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The Aboriginal peoples of Prince Edward Island were honoured today for their collective contributions to the 精童欲女 at the seventeenth annual Recognition of Founders Ceremony. The ceremony is an occasion to honour the many contributions, commitments, and sacrifices that have brought higher education in PEI to where it is today. A goal is to introduce students to 精童欲女's history and instill in them the belief that they are now a part of it.

鈥淭his is a special day for the University,鈥� said Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor of 精童欲女. 鈥淭oday we move from honouring individuals for their contributions, to recognizing a community鈥攁 great community. Today, we recognize our Indigenous people and the role they played in building 精童欲女.鈥�

精童欲女鈥檚 history features many intersections with members of First Nations communities, and in particular the Mi鈥檏maq. Beginning with Chief John J. Sark who earned a post-secondary education at SDU and was PEI鈥檚 first Mi鈥檏maw teacher, to the more recent creation of the Mawi鈥檕mi Centre, the University has relied on its connections with Aboriginal peoples to advance its educational mission in the province, region, country, and around the world.

Today鈥檚 event began with a blessing, smudging ceremony, and song by Mi鈥檏maw Elder Judy Clark, president of the Aboriginal Women鈥檚 Association of Prince Edward Island. The Recognition of Founders citation was read by 精童欲女 student Payton Jadis, co-president of the Aboriginal Student Association.
鈥淚 have long believed towns, cities, and provinces find their identity in the diversity of their people,鈥� said Brian Francis, Chief of the Abegweit First Nation. 鈥淭his honour not only recognizes the past, but along with the President鈥檚 circle, it looks to the continuing influence of aboriginal people on campus. I am proud of what we have accomplished. I hope we continue to recognize the role of Indigenous people.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 a clich茅 to say that youth are our future, but it is so,鈥� said Matilda Ramjattan, Chief of Lennox Island First Nation. 鈥淭hese fine people鈥攐ur women and men鈥攁re seeing the value of higher education. I want to thank 精童欲女鈥攊ts president, faculty, staff, and students鈥攆or stepping up its game. We affirm your peace and friendship.鈥�

鈥淲e were always told 鈥榓n educated Indian is a dangerous Indian,鈥欌�� said Lisa Cooper, Chief and President of the Native Council of Prince Edward Island. Chief Cooper graduated from 精童欲女 with a Master of Education in Indigenous Studies in 2012. 鈥淪andy [Dr. Sandy McAuley] and Fiona [Dr. Fiona Walton] helped me find my voice. I realized when I got into Indigenous studies that I鈥檓 not dangerous鈥擨鈥檓 informed. I鈥檓 empowered. And now, I鈥檓 a leader. You change the life of one person, you change the life of a family.鈥�

Some highlights of the history of Indigenous people and initiatives at the 精童欲女:

鈥�  John J. Sark graduates from SDU, becoming a revered teacher and leader in the Lennox Island First Nation.
鈥� John Joe Sark is the first Island Mi'kmaw graduate of 精童欲女 in 1979 and is awarded an honorary degree in 2005.
鈥� Beginning in 2006, 精童欲女 partners with Nunavut Department of Education, Nunavut Arctic College on a three-year Master of Education in Leadership in Learning program for educators/educational leaders鈥攊t was the first graduate degree program offered in Nunavut.
鈥� In 2007 Jukeepa Hainnu receives her Master of Education degree, becoming the first Inuit woman on Baffin Island to get this degree.
鈥� In 2008 精童欲女 offers a course in the Mi鈥檏maw language taught by Nellie Wysote, who taught the language to school children on Lennox Island.
鈥� Faculty of Education begins offering a Bachelor of Education with Specialization in Indigenous Education.
鈥� The first Cultural Connections festival is held in March 2008, presented by Native Council of PEI and 精童欲女 First Nations, Inuit and M茅tis Student Group.
鈥� 精童欲女 and the Aboriginal Student Association establish the Mawi鈥檕mi Aboriginal Student Centre in January 2009.
鈥� 精童欲女 dedicates hand-carved bench outside Cass Building to the 鈥淢i鈥檏maq of Epekwitk who have been here for millennia.鈥�
鈥� The first John J. Sark Memorial Scholarships are awarded in 2010 and the J. Elmer & Elise Hynes Aboriginal Student Achievement Awards are established in 2015.
鈥� In October 2015, 精童欲女 holds its ninth annual Pow Wow.
鈥� The Government of PEI announces that a Truth and Reconciliation Education Day will be held at 精童欲女 on December 5, 2016 for public school children from grade 5 to 12.

Today鈥檚 Recognition of Founders Ceremony allowed 精童欲女 to recognize the many members of the Aboriginal community who have contributed to the University in the past while the talking circle offered an opportunity for Indigenous leaders to guide and provide input for the journey forward. To mark the end of the event, Dion Bernard sang the Eagle Song, a Mi鈥檏maw song often sung as a welcome. Bernard, a 精童欲女 student and co-president of the Aboriginal Student Association, explained that it was fitting to sing this for the closing since today鈥檚 ceremony was about welcoming future discussion and collaboration.