OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT PETER STOICHEFF

We invite Alumni,  educators, students and concerned community members to sign the letter below. To sign the letter send your name to stepdownnow20@gmail.com   

 We are writing this Open Letter to President Peter Stoicheff as concerned Alumni from the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan. We have all had long standing relationships with the College of Education which includes our positions and engagement as undergraduate students, graduate students, sessional lecturers and faculty in the college. Some of us have been involved with the college for 30 + years. We have a collective memory of when the College of Education was a leader in Indigenous Education and Anti-Racist Anti-Oppressive Education and we have become increasingly aware that this has changed under the present administration in the college. Many faculty and students have made the President’s office aware of their concerns regarding the current leadership in the College of Education. Numerous Indigenous faculty and staff have recently left the college because of a toxic climate where they did not feel supported and were fearful of speaking out against the present administration’s harmful attitude, policies and practices.

Our concerns include the following:

  •   Indigenous faculty, staff and students facing institutional and individual racial hostility
  •  The limits placed on academic freedom
  •  The impact on public education across the province, in particular for marginalized students and community members that face a violent settler colonial context
  • The climate of fear and the silencing of people who shared concerns about the administration’s policies
  • Allies supportive of Indigenous faculty and staff have been targeted  
  • The lack of ethical hiring practices and appointments through nepotism
  •  Some key positions in Indigenous education have been dissolved  
  •  Exploiting Indigenous education by using it for public recognition while scaling back on necessary resources

We stand in support of the Indigenous staff and faculty that have left the College of Education and who have spoken out publicly regarding the racist and toxic environment (CBC Article). The present administration’s shift away from supporting Indigenous Education and Anti-Racist Anti-Oppressive Education in the College of Education creates further harm to Indigenous people and all marginalized people.

 We are calling for the President’s Office to acknowledge the ongoing evidence of unethical practices and for the current administration in the College of Education to step down.

 Signed

Dr. Sheelah McLean B. Ed ('91)  M. Ed ('07) PhD (2016)

Dr. Jaris Swidrovich

Naomi Cameron M.Ed ('19)

Chelsea Davis B.Ed (‘15), M.Ed (‘20)

Rod Figueroa

Khodi Dill

Shelley Hosaluk

Janet Carmona-Figueroa

Genevieve Prevost

Myrna Turner

Mauricio Carmona R.

STF Professional Growth Network SAFE (Social Justice Anti-Racist Anti-Oppressive Forum on Education)

Matt Love

Andrea Cessna

Michael MacLean

Peter Turner BEd/ITEP (‘05), MEd (‘13)

Bessie Aida Pino

Becky Sasakamoose Kuffner M. Ed 2006

Sasha Hanson Pastran

Chenoa McArthur

Catalina Cabrera

Jerilyn Alderman-Hansson

Shane Henry PhD Ed. Admin (current)

Hunter McLean

Tanis Crawford B. Ed 2001, B. A. 2007, M. Ed. 2011 Current PhD

Rodolfo Pino

Kathleen Germs

Shelley Schwan (BEd ‘15 EPSE Cert. ‘16)

Larissa Tkachuk

Noah Munro

Nicole Turner

Jennifer Altenberg B.Ed/SUNTEP( '10) M.Ed ('14)

Paydahbin Aby (President of Indigenous Students Council)

Michelle Scott MEd (‘17)

Yvonne Benjoe

Janice Reigert, B.Ed ('10)

Rosa Gloria Pino

Dr. Stavros Stavrou

Leah Arcand, B.Ed (‘14)

Joe Wickenhauser, BA ('09), past University of Saskatchewan Senator

Nicole Reed

LeeAnn Davis (B.Ed 1981)

Jodi Kruger

Cindy Reigert (B.Sc)

Kathy Walker, MBA, MA

Dr. Brittany Davis (B.Sc ‘16, DVM ‘19)

Candace Gadwa, B.Ed/ITEP

Mary Newton

Darwin Gardypie  B. A. Drama (4th year) U of S

Samuel Simonson

Paige Freistadt B.Ed (2014)

Denae Stegeman B.Ed (2015)

Tina Rioux

Crystal J. Tootoosis BISW

Sonya Tootoosis CA

Creedance Tootoosis

Bobbie Jean Tootoosis BED

Tara Tootoosis BSCN

Jordan Raymond

Laurie J. Dirsa

Risa Naytowhow - B.ed (2019)

Calvert Chiefcalf  ITEP  (2002)

Cheryl Ermine M. Ed 2012

Melissa Ledoux

Sharissa Hantke (current M.Ed student)

Maria Himbeault

Megan Mutch

Peter Garden

Autumn Baptiste (ITEP B.Ed 2020)

Carol Vandale (MCEd 2005)

Warren R. Nekurak (ITEP B.Ed 2020)

Jessie Peberdy B.Ed 2012

Donna Heimbecker SUNTEP, BEd

Norma Lepage B.Ed (1993)

Aysha Yaqoob  

Amber Fuentealba BISW RSW

Vanessa Corvera-Ancheta BEd 2014

Jeffrey MacDonald (BA, 2004)

Dr. Jordan Woodsworth (BSc '04 DVM '08)

Blair Gillies

Tracy Ernst

Dr. Jeff Baker

Sekwun Ahenakew B.Ed M.Ed 2018

Marcia Little

Aubrey-Anne Laliberte-Pewapisconias (Co-Founder of the Indigenous Business Students’ Society)

Sonal Kavia (M.Ed, 2019)

Sherry Eyahpaise

Milton Eyahpaise B.Ed Itep (1996)

Rebecca Elson

Conrad Sand B.Ed ITEP

Colleen Whitedeer

Dr. Tasha Hubbard, BA (1994), MA (2006)

Keely Williams

Terry Jordens, MEd, BEd (2000), BA (2000)

Nikki Yee, BA (1998), BEd (1999)

Dr. Nancy Van Styvendale, Adjunct Professor

Elaine Baker

Dan Baker

Jocelyn Dupuis (M. Ed, 2020)

Dr. Jennifer Nicol (Professor Emerita)

Barbara Schindelka, BEd (1996) MEd (2004)

Cheryl Beatty, B.Ed/ITEP

Kateri Hellman Pino (B.Ed ‘80, STF Prize ‘80), ARCT, B.A.A Ryerson ‘76

Kelley Cardinal, B.Ed (2012), M.Ed(2017)

Lynnea Moore, B.Ed

Colleen Campbell, B.Ed/ITEP

Sharon Bear, B.Ed/ITEP

Livia Ross, B. Ed/ITEP

Jody Lerat, B.Ed/ITEP (2015)

Afiya Bear, B.Ed

Darren Bird B.Ed/ITEP 2008, M.Ed 2020

Marissa Pirlot

Danielle Fletcher, B.Ed '06

Kerry Marshall

Emma Whitla community member (York U)

Chad Holowaty, Kin 2011, B. Ed 2011, M. Ed 2019  

Shalen Fox B. Ed 2010  

Dr. Manuela Valle-Castro (Anti Racism Network, WGST Instructor)

Jonathan Waters

Olive McLean Arts & Science (1951)  

Cale Bosch, B.Ed (2021 graduate)

Jason Surkan, B.A.S, M.Arch.

Kirsten Catarat B.Ed/ITEP (13), M. Ed(18)

Celia Deschambeault B. Ed/ITEP (00) B. A. (00)

Marlene McKay BHJ, B.Ed (ITEP) M.Ed, Ph.D

Samantha Gunn M.Ed ‘12

Geraldine (Delorme) Rediron, B.A (90), B.Ed. (97) M.Ed. (Nov. 2020)

Larry Kowalchuk B.A., Juris D.(U of S.)

Dee Jay Mirasty B.Ed (09)  

Ashley Bullerwell B. Ed 2011

Kevin Irvine B. Ed/ITEP (07)

Rod McLaren, B.A. 1971  

Linda Aspen-Baxter

Nassim Elbardouh (M.eD, 2018)

Antonio Cotton. M, Ed, 2020

Laura M.Hosaluk

Roz Kelsey

Margaret King

Joanna Klees van Bommel (B.Sc '17)

Wanda Clare B. Ed, M. Ed

Dawne Thomas SUNTEP M. ED

Jasmyn Opikokew B.Ed, 2018

Kyle Graham B. Ed (2010)

Jackie Crowe

Zoe Arnold B. Sc (2011)

Torien Cafferata B.F.A. (2016)

Charlotte Baldhead

Angela Ryde, B. Ed 2000

Chelsey Baptiste

Andy Tait    

Terry Johanson BEd 1991, MEd 2014

Andrea Hudson B.Ed, 2021

Rachel Engler-Stringer Associate Professor, CH & E

Marla Gordon, B. Ed 1994

Tatum Albert

Sherri Swidrovich M. A. (2004)

Jessi Strong Spear

Lori Myskiw

Juli Binning B. Ed 1999

Dr. Winona Wheeler

Yvonne Hanson M. Ed

Sylvia McAdam Saysewahum

Steph April B. Ed 2016

Marni Ashcroft B. Ed 2016

Nassim Elbardouh

Sarah Bardouh

Keith Bell, Emeritus Professor, U of S

Paul J. Sayers

Cindy Tootoosis

Meggie Cywink

Harlen Crier, Indigenous Politics and Governance 04/20

Monica Brann, B.Ed ITEP 2012

Colin Grant, B. Ed 2019

Dawn Weber

Anika Burmeister, B. Ed 2020

Candis Clarke, B.A. Political Studies, U of S

Marcia Little 3rd Year Psychology, U of S

Rhonda Rosenberg

Jen green

Joanna Klees Van Bommel B. Sc 2017

Diana Bird B. A. BISW

Zoey Pricelys Roy B. Ed 2016

Michelle Good

Tricia Carlson Lucyshyn

R. Thomas Isbister

James Blakley FM, CAA

Amanda Guthrie B.A. Psychology (2016)

Mireille LaPointe

Sarah Nickel MA (06) INDG faculty (2015-2020)

Irena Smith, U of S Alumni, B.A. Honors International Studies (2014)

Ben Fawcett B.A 2010 current PhD

Russell McAuley M. Ed (current)

Dr. Lynn Caldwell Sessional Ed. FDT (2008-15)

Crystal Fafard Alumni

Ian Burt  B Sc Adv (Geology) 1986,  MBA 1995

Yordanos Tesfamariam

Virginia Leigh B. Ed (Distinction) 1996

Sydni Thorpe, B. Ed 2018

Candice Kloeble, M. Ed 2013

Mel Sysing B. Ed 1998, M. Ed 2013, Current PhD student

Nadya Karas, BSN 2017

Debbie Griffith M. Ed. 2016

Kirsten Lindquist, PhD student, Faculty of  Native Studies, U of A

 Toni Lavallie B. A. (2012) U of S, B. Ed. (2019) UBC

Laura Edna Lacey

Dr. Craig Campbell (assistant professor EFDT/ITEP 2013-2015)

Desiree Benson B.Ed ('09) ITEP, M. Ed ('19)

Candace Savage

Keith Bell

Lamarr Oksasikewiyin

Denise Lalonde-Niccoli

Ben Fawcett B. A. 2010 current PhD

Joshua Dunn M. Ed 2018

Cindy Roberts, B. Ed 2015

Dr. Rob Innes

Dr. Maurice Labelle

Dr. Michelle Aihina Holhpokunna Johnson-Jennings

Justice Noon

Frances Buchan B. A. (Great Distinction) 1989

Dionne Ryane B. Ed 2020

Julie Kay PhD U of S 2013, Assistant Prof Sociology

piyêsiw okanawêyihcikêw (Leigh Thomas)

Julie Haubrich U of S B.A Sociology (1982) M. Ed (2018)

Tereigh Ewert (Bauer) M. A. 2005

Allan Hundeby B. Sc. Nursing 2016 (Distinction)

Terri Dani

Danielle Ethier, B. Ed 2007 M. Ed 2017 U of S

Dexter Dean Kakakaway B. Ed 2005, M. Ed 2014 U of S

Dia DA Costa, Professor, Social Justice and International Studies in Education, U of A

Laura Edna Lacey

Denise Lalonde-Niccoli

Sharon Clarke, current MEd student in EFDT

Crozier Holmes

Mary Newton

Fred Norman

Natanis Couillonneur Chloe Greggain

Carissa Waynert Julia Morelli

Kaitlyn Raine

Kerry Marshall

Dustin Handel

Maria Himbeault

April Mackey, RN, MN Instructor College of Nursing

Honey Constant

Eliza Pruden

Bailey Pelletier

Adrianna Boutros

Jessica Poncsak

Eunice Mariah Rose Obey

Kristina Derrick

Amber Jackson

Cleo Nguyen

Natale Vanidour

Kelsey Adam

Celeste Boran-Fetch

Kylie Sier

SaMyrna Turner B. Ed ITEP Alumni

Lydia Stewart

Brenna Kennedy

Jessica Gordon

Denise Humphreys

Amy Buck B.A. & M.Ed. OISE

Aira Buenaventura

Amber Fournier

Laren Keays

Elle Mya

Kelsie Meaden

Carlie Klatt

Dr. Damien Lee

Jennifer Sedgewick

Jordan Woodsworth, Clinical Associate Veterinarian and WCVM PhD Student Louise Erskine

Christian Jamarolin Ruby Stickney

Cristelle Belliveau

Keenan Benitez-Hay

April Sora, Bed (U of T)

Adriana Juárez

Zoey Bourgeois

Skye Lacroix

Sydney Kuppenbender

Kristi De Wolf

Hannah Bird - VP of Events for Indigenous Students Council

Dakota Laliberte - VP Student Affairs for Indigenous Students Council

Charlene Meyers