Few Ryerson students find Indigenous issues to be important, poll finds

By: Ryan Rocca and Raneem Alozzi

Only about five per cent of Ryerson students think Indigenous relations is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed in next year’s provincial election, according to a survey by Ryerson journalism students.

These results come despite this past summer’s student-led campaign which called for Ryerson University’s name to be changed to show respect for residential school survivors.

The Ryerson Students’ Union (RSU) and the Indigenous Students’ Association proposed that the university change its name because it is named after Egerton Ryerson.

Ryerson is believed to have helped shape the residential school system in Ontario and, in the university’s words, contributed to a system of “cultural genocide.”

Among other demands, the RSU also proposed the removal of Egerton Ryerson’s statue, creating an Indigenous only space within the student centre, mandatory Indigenous content in all programs and including the teaching of Indigenous languages as credit courses among other demands.

Since then, the university said it would not change its name or remove the statue of Egerton Ryerson on Gould Street.

Casandra Fullwood, one of three coordinators for the racialized and Indigenous students’ collective, expressed disappointment upon hearing of the results of the survey.
“It’s wrong and immoral to not care about Indigenous issues and relations because this is the land we occupy. People need to be educated about that,” she said.

The student collective offers solidarity and support to Indigenous people by encouraging and showing non-Indigenous people how a colonial mindset has been embedded into our educational institutions.
“People’s racism and colonial mindsets were brought to light after the RSU addressed Canada 150’s colonial roots, and [the poll] showed just how much we have to go,” she said.

As allies, Fullwood said we should primarily listen to Indigenous people when it comes to issues that directly impact them.

“It’s not my place as a non-Indigenous person to push my opinion. Ryerson, as an institution on this land should practice what it preaches and not say it supports the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada without acting upon it,” she said, adding that the university should stop giving false performative displays of how they support Indigenous communities.