Truth in reconciliation: a discussion of Indigenous scholars' inclusion in the academy

In April 2023, Universities Canada released their "Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation" document, which outlines six commitments in response to the TRC Calls to Action. This marks a critical first step in national commitment to reconciliation within higher education. The current literature to date, as well as our research, have uncovered incomplete and varied response patterns and initiatives from universities across Atlantic Canada with regards to support for Indigenous faculty in higher education. While the TRC calls for full participation of Indigenous Peoples in all levels of education, the degree to which universities have been able to create space for Indigenous positionality remains largely unknown. Our project aimed to gauge the levels of intentionality, action and accountability expressed by Atlantic Canadian universities. Our methodology involved both interrogation of public documents, such as strategic plans and collective agreements, but also listening to Indigenous scholars who described their experiences working in higher education.