Rotarian Dianne Spencer introduced Jennifer Maracle (Tewathaha:kwa) as the speaker at the Rotary Club of Belleville lunch meeting on September 26th. Jennifer is the Executive Director of Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation at Loyalist College, joining the college two years ago. Previously she had taught for 20 years at the Quinte Mohawk School. Jennifer says she is privileged to lead initiatives that contribute to the ongoing process of reconciliation and empowerment within the Indigenous community. Through collaborate efforts, she works towards creating an inclusive and culturally response educational environment. Jennifer is also working on her doctorate at Queen's University where her research allows her to delve into the intricate nuances of Indigenous education, exploring innovative ways to bridge gaps and promote meaningful experiences.
Jennifer is one of eight Jennifer Maracles in Tyendinaga and before Maracle, she was a Brant. She is a member of the Bear Clan and lives in Tyendinaga, Mohawk Territory. She thanked the Rotary Club for the opportunity to boast about her team at Loyalist College and the exciting things that are happening. Jennifer's name means "she takes up the path" and she is very proud to get her name and now helps to name others, which is a big responsibility.
The Indigenous student enrolment at Loyalist is the highest ever with the most incoming students for the Fall and the most returning students and it is a role that requires a space where students can ground themselves, even though they may be apprehensive about attending into the main stream at Loyalist College. Jennifer was instrumental in developing a program called 4 Seasons of Reconciliation, an on-line education program for employees, a requirement for faculty. Indigenizing Loyalist College goes beyond student and employee education programming; it also encompasses celebration, cultural exchange, and relationship building. As we come together to honour the rich cultural traditions of our region, we hope to create meaningful opportunities for understanding and connection between our local Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members. Jennifer spoke about some of the history surrounding St. Anne's Indian Residential School in Fort Albany, Ontario where there were 700 victims identified through an OPP investigation. The trauma of that history from 1902 - 1976 is still very much evident today. There is an on-going fear of education as education was not allowed, post-secondary was an option. One of Jennifer's goals is to build confidence and trust with the students and in that area, a plan for the next five years has been created called IPEC which stands for Indigenous Peoples Education. The Indigenous Center is seen, heard and respected under Jennifer's leadership and President Karen Baker thanked Jennifer for speaking to the Club today.