Indigenous leaders are looking for answers from Lakehead Univeristy’s Board of Governors about allegations of discrimination.
They’re supporting Law School Dean Angelique EagleWoman, who says she experienced systemic racism at the school, and got no help when she took her concerns to LU administration.
EagleWoman says she went to senior administration asking for cultural competency training for staff, but says they disagreed that what she encountered was discriminatory.
She says “over time I felt like I was in an impossible situation” where “there was no light at the end of the tunnel” at the law school.
The Dean said at Tuesday’s press conference that she was “yelled at and constantly criticised” in meetings over the past year.
EagleWoman has announced that she’s stepping down, and her last day will be June 29th.
Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins calls the situation a wasted opportunity for the university to improve relationships with First Nation communities and Indigenous organizations.
He says the school should look into the allegations, and is making a number of recommendations for the University going forward.
That includes a promise to appoint another Indigenous Dean at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law.
Collins adds that because the school is on their traditional territory, the First Nation should also have a designated seat on Lakehead University’s Ogimaawin-Aboriginal Governance Council.
Their list of suggestions also includes setting up a working group with the Governance Council to come up with a strategy to combat discrimination and racism.
It calls for mandatory programming for the Faculty of Law’s students, staff, committee, council, and board members, dealing with the history and legacy of residential schools, Indigenous rights and laws, treaties, and other issues.
The school’s courses on Indigenous topics, which are required for all students, would only be taught by Indigenous law scholars.
The First Nation also wants to be allowed to weigh in when the law school hires any new staff member, and wants faculty and staff hires to be interviewed by Indigenous partners.
Collins tells us that they’re sending a letter on this matter to university.
Lakehead University tells our newsroom that they’re listening to what Indigenous leaders have to say on EagleWoman’s resignation, adding they want to create an environment where everyone at the school can thrive.
A spokesperson for the university says they will be responding to requests for comments on Wednesday. (Staff Photo/Video)
.@FWFN1 @NANComms among Indigenous orgs supporting Bora Laskin Law School Dean Angelique EagleWoman, who says she faced discrimination #tbay pic.twitter.com/MhRXlAXFti
— @country105news (@Country105News) April 24, 2018