National Indigenous University Senior Leaders’ Association (NIUSLA) A New National Network for Indigenous Senior Leaders

Calgary, AB – Indigenous Senior Administrative leaders from post-secondary institutions across Canada have formed the National Indigenous University Senior Leaders’ Association (NIUSLA). First Nations University of Canada President Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann co-chairsleads the association alongside Dr. Michael Hart, vice-provost of the Office of Indigenous Engagement at the University of Calgary.

NIUSLA aims to network and engage in constructive dialogue and actions on the roles and responsibilities of leadership within the academic university context. NIUSLA members will have the opportunity to share experiences and information, provide recommendations, and identify areas of success and need within post-secondary institutions. NIULSA strives to:

• Develop a vibrant and recognized leadership association of university Indigenous senior leaders;
• Address challenges and issues relevant to Indigenous senior leaders;
• Increase the communication and resource capacity of NIUSLA; and
• Strengthen and build capacities of Indigenous senior leaders.

Given the rise of high-profile Indigenous identity fraud, and the increasing designation benefits (dedicated positions, research funding and scholarships) for Indigenous peoples at academic institutions in the era of truth and reconciliation and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the timing was advantageous for Indigenous senior academic administrators to take the lead and begin working collaboratively by encouraging and promoting expressions of self-determination and leaning into the strengths of its members within non-Indigenous university contexts.

Indigenous senior leaders with a university, college or faculty-wide mandate are invited to join NIUSLA.

“It’s a step towards further strengthening and building capacities of Indigenous senior leadership while being the national network for the administration, advancing issues and concerns of Indigenous peoples (faculty, staff, students, community members and leaders) and connecting with other Indigenous organizations with common goals. The framework includes leadership, mentorship and succession planning for career-retention.”

Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann, NIUSLA co-chair

“Indigenous people have never lost focus on self-determination, whether it is in our nations, communities, national organizations, or in shared organizations. We continue to emphasize that matters pertaining to us need to include us in the decision-making, and ideally be based on our visions and goals and implemented with Indigenous people and practices. This association is about highlighting Indigenous understanding of our common challenges and aspiration as Indigenous peoples and providing guidance to universities on moving forward in a good way.”

Dr. Michael Hart, NIUSLA co-chair

Information on membership in NIUSLA is available from the First Nations University of Canada President’s Office at 306.790.5950, or email jottmann@firstnationsuniversity.ca.

Media inquiries

Dean Parthenis
Director, Media and Issues Management
University of Calgary
403.629.5806
dparthen@ucalgary.ca

 

Bonnie Rockthunder
Senior Communications Officer
First Nations University of Canada
204.292.3253
comm@firstnationsuniversity.ca

 

About First Nations University of Canada

The First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) was founded in 1976 and is a First Nations owned post-secondary institution that aspires to have transformative impact by bridging our ceremonies, knowledge keepers, languages and traditions with the delivery of high-quality post-secondary education that will lead to the pride and success of all students, First Nations communities and Canada. For more information about FNUniv, please visit http://fnuniv.ca.

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary (UCalgary) is a global intellectual hub located in Canada’s most enterprising city. ii’ taa’poh’to’p, UCalgary’s Indigenous Strategy, is a commitment to deep evolutionary transformation by reimagining ways of knowing, doing, connecting and being. Walking parallel paths together, “in a good way,” UCalgary will move towards genuine reconciliation and Indigenization. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca/indigenous.

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