“What grows when Indigenization is rooted in relationships? Through an interactive tree inspired by JIBC’s Living Indigenization Plan, the Office of Indigenization maps projects, collaborations, relationships, and initiatives that have grown across the JIBC. Rooted in cultures, Truth and Reconciliation, respect and relationships, the tree highlights the guidance of Elders-in-Residence, Indigenous protocols, community relationships, and the many ways Indigenization has taken root across programs and institutional work. Participants are invited to consider where their own work connects and what we might grow together next.
We want to make visible how interconnected this work is. Indigenization is not a set of isolated projects led by one office. It is relational, institution-wide work that grows through relationships with Elders, Indigenous communities, learners, faculty and staff. Participants are invited to find where their own work connects and to consider what we might grow together next.
The cedar tree metaphor that is already central to the Living Indigenization Plan, establishing the roots and conditions for meaningful institutional change. The tree shows what has grown from them. Here, innovation means growth through relationship, new ideas and experiences that we can have together.
Much of the work involving the Office and Elders stays invisible to people who encounter only one project or interaction. Our challenge is to make that full scope visible, because Living Indigenization cannot happen within one office. It grows through relationships across JIBC.
