The former head of the University of Victoria’s Indigenous Governance Program (IGOV), Taiaiake Gerald Alfred has resigned from his role as a professor, following a 2018 investigation into the program.
IGOV began operating in the late 1990s, but first came under investigation in 2018 after students put forward concerns about the learning environment.
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| Taiaiake Gerald Alfred resigned from his role professor of UVic’s Indigenous Governance program (IGOV), following an investigation into toxicity in the program. (UVic.ca) |
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A third-party review found that the program faced problems in “promoting inclusion and diversity in the program, and creating more room for alternative views and ideas; supporting Indigenous healing and reconciliation, and reducing conflict,” among other things.
UVic suspended the 2018-2019 enrollment into IGOV to work on restructuring its format.
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On March 7, Alfred put forward a public statement on his blog to announce his resignation.
“I have listened carefully to those who have criticized me and my work, and I have taken their messages to heart. My former partner, friends, and mentors such as Lee Maracle and Graham Smith have helped me understand the ways I embodied toxic masculinity and how I did wrong and harmed people because of it,” Alfred wrote.
“I know that even as an Indigenous man who has battled against racism and colonialism, I carry old and harmful ways of thinking.”
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UVic did not elaborate on the situation, but confirmed that Alfred has resigned and is no longer affiliated with the university.
More to come…
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