A Saskatoon-based organization has made it possible for St. Thomas More College to expand its Indigenous reconciliation efforts for years to come.

STM President Dr. Carl Stills says for the last nine years, the College has been trying to raise $6 million to establish a Chair for Indigenous Spirituality and Reconciliation. Only about $1 million had been raised, until Les Filles de la Providence stepped up to help.

“I was just stunned when I heard that, on hearing how much we needed to complete the endowment fund, the sisters said that they could do that. They told us that this would be a handing-over of their legacy of their work among Metis and First Nations communities to STM.”

The college has already committed to reconciliation in other ways, such as integrating Indigenous knowledge into course outlines and bringing in knowledge keepers and Elders to do presentations with students. Stills says the new chair, to be hired by next spring, will do a combination of teaching and research work, as well as extend the work that has already been taking place.

They would do so by “going out into the community, and making presentation to Indigenous communities, high schools, and other settings where people are interested in learning more about indigenous spirituality, and how it might actually be part of the work of reconciliation.”

A small portion of the funds, about $500,000, will also be going towards the college’s Engage and Experiential Learning Program, where students can partner with community organizations to get hands on experience while helping their neighbours.

The investment was announced at a ceremony held Saturday, which also included the presentation of Distinguished Alumni awards and the STM Medal, the college’s highest honour.