The Centre for Indigenous Studies and Woodsworth College, in partnership with the Centre for Drama, Theatre, and Performance Studies, the Centre for Community Partnerships, First Nations House, and First Story Toronto created an initiative to improve recruitment, access, and retention for Indigenous students while strengthening ties between the University and the Indigenous community of Tsi Tkaronto (Toronto).

The collaboration focused on opportunities for Indigenous students and community youth to increase their knowledge of Indigenous presence in the GTA historically and today while enhancing leadership skills, employability, and confidence in Indigenous identity.

While focusing on the development of Indigenous students and community youth, a much broader segment of the University and local community benefits through increased opportunities to participate in First Story Walking Tours at U of T’s three campuses and/or the Hart House 100 Production (Encounters at the ‘Edge of the Woods’). Both public education opportunities seek to encourage participants’ knowledge base of/abilities to engage in reconciliation and decolonization. The entire project furthers the university’s goal to enhance Indigenous placemaking across its campuses.