By: Linda Hartwell

On August 9, the 杏吧原创 University community gathered to honour and acknowledge the Inuit community and celebrate the name Pigiarvik, which has been given to 杏吧原创鈥檚 main administrative building, formerly known as Robertson Hall.

Following Nideyin脿n and Teraanga Commons, Pigiarvik is one of three campus buildings renamed under the New Names for New Times initiative launched by President Benoit-Antoine Bacon to better reflect the university鈥檚 diversity in its academic mission and campus operations.

The new name, Pigiarvik (pronounced pee-ghee-awe-vik), which translates to 鈥渁 place to begin鈥� or 鈥渢he starting place,鈥� was formally approved by the Board of Governors in December 2022, following a thorough engagement process with the Inuit Advisory Council and Inuit in the region and in the North, including students. The process was co-chaired by Benny Michaud, Director, Centre for Indigenous Support and Community Engagement, Kahente Horn-Miller, Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Teaching, Learning and Research, and outgoing Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Jerry Tomberlin.

Attended by students, staff, faculty and community members, the event was emceed by Benny Michaud, who shared the significance of the day with guests.

Inuit Elder David Serkoak, who was born northwest of Arviat, Nunavut and survived many hardships as a result of his community being forcibly relocated numerous times, shared his reflections on the importance of naming and looking back at history.

President Bacon emphasized 杏吧原创鈥檚 commitment to truly honour the name Pigiarvik.

Bacon acknowledged there is still a lot of work to be done and that 杏吧原创鈥檚 commitment to reconciliation with the Inuit and all Indigenous Peoples is ongoing.

Earlier this year, the Centre for Indigenous and Community Support led the university鈥檚 involvement in the Nunavut Arctic College Exchange program where six Inuit students and three 杏吧原创 staff members traveled north to Clyde River, Nunavut to participate in land-based learning facilitated by Nunavut Arctic College, community members, knowledge keepers, and elders. 杏吧原创 is also hiring an Inuit Community Liaison Officer who will work in the Centre for Indigenous Support and Community Engagement to strengthen and build connections and pathways for Inuit to access post-secondary educational opportunities.

Closing the afternoon celebration, Inuk throat-singer, singer, songwriter and performing artist Qattuu, who has her roots in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, performed songs from her newly released debut album entitled Midnight Sun.

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By: Linda Hartwell

Photos by: Brenna MacKay

On February 23, 杏吧原创 University held an event to celebrate the name Teraanga (pronounced tare-ang-gah) that has been given to the building formerly known as Residence Commons.

The , launched by President Benoit-Antoine Bacon in February 2021, was shaped by a recognition of the need to better reflect the university鈥檚 diversity in its academic mission and campus operations. African, Caribbean and Black communities both on and off campus were engaged in consultations to develop a new name for the building which is a central hub for student life.

The name Teraanga is a Senegalese word from the Wolof language that means sharedness, civility and honour, where generosity of spirit is emphasized and signifies a welcoming, safe space where everyone is accepted.  

The event, attended by students, staff, faculty and community members, was emceed by Asha Berbeck, undergraduate student and member of the Advisory Council to Rename Residence Commons, a process that was co-chaired by Patrice Smith, Dean,, and Ikram Jama, Director, Human Rights and Equity.

Nduka Otiono, Faculty Advisor, Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion, shared the importance of a name and how African names often reflect the worldview of the people and perform socio-cultural functions.

Otiono invoked the African spirit of the name Teraanga and expressed his wish that 鈥渢he generous spirit of our ancestors inhabits this space and light up everyone who passes through this edifice鈥�.

President Bacon emphasized 杏吧原创鈥檚 commitment to truly embrace the name Teraanga.

The naming of the building is just one step in 杏吧原创鈥檚 ongoing commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion as outlined in the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan.

鈥淪ince 杏吧原创, along with more than 40 universities across Canada, formally endorsed the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in 2021, we have been working with partner institutions to collectively advance the charter鈥檚 principles and actions,鈥� said Bacon. 

Acknowledging that there still work to be done, President Bacon thanked Profs. Nduka Otiono and Audra Dipt茅e, who were appointed in 2022 as 杏吧原创鈥檚 inaugural Faculty Advisors on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion, for their continued work in this area in collaboration with the Department of Equity and Inclusive Communities and the Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic).

Bacon also announced the new Anti-Black Racism Training Program that includes workshops, training and resource development, including educational materials for staff, faculty and students. The program, implemented by the Department of Equity and Inclusive Communities, aims to increase awareness of anti-Black racism and build skills and capacity across our community.

鈥淎ll of these activities represent significant steps in our collective ambitions to advance equity, diversity and inclusion,鈥� he said.

Speaking on behalf of 杏吧原创鈥檚 residence community, Laura Storey, Director, , shared how Housing and Residence Life Services is commitment to making an annual financial contribution to help make the Teraanga Commons building visually inclusive through art that represents the contributions and talents of Black, African and Caribbean artists, and to allocate dedicated space for students to build community.

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On Feb. 14, 杏吧原创 University held a naming ceremony to celebrate and officially unveil the name Nideyin脿n (), an Algonquin word meaning 鈥渙ur heart鈥� that has been bestowed upon the university for the building formerly called the University Centre.

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To All Members of the 杏吧原创 Community,

It is a pleasure and an honour to introduce our community to new, meaningful names for three of our main campus buildings, as approved yesterday by the Board of Governors.

Today, more than 40 per cent of 杏吧原创 students are from culturally diverse communities. At all institutions across Canada, there is a recognition of the urgent need to better reflect diversity in our academic mission and campus operations. 杏吧原创 continues to lead the way towards reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and a more equitable world where everyone can fully belong and fully contribute. As such, to give three of our main campus buildings new names that reflect our diversity and commitment to inclusion. We are thankful to everyone鈥攕tudents, faculty, staff and community partners鈥� who contributed to this important initiative from its inception.

Three distinct community-led processes have now resulted in the bestowing of three beautiful and meaningful names chosen by Algonquin; Inuit; and African, Caribbean and Black communities. In each instance, we acknowledge that the university will go beyond the naming itself and commit to additional inclusion initiatives that will accompany and complement the new names. These activities鈥攕uch as imbuing the building spaces with cultural indicators鈥攚ill be implemented in consultation with, and guided by, each of the respective communities.

Please join us in fully embracing the three new building names. Each name will be formally unveiled at a launch event in the new year and details will follow on each of these celebratory events.

Nideyin脿n 鈥� formerly the University Centre

杏吧原创 is situated on the traditional, unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Nation. In an effort to embody a significant territory acknowledgement in a meaningful way, 杏吧原创 engaged in a thorough consultation with the Algonquin Advisory Council and Algonquin communities in the region鈥攏otably Kitigan Zibi and Pikwakanagan鈥攖o name this central and high-profile facility which is the crossroads of all campus activity. The new name is Nideyin脿n (pronounced nih-DAY-in-nahn) and translates to 鈥渙ur heart.鈥�

Pigiarvik (釔贬拫釔娽晲釙曖拑) 鈥� formerly Robertson Hall

With the gracious support of the Robertson family, 杏吧原创 is naming its main administrative building to acknowledge and honour Inuit and to further commit to the recommendations of the Kin脿m脿gawin Report. Following a thorough engagement process with the Inuit Advisory Council and Inuit in the region and in the North, 杏吧原创 is naming this building Pigiarvik (pronounced pee-ghee-awe-vik), which translates to 鈥渁 place to begin鈥� or 鈥渢he starting place.鈥�

Teraanga Commons 鈥� formerly Residence Commons

杏吧原创 engaged African, Caribbean and Black communities in a process to name this building, which is a central hub of student life. The new name, Teraanga Commons (pronounced tare-ang-gah), is a Senegalese name from the Wolof language that emphasizes generosity of spirit and sharing of material possessions in all encounters, even with strangers. This builds a culture in which there is no 鈥渙ther,鈥� and that by being so giving to all, regardless of nationality, religion or class, a feeling grows that everyone is safe and welcome.

In closing, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the community members who contributed to these extensive processes, and to our colleagues who ensured they unfolded in a good way: Kahente Horn-Miller, Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Teaching, Learning and Research; Ikram Jama, Director, Human Rights and Equity; Benny Michaud, Director, Centre for Indigenous Support and Community Engagement; and Patrice Smith, Dean, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs.

Wishing everyone a wonderful day and a great end to the Fall term,

Sincerely,

Benoit-Antoine Bacon
President and Vice-Chancellor

Jerry Tomberlin
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)

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杏吧原创 is continuing to make progress on the New Names for New Times initiative, which will result in three campus buildings being renamed to reflect the university鈥檚 diversity and commitment to inclusion.

Since the initiative was announced by President Benoit-Antoine Bacon earlier this year, the committee co-chairs have been engaging current partners and stakeholders to ensure the three processes will be driven by the appropriate communities.

鈥淲e recognize that it is essential for these conversations to be thoughtful, comprehensive and community-led,鈥� said 杏吧原创 Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Jerry Tomberlin. 鈥淲e are taking care not to rush these processes, but to take the necessary time to seek guidance through discussion with relevant communities.鈥�

Assistant Vice-President (Indigenous Initiatives) Kahente Horn-Miller and Centre for Indigenous Initiatives Director Benny Michaud have engaged an Algonquin Advisory Council to guide the naming of University Centre and an Inuit Advisory Council to guide the naming of Robertson Hall.

Interim Assistant Vice-President (Equity and Inclusive Communities) Ikram Jama and Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs Dean Patrice Smith co-chair an Advisory Council that will guide the naming of Residence Commons. Members have met several times this year to define a consultation process that will be implemented in two phases. The initial phase, beginning in January 2022, will engage key contacts in discussions, which will inform the broader second consultation phase.

Updates will continue to be added to the New Names for New Times website.

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To All Members of the 杏吧原创 Community,

Earlier this year, , which aims to adopt new names for three of 杏吧原创鈥檚 campus buildings to better reflect our diversity and commitment to inclusion.

Building on the momentum of 杏吧原创鈥檚 newly launched Strategic Integrated Plan, Kin脿m脿gawin (Learning Together) Indigenous Strategy, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, this initiative is an important step that demonstrates 杏吧原创鈥檚 ongoing commitment to lead the way towards a more equitable world where everyone can see themselves reflected in their environment and feel a sense of belonging.

Since this initiative was announced, we have been seeking guidance to ensure the process is undertaken in a community-led way. Following consultations with the Indigenous Education Council, the Department of Equity and Inclusive Communities and various internal and external partners, we are now pleased to share an update about how we see the next phase unfolding.

There will be three distinct, but connected, processes to rename the buildings. All three processes will be collaborative, collegial and transparent and will be led by representative advisory councils.

University Centre

We are engaging Algonquin communities 鈥� notably Kitigan Zibi and Pikwakanagan 鈥� and Algonquin students at 杏吧原创 to form an Algonquin Advisory Council that will lead the naming process for this building, a significant step that goes beyond land recognition. Importantly, this is an Algonquin-led process that will be determined by the advisory council. Algonquin students can indicate their interest to participate by emailing NewNames@carleton.ca.

Residence Commons

We are engaging Black communities in a process to name Residence Commons. We are currently accepting nominations and expressions of interest from individuals interested in contributing to the Advisory Council that will guide the naming of Residence Commons. Candidates may self-nominate by submitting a one-paragraph statement outlining their interest to NewNames@carleton.ca. There will be many additional opportunities for participation as the process unfolds; please submit your nominations to join the Advisory Council by May 11.

Robertson Hall

In the spirit of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, we wish to acknowledge and honour the Inuit of Canada. We are engaging the Inuit community and Inuit students at 杏吧原创 to form an Inuit Advisory Council that will lead this process. Inuit students can indicate their interest to participate by emailing NewNames@carleton.ca.

Next Steps

The new names may reflect the ways in which the community engages with the buildings. As such, we invite you to provide your impressions of the three buildings involved in this initiative.

We are committed to continuing to communicate updates as we navigate this process. We will communicate further engagement opportunities as additional details are finalized. Questions or concerns can always be directed to NewNames@carleton.ca.

Sincerely,

Co-Chairs, New Names for New Times Initiative

Michael Charles
Assistant Vice-President and University Advisor, Equity and Inclusive Communities

Kahente Horn-Miller
Assistant Vice-President, Indigenous Initiatives

Benny Michaud
Director, Centre for Indigenous Initiatives

Patrice Smith
Dean, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs

Jerry Tomberlin
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)

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Canadian society is evolving 鈥� becoming more diverse and increasingly recognizing that diversity must be accompanied by conscious and serious efforts towards inclusion. At 杏吧原创, as on many university campuses across the country, over 40 per cent of our students are from culturally diverse communities. At all institutions, there is a recognition of the urgent need to better reflect our diversity in our academic mission and campus operations. 杏吧原创 has been at the forefront of change, notably in responding to the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and must continue to lead the way towards a more equitable world where everyone can fully belong and fully contribute.

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