After a successful pilot of the Reconciliation Lab in 2022, Coeuraj has partnered with the McConnell Foundation to run it for a second year. The lab will explore questions at the intersection of Reconciliation and post-secondary education, weaving together Indigenous and Western perspectives on innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving.
Engagement
Reconciliation in Post-Secondary Education: Social Innovation Lab
April 2023
Overview
Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) underscored the central responsibility of the education sector to enable reconciliation with Indigenous communities. As agents in colonization (historically and presently), post-secondary institutions have a special responsibility to decolonize themselves and to support acts of reconciliation between Indigenous Peoples and other individuals and communities.
Since the release of the TRC Calls to Action, many post-secondary institutions have been working hard to make changes in line with these calls. This work is difficult, emotional, and deeply complex.
In response to this, in October 2021 the McConnell Foundation launched a Social Innovation Lab for Reconciliation in the Post-secondary Sector. This pilot program took place in two regions in collaboration with post-secondary institutions through 2021-22.
Now, Coeuraj is building on the learnings and will run a second iteration of the lab with two additional post-secondary institutions located in Canada. This work will take place over 2023 in several stages.
About the Lab
We are currently in the recruitment phase, seeking two post-secondary institutions to join us as lab partners. Coeuraj will work with each post-secondary institution to support it to build and bring into being its own Reconciliation Lab.
April–June: Recruiting Post-Secondary Partners
July–September: Getting Ready
September: Lab Kick-off
September–December: Lab Workshops
You can read about how to become a post-secondary lab partner and also review our information session slides.
We welcome all interested post-secondary institutions to send us an Expression of Interest in becoming a lab partner. The timeline for providing an Expression of Interest is by Thursday, May 11, 2023 at 9:00pm EST / 6:00pm PST.
Contact Us
For more information on this project, please email us at reconciliationlab@coeuraj.com.
The Reconciliation in Post-Secondary Education Social Innovation Lab is a project of Coeuraj, supported by the McConnell Foundation.