Affirming Waterloo's commitment to decolonization, Indigenization and reconciliation

The video begins with off-screen drumming and singing. This drumming and singing continues throughout the video. 

In a ceremony held outside under a large tent, president and vice-chancellor Vivek Goel stands with Elder Myeengun Henry, Jean Becker, associate vice-president of Indigenous Relations, Elder Bill Woodworth, and other University of Waterloo community members. Elder Henry, Jean Becker, and Elder Woodworth are wearing ceremonial dress and holding ceremonial items. 

Vivek Goel:

I’d like to thank our elders that have joined us to share their knowledge, their wisdom, their traditions. I'd also like to thank everyone that has joined us here, because this commitment is not an individual commitment, it is an institutional commitment that we are making. And it is a historic and momentous occasion as we affirm our commitment to reconciliation, Indigenization, and decolonization.  

Vivek Goel and Elder Henry are shown standing across from each other at the centre of the tent, with gifts and other ceremonial items laid on the ground before them. Arranged around them are 5 flags: the Canadian flag, a red infinity Metis flag, a Haudenosaunee flag, an Anishinaabe flag, and an Indigenous Peoples flag. 

Elder Henry:

In our hope and in determination we ask that you offer at a level probably that might be even higher than we've ever done before. You know, there's many institutions in Canada, they look at the 94 calls to action and they say that they want to work on them, and then when I look at the government today I think there's only about 14 of them that's been achieved at this point. And I think we need to go beyond that at this time. That's been out for a long time already and we've been giving it a lot of time, but are we really doing what is supposed to be done? So that's why I say, at this level in front of the people here in a public statement, I’d like to ask if those commitments can be achieved at the University of Waterloo? 

Vivek Goel:

Certainly, I, individually and on behalf of the institution, am prepared to make the commitment, and with all of my colleagues here I would also ask that they share in this commitment.  

There is a close-up of the items on the ground in the middle of the ceremony tent. The items displayed are ceremonial items from the bundle of Elder Myeengun Henry and gifts that were given as part of the commitment ceremony. Gifts include digital art prints from artist Kevin George and blankets. Ceremonial items from Elder Myeengun Henry's bundle include hand drums, a shaker, a medicine pouch, a medicine wheel, pipes and wampum belts. 

Vivek Goel:

And we know that's more than just the things that we've started: trying to recruit more students, hiring more staff and faculty, developing the programs—it is, as you're saying, looking at our structures and our processes and our policies, and this will be a difficult journey, this will be a challenging journey ahead.  

Those in attendance are shown performing a round dance, joining hands, and moving around in a giant circle.  

Vivek Goel:

This will not happen overnight. It starts with understanding the past, it starts with building the relationships as we are doing today and committing as we are doing today and walking this path together. 

People in attendance are shown throwing tobacco ties into the fire. 

Those in attendance applaud the end of Vivek’s speech.  

The video ends with a close up of the tobacco ties burning in the fire, with drumming and singing in the background.