TRSM honours partnership with the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation

Members from the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation (MNCFN) and the Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM) came together to honour and officially install the flag of the MNCFN at TRSM.

The flag acknowledges the treaty territory of the MNCFN and was presented to the Ted Rogers School of Management in November 2017 as the Nation’s official education partner. The flag marks TRSM’s spirit of partnership in the building of our community, city and country. The flag now hangs on the 9^th floor of TRSM near the School of Retail Management.

“I feel pride as an Anishinabe person, having our flag hang here at TRSM,” said Stacey Laforme, Chief of the MNCFN. “We’re looking forward to a long relationship with Ryerson and TRSM, and this is a very good step in the right direction.”

For the last two years, TRSM and MNCFN have been working together on a number of TRSM’s broader Indigenous initiatives, including developing a business plan for a MNCFN artist co-op by Michael Strong, an MBA alumnus.

The flag depicts an eagle, three fires, the circle of life and the peace pipe. Each element of the flag is representative of five important aspects (external link)  of the MNCFN’s history. The flag was also framed by Bay of Spirits, a company that specializes in Indigenous art.

“TRSM is committed to holding meaningful consultation and building respectful relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations,” said Daphne Taras, dean of the Ted Rogers School of Management. “We’re honoured to have the MNCFN flag hang in our halls and are looking forward to our ongoing dialogue and partnership with the MNCFN.”

The ceremony was attended by TRSM and Ryerson students, staff and faculty and provided an opportunity to learn more about Indigenous traditions, converse about what Reconciliation means and also take part in a smudging ceremony.

“We’ve made a commitment to walk with each other, to remind people that a relationship is more than transactional” said Monica McKay, Director of Aboriginal Initiatives at Ryerson University. “I’m very honoured to be part of this witnessing.”