University of Toronto, 2019.
“It (First Nations House) is currently tucked away in a quiet corner of campus with absolutely no signage outside of the building.”
-Indigenous Students Working Group Report Final Report of the Steering Committee for the University of Toronto Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, January, 2017.
“The Indigenous Student Services at First Nations House (ISS/FNH) and the Centre for Indigenous Studies (CIS) are undergoing major renovations in the North Borden Building. The Resource Centre has been relocated within the third floor, and the main floor will feature an events/tutorial space shared between CIS and ISS/FNH, as well as dedicated office space for the Indigenous Students’ Association and the Indigenous Studies Students’ Union. CIS has also secured a classroom on the second floor of North Borden. These renovations provide an opportunity to create more accessible spaces, to update technology, and to improve event spaces within divisions.”
-“Next Steps, Looking Forward,” Section 4, 2019-2020 Indigenous Initiatives Annual Progress Report.
“As we continue to work on truth and reconciliation, I wish to acknowledge the remarkable achievements of U of T’s staff, faculty, librarians, and students. They have demonstrated their dedication to building strong communities and partnerships with Indigenous peoples in the most difficult of circumstances. Although there is still much work to be done, U of T remains committed to its role in responding to its 34 Calls to Action and creating an institution that is respectful, reflective, and supportive of Indigenous peoples and knowledges.”
-Kelly Hannah-Moffat, 2019.
“First Nations House Indigenous Student Services will reopen Wednesday, June 14 at our regular scheduled office hours. It is now safe to re-enter the space. The elevator will be out of service as they need to assess the damage from the flood.”
-First Nations House: Building Update, June 13, 2023.
“The Committee was also advised by two Indigenous Elders, namely Traditional Teacher Lee Maracle (Sto:loh Nation) and Elder-in-Residence Andrew Wesley.”
-Steering Committee for the University of Toronto Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, January, 2017.
“On behalf of the University of Toronto, I extend congratulations on the publication of the 2019-20 Office of Indigenous Initiatives Annual Report, and I thank the dedicated team for their ongoing guidance, commitment, and creativity. Thanks to the excellent leadership of this Office—and the entire Indigenous community at U of T—we are seeing wonderful progress in our ability to support Indigenous students, faculty, and staff, to address Indigenous issues, and to cultivate a rich Indigenous presence on our three campuses.”
-Meric Gertler, President of the University of Toronto, 2020.
“This past year has been particularly difficult for Indigenous communities in Canada with a stark reminder of the continuing trauma inflicted by Residential Schools and the many thousands of children who did not survive. Closer to home, we mourned the loss of Lee Maracle—a widely respected Elder at U of T. The 2021 Annual Progress Report of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives offers much-needed hope. Thanks to the excellent work of the OII team, and of Indigenous Elders, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners across our three campuses, wonderful progress has been made in the areas of teaching and learning, student experience, faculty and staff recruitment and engagement, and community-based research.”
-Meric Gertler, President of the University of Toronto, 2021.
“The Elevator at the North Borden Building - 563 Spadina, is out of Order until at least Thursday January 30th 2025. If climbing stairs is a barrier to your visit, First Nations House staff are available via email & phone, or can arrange to meet you in an office space on the first floor.”
-First Nations House - University of Toronto, Facebook, January 7, 2025.
“The Indigenous Student Services (ISS) at First Nations House (FNH) and the Centre for Indigenous Studies (CIS) are undergoing major renovations in the North Borden Building. The Resource Centre (FNH-ISS) has been relocated within the third floor, and the main floor will feature an events/ tutorial shared space between CIS and FNH-ISS as well as dedicated office space for the Indigenous Students’ Association and the Indigenous Studies Students’ Union. CIS has also secured a classroom on the second floor of North Borden. These renovations provide an opportunity to create more accessible spaces, to update technology, and to improve event spaces within divisions.”
-“Next Steps, Looking Forward,” Section 4, 2021 Indigenous Initiatives Annual Progress Report.
“The recovery of so many unmarked graves, while not surprising to many of us, was a constant reminder of the past and how much work we still need to do together. In the fall, we were all shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of Si’Yam Lee Maracle, Traditional Teacher, Elder, instructor, poet, author, and friend to so many. The memories of Lee and her beautiful laugh will live forever with all who knew her.”
-Shannon Simpson, Senior Director of Indigenous Initiatives, 2021.
“Renovations at First Nations House and Centre for Indigenous Studies, UTSG First Nations House Indigenous Student Services (FNH-ISS) and the Centre for Indigenous Studies (CIS) have undergone major renovations in the North Borden Building, which were completed in early 2022. The FNH-ISS Resource Centre has been relocated on the third floor, and the main floor features an events/tutorial space that is shared between CIS and FNH-ISS, as well as dedicated office space for the Indigenous Students’ Association and the Indigenous Studies Students’ Union. These renovations offer more accessible areas for events and gatherings, improved separate workspaces, updated technology, and displays of Indigenous artwork throughout.”
-“Indigenous Spaces,” Section 2, 2022 Indigenous Initiatives Annual Progress Report.
“The Indigenous Faculty and Staff Working Group took this one step further and recommended that a more prominent, visible space at the very centre of the St. George campus be dedicated as an Indigenous space. The current Front Campus redesign exercise was noted as a potential opportunity for the designation of such a space.”
-Steering Committee for the University of Toronto Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, January, 2017.
“The University of Toronto is dedicated to advancing reconciliation across our three campuses in collaboration with Indigenous members of our community. Thanks to the excellent leadership of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and U of T’s Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners, important progress continues to be made. The 2022 Annual Progress Report of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives offers a thoughtful and inspiring account of this ongoing journey. Its pages share welcome news of the tangible actions and initiatives undertaken in the past year, guided by the wisdom of Answering the Call: Wecheehetowin Final Report of the Steering Committee for the University of Toronto.”
-Meric Gertler, President of the University of Toronto, 2022.
“As the University of Toronto and Indigenous members of our community work together to advance reconciliation across our three campuses, I would like to thank the Office of Indigenous Initiatives for their outstanding leadership. The OII’s 2023 Annual Progress Report reflects another exciting year of progress on this essential journey and highlights the many important contributions made by Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, faculty, staff, and students at U of T.”
-Meric Gertler, President of the University of Toronto, 2023.
“Increased need for physical Indigenous space on campus for staff and students to use for culturally safe programming, land-based education opportunities, and gathering spots. Currently there are not enough spaces available and proposed spaces often have long planning phases and construction periods.”
-“Challenges,” Section 3, Indigenous Initiatives 2022 Annual Progress Report.
“The Indigenous Faculty and Staff Working Group took this one step further and recommended that a more prominent, visible space at the very centre of the St. George campus be dedicated as an Indigenous space. The current Front Campus redesign exercise was noted as a potential opportunity for the designation of such a space.”
-Steering Committee for the University of Toronto Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, January, 2017.
Construction Updates: The Landmark Project
The area east of the J. Robert S. Prichard Alumni House has been transformed into a gorgeous new plaza: In April 2023, close to 500 inscribed granite donor paving stones were installed in this area. The space also features two large new granite seating walls.
King’s College Circle: Construction continues at King’s College Circle, the symbolic heart of the St. George campus. Canada’s largest urban geothermal field is now installed beneath the Circle and will save an estimated 15,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year … Once the front campus is complete, a stunning necklace of granite pathways, 22 new gardens, new trees, and new benches will transform the Circle into one of the most significant green spaces in Toronto’s urban core.
Hart House: To the east, the area formerly known as Hart House Green is being redeveloped as the Ziibiing project, which means ‘river’ in Anishinaabemowin. This new space will pay tribute to the Indigenous nations that lived alongside Taddle Creek, while creating a gathering space for Indigenous students, faculty and community members.
“These three excerpts reinforce a view that First Nations House should be a more prominent, visible space not only for Indigenous people on the St. George campus, but for all members of the University community. It was also commonly noted in working group reports that the First Nations House space is highly restricted in terms of capacity, and is trying to serve many purposes in a tight space.”
-Steering Committee for the University of Toronto Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, January, 2017.
“We want Indigenous students to see the space and feel like it’s a space they want to be in, that they want to sit in, they want to eat lunch in, they want to study in, they want to do ceremony in,” says Simpson. “The most important thing to me is that student voices are heard, so it does really feel like a space that Indigenous students have helped to create, and that they've been listened to.” -Indigenous Landscape project at U of T's St. George campus to bring history, culture and learning to Hart House Green.”
-Romi Levine, October 7, 2019.
“the main floor will feature a … dedicated office space for the Indigenous Students’ Association.”
-“Indigenous Spaces,” Section 2, 2022 Indigenous Initiatives Annual Progress Report.
“Students, staff and faculty are invited to learn more about the project and share their ideas with Brook McIlroy on Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at First Nations House, third floor of the North Borden Building, 563 Spadina Crescent.”
-Indigenous Landscape project at U of T's St. George campus to bring history, culture and learning to Hart House Green,” Romi Levine, October 7, 2019.
“The north end of Chemong became the site for the reserve. However, I found out later it was a piece of land the settlers did not want, they felt it was too rocky and they thought it was best to “let the Indians have it.” Actually it was only by their own misguided way that they inadvertently gave our people land which became really good hunting grounds. They didn’t mean to do that. They just wanted the Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg out of the way.”
-Doug Williams, This Is Our Territory.
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