Laurentian University’s School of Social Work aims to educate social workers who can apply critical analyses to respond to those in need in order to promote social change, problem-solving in the context of social justice and respect for human rights, and to improve the general well-being of individuals, groups, communities, and society.

School of Social Work Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

Nothing explicitly mentioned

TRC Call to Action # 1

We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to commit to reducing the number of Aboriginal children in care by: 

1. Monitoring and assessing neglect investigations
2. Providing adequate resources to enable Aboriginal communities and child-welfare organizations to keep Aboriginal families together where it is safe to do so, and to keep children in culturally appropriate environments, regardless of where they reside.
3. Ensuring that social workers and others who conduct child-welfare investigations are properly educated and trained about the history and impacts of residential schools.
4. Ensuring that social workers and others who conduct child-welfare investigations are properly educated and trained about the potential for Aboriginal communities and families to provide more appropriate solutions to family healing.
5. Requiring that all child-welfare decision makers consider the impact of the residential school experience on children and their caregivers.

Mandatory Course: No 

One elective:

SWRK-4267EL – First Nations Perspectives in Social Work

This course examines the effects of colonialism and imperialism on Indigenous peoples around the world and First Nation people in Canada. Particular emphasis is placed on the consequences of social policies, legislation and social services. The course also examines alternate, de-colonising strategies and programs that have been developed within First Nation communities.

Social Work | Program Details (laurentian.ca)

Faculty of Social Work Commitment to Call to Action # 1: 3, 4 and 5: 0 out of 3 = 0%

3	History and impact of residential schools (theory)
	No, unless the student takes the non-mandatory class (SESO-4266FL)
4	Potential for Aboriginal communities and families to provide more appropriate solutions to family healing (practice)
	No
5	All child welfare decision makers consider the impact of the residential school experience on children and their caregivers
	No, unless the student takes the non-mandatory class (SESO-4266FL)

Compliance with CASWE/ACFTS Statement of Complicity and Commitment to Change

At the May 27th, 2017 Board meeting, the Board of Directors of CASWE-ACFTS committed to ensuring that social work education in Canada contributes to transforming Canada’s colonial reality and approved a “Statement of Complicity and Commitment to Change”. “This is an important step in engaging social work education in the reconciliation process and supporting the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action” affirms CASWE-ACFTS President, Dr. Susan Cadel. Of the 12 actions articulated in the “Statement of Complicity and Commitment to Change, the following two are directed at Schools of Social Work

7	Will encourage institutional members to post a territorial acknowledgement on their School’s website and post a link to the CAUT guide to territorial acknowledgement on the CASWE-ACFTS website to assist Schools with this task
	Land Acknowledgment – Aki Gaabijidebendaagwak We would like to acknowledge the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850. We also further recognize that Laurentian University is located on the traditional lands of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and that the City of Greater Sudbury, also includes the traditional lands of the Wahnapitae First Nation. We extend our deepest respect to Indigenous peoples – as a sign of our continued relationship we will support Laurentian University’s Truth and Reconciliation Task Force Recommendations. Miigwech. Laurentian University | Discover Laurentian
8	Will encourage and support Canadian schools of social work in revising mission statements, governance processes, curriculum, and pedagogy in ways that both advance the TRC recommendations and the overall indigenization of social work education

NOTE: All content has been submitted to the respective faculty for validation to ensure accuracy and currency as of the time of posting. The Laurentian University School of Social Work reviewed and approved the document. Managing Editor: Douglas Sinclair: Publisher, Indigenous Watchdog Lead Researcher, Julia Dubé