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Appendix 1: Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Committee Standing Orders

1. Mandate 

  1. In accordance with Bylaw 100 of the University of Alberta Students’ Union, the Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Committee:
    1. Shall make recommendations to Students’ Council on the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action;
    2. Shall assist, after discussion with students, Students’ Council in identifying Aboriginal student priorities;
    3. Shall write a yearly report to Students’ Council detailing Aboriginal student priorities;
    4. Shall ensure adequate engagement, as defined by this committee in section (7), is completed by the Students’ Union in identifying Aboriginal student priorities;
    5. Shall develop strategies for the respectful implementation of Aboriginal knowledges and teachings;
    6. Shall foster collaboration between the Students’ Union and Aboriginal students;
    7. Shall work with Students’ Council committees in implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, and representing and hosting discussion with Aboriginal students;
    8. Shall request reports from the Students’ Union Executive Committee on its advocacy for and with Aboriginal students;
    9. Shall periodically produce reports on the Executive Committee of the Students’ Union in relation to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Political Policy, the Aboriginal student priorities defined by this committee, and its overall advocacy and representation of Aboriginal students;
    10. Shall compile a public report on the representation of and collaboration with Aboriginal students, as well as all relevant advocacy work, done by Students’ Council;
    11. Shall recommend to the Students’ Council, representatives to sit on committees, councils, etc., both internal and external, whose main focus is Aboriginal students;
    12. Such groups as outlined in Standing Orders, Sub-Appendix A;
    13. Holds the authority to determine the criteria and application process for student-at-large and de facto representative positions on this committee;
    14. Shall ensure that cultural sensitivity training is provided to Students’ Council;
    15. Holds the authority to make alterations to the Acknowledgement of Traditional Territories;
    16. Holds the authority to make alterations and renew the Students’ Union Political Policy on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Political; and
    17. Shall ensure the Students’ Union collaborates with Aboriginal elders on all relevant matters, with relevant being defined by this Committee.

2. Meetings 

Quorum of the Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Committee shall be six (6) permanent voting members.
The Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Committee shall hold a meeting, coordinated through the Speaker of Students’ Council, before the first meeting of its Students’ Council in order to:
elect a chair from within its permanent voting membership,
set initial standing orders; and
adopt a meeting schedule for its first trimester.
The Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Committee shall establish a meeting schedule on a trimester basis, in advance, with the trimesters being:
May to August,
September to December, and
January to April.
Additional meetings of the Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Committee may be called by either the Chair or six (6) permanent voting members of the Committee, with the exception of Standing Orders 5(1)(a), and provided that:
every permanent member has received at least seventy-two (72) hours’ notice of the meeting, or
every permanent member consents to the meeting taking place.
Meetings of the Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Committee may be cancelled by:
a simple majority vote of the Committee to amend the meeting schedule,
the unanimous consent of all permanent members to the cancellation, or
if there are no items present on the Committee’s agenda.
Meetings of the Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Committee are open to the public, unless the Committee moves in camera.
Should a meeting occur without an elder present, the committee may not move any new business. They may move to approve the agenda, minutes, discussion, and adjournment only.

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