Native Studies Dept. Letter

22 February 2000

President Bonnie Patterson

Trent University

Peterborough, Ontario

President Patterson:

The Department of Native Studies met on 17 February and discussed the need to establish a process to facilitate the design of the First Peoples House of Learning. We view the building as a wonderful opportunity to have a visible symbol of Native Studies as an important part of the Trent community. We also recognize that, in keeping with our mandate to involve the various department stakeholder groups including the wider Aboriginal community, we need to establish a distinctive design process that will ensure the department’s academic, social and cultural needs will be met in the new building.

At the meeting the following motion was passed unanimously:

“The Native Studies Department confirms its original consensus. The First Peoples House of Learning would be a free standing structure whose design must be controlled by Aboriginal peoples in a manner determined by the Native Studies Department as part of the revitalization of Peter Robinson College downtown. Recognizing that there is considerable debate within Trent with respect to the downtown colleges, the Department desires to proceed with a process of design. In order to implement this the Department supports establishment of a Design Committee on the principles outlined in the written proposal [see attached]. An exploratory committee consisting of the Department Co-chairs, David Newhouse, Michael McIsaac and Valerie Johns will initiate discussion with the administration on the design process.”

We have agreed to move ahead with the establishment of a design process to ensure that the Department is central to any discussions of the First Peoples House of Learning. The attached proposal outlines the strategy to implement that process.

We would be pleased to meet with you at your convenience to discuss and implement the proposal.

Sincerely,

Dr Peter Kulchyski Dr Don McCaskill

Co-Chair Co-Chair