USask, Thunderchild First Nation sign MOU celebrating collaboration

SASKATOON — The University of Saskatchewan (USask) is coming together with Thunderchild First Nation to further define and enhance their relationship and collaborate on common interests such as mentorship, research and supporting Indigenous youth.

“In our effort to make USask the best place it can be for Indigenous students, staff and faculty, and their communities, partnerships like this are essential to success,” said USask President Peter Stoicheff. “This collaboration with Thunderchild First Nation is an opportunity to sharpen the focus of our work with Indigenous communities and to highlight the positive impact we can have on each other.” 

Colleges across USask’s campus will come together to serve the needs of Thunderchild First Nation, especially the kihci-okâwîmâw askiy Knowledge Centre, along with the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, the College of Education, and the School of Environment and Sustainability. These groups all offer a commitment to meeting the needs of those who work and care for the land and are central to the agreement.

“Relationship building through agreements like this, provide meaningful development towards the improvement of teaching, learning, and research for Indigenous people to feel safe at USask. The university’s Indigenous Strategy, ohpahotān | oohpaanhotaan, guides the way we care for these partnerships USask enters into with Indigenous communities,” said Dr. Angela Jaime (PhD), vice-provost Indigenous engagement.

“This MOU offers us the opportunity to work together with Thunderchild First Nation to determine what they need from us and then to provide opportunities to meet those needs so that their students and their community can build infrastructure and provide for their people.”

This partnership was formally signed Aug. 27 at USask.

— Submitted by USask Media Relations