»ÆÉ«Ö±²¥

Skip to main content

Community engagement

Discover how »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ builds respectful, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities through partnerships, cultural events, and collaborative initiatives.

Discover how »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ builds respectful, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities through partnerships, cultural events, and collaborative initiatives.

Our approach to engagement Community partnerships Events and gatherings On-campus services and spaces Art and placemaking Land acknowledgement
Kiera Harrington performs a dance on the quad.

Our approach to engagement

Grounded in relationship and responsibility

Engagement begins with relationship. The OVPIR’s approach is rooted in Mi’kmaw and Indigenous worldviews, emphasizing respect, reciprocity, and relational accountability. 

We understand engagement not as a single action, but as a shared and continuous process — one that requires listening, learning, and walking together.

Guiding principles

  • Respect: Honouring the rights, voices, and leadership of Indigenous Peoples in all decision-making.
  • ¸é±ð³¦¾±±è°ù´Ç³¦¾±³Ù²â:ÌýEnsuring our relationships benefit communities and the university alike.
  • ¸é±ð²õ±è´Ç²Ô²õ¾±²ú¾±±ô¾±³Ù²â:ÌýActing transparently and following through on commitments.
  • Relationship: Building trust and long-term connection across communities and campuses.

Priorities and strategies

We are currently advancing new frameworks to strengthen Indigenous-led engagement — including updates to »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥â€™s Indigenous Strategy (2026–2036), the renewal of advisory circles, and the co-development of policies that uphold community-defined priorities.

Explore our priorities and strategies

Community partnerships

Building relationships across Wabanaki and beyond

Our partnerships are founded on the recognition of Indigenous sovereignty, knowledge systems, and community-defined goals. We collaborate with Mi’kmaw communities, Friendship Centres, Indigenous organizations, and other institutions to ensure our work is responsive and meaningful.

These relationships are nurtured through dialogue, shared initiatives, and a focus on tangible outcomes — from creating educational pathways to co-developing research and policy that reflect Indigenous lived realities.

Learn more about Indigenous education and research at »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥

Events and gatherings

Our events and gatherings create spaces where community, culture, and learning come together. Each gathering honours Indigenous teachings and traditions, offering opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and the broader community to connect, celebrate, and learn.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours lost Indigenous children and survivors of residential schools.
Explore Truth and Reconciliation Day events
Booklets highlighting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action are displayed on a table. (Provided photos)

Mi'kmaq History Month

Each October, community activities, events, sharing and showcasing the Mi’kmaw history take place across Nova Scotia. The month kicks off with Treaty Day on October 1, and celebrations include an annual Mawio'mi on the Halifax Campus.

Discover Mi'kmaq History Month Learn more about Mawio'mi
Dancers on the quad at the 11th annual Mawio’mi held October 2021

On campus services and spaces

Indigenous Student Centre (ISC)

A supportive environment for Indigenous students provided in partnership with The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq.

Learn more about the ISC
Two students sit and laugh as they look at a laptop screen. In the background is Indigenous artwork on the wall.

Indigenous Community Rooms

The Killam Library’s Ko’jua Okuom room on the Studley Campus in Halifax  and the MacRae Library’s Indigenous Community Room on the Agricultural Camps in Truro offer space for reflection and celebration.

A room with orange walls, a portrait of a killer whale and sun, four chairs, and a bouquet of flowers.

Art and placemaking on campus

Through impactful art and placemaking projects, our culture, teachings, and community are being reflected and honoured in various spaces on campus.

Sacred teachings showcased in new public art on Killam Library

A transformation has taken place on the imposing brutalist walls of the Killam Memorial Library. Seven circular paintings now decorate the library's exterior, adding vibrant colour and meaning to the space.

Explore the seven sacred teachings
A modern building features colorful artwork on its concrete wall, surrounded by green grass and outdoor seating in a bright, sunny courtyard.

On Truro Campus, vibrant murals serve as a simple act of reconciliation

A Mi'kmaw artist from Millbrook First Nation recently completed two murals in Cox Institute on Dal's Agricultural Campus in Truro — a small step in a much bigger plan to help Indigenize the campus to be more welcoming and inclusive for all learners.

Learn more about the murals
Brightly coloured murals depicting a moose and a bird adorn the walls of a hallway.

Indigenous research collaboration

Indigenous research is collaborative and driven by community needs and ambitions.

We offer supports to Indigenous communities, entities and organizations by facilitating meaningful research collaborations and opportunities with »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ researchers.

Connect with Dal's Indigenous research faciliator
two indigenous students standing outside of a room and looking at a laptop together