ºìÁ«ÉçÇø College and the (MCFN) have formalized a new partnership that will foster a stronger Indigenous presence across ºìÁ«ÉçÇø’s campuses and support meaningful, collaborative change.  

On June 27, marking the end of National Indigenous History Month, ºìÁ«ÉçÇø’s Provost and Vice President, Academic Mary Vaughan and Associate Vice President, Indigenous Engagement and Education Amy Reader, and Ogiima Kwe (Chief) Claire Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) gathered at ºìÁ«ÉçÇø’s Hazel McCallion Campus to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).  

"The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation are the traditional land and treaty holders, and ongoing caretakers of the land upon which our campuses are situated,” said Vaughan. “We are honoured to collaborate with and learn from this community as we work to build a culture of equity, reconciliation and belonging at ºìÁ«ÉçÇø. The signing of the MOU has great significance in expressing and formalizing our commitment to working collectively and in the spirit of reciprocity."  

The three-year agreement outlines key actions ºìÁ«ÉçÇø will take to support Indigenous learners including enhanced programming and more accessible pathways to postsecondary education.   

"The agreement signifies a meaningful and intentional first step to building a relationship centred on trust, respect and innovation," said Reader. "The MOU embodies layers of complex and visible changes for both partners."  

As part of the MOU, MCFN developed a revised Land Acknowledgment for the ºìÁ«ÉçÇø community to use in written and spoken materials. The new Land Acknowledgment was introduced during ºìÁ«ÉçÇø’s Spring 2025 convocation ceremonies in June. 

"I respect the work that is happening with ºìÁ«ÉçÇø College, and signing a relationship agreement based on mutual respect and friendship will allow us to have a positive impact and will be mutually beneficial," Chief Claire Sault said.  

The MOU commitments align with ºìÁ«ÉçÇø’s and will enable the college to respond to several of the and advance the priorities in the CiCan Indigenous Education Protocol.   

Learn more about the supports and services offered to students by ºìÁ«ÉçÇø’s Centre for Indigenous Learning and Support. 

Top photo: (back row) Audrey Rochette, Associate Vice President, Indigenous Initiatives, York University; Amy Reader, Associate Vice President, Indigenous Engagement and Education, ºìÁ«ÉçÇø; Councillor Erma Ferrell, Pillar 5 Lead, Cultural Awareness, Communications and Outreach, ºìÁ«ÉçÇø Indigenous Education Council; Randi Jacob, Indigenous Engagement Education Specialist, ºìÁ«ÉçÇø; John Kovac, City of Mississauga Councillor and Deputy Mayor; (front row) Mary Vaughan, Provost and Vice President, Academic, ºìÁ«ÉçÇø; and Chief Claire Sault, MCFN.

Bottom photo: Mary Vaughan and Chief Claire Sault sign the Memorandum of Understanding.