Improvements to Nukskahtowin web pages offer enhanced experience and access reflecting Athabasca University’s commitment to Indigeneity, conciliation, and community engagement
Athabasca University is making it easier for students, staff, faculty, and the wider community to connect with Indigenous Knowledge and supports—any time and anywhere.
AU has launched improvements to the Nukskahtowin website. The changes support the university’s ongoing journey of kwayskahsatsowin—conciliation in the Plains Cree language—and its commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
“Improving our Nukskahtowin section of the AU website is a renewed commitment to honour Indigenous Knowledge, strengthen community connections, and expand access to cultural and academic support,” said Priscilla Campeau, associate vice-president of Indigenous conciliation.
Nukskahtowin was established in 2001 as the Centre for World Indigenous Knowledge and Research. It continues to serve as AU’s hub for Indigenous research, academic support, and cultural knowledge. In 2018, and as a reflection of its central role, AU Elder in Residence Maria Campbell gifted it with the name Nukskahtowin—meaning “meeting place."
Sharing knowledge and support in place and in digital space
The newly updated web pages serve as a digital extension of Nukskahtowin’s physical spaces on AU’s campus in Athabasca, Alta., such as the ceremony and gathering room, the Bertha Clark-Jones O.C. Art Gallery, and the Linda Bull Memorial Garden—each honouring Indigenous traditions, histories, and spiritual and cultural practices.
Nukskahtowin’s enhanced digital presence not only supports the academic and cultural needs of Indigenous Peoples regardless of location, it also fosters broader engagement and understanding among non-Indigenous members of the university community.
“It’s about providing access like no other—for our Indigenous learners, faculty, staff, and partners,” Campeau said. “And we want non-Indigenous members of the AU community to engage, learn, and build better relationships as we continue our journey of conciliation.”
As a university serving students across Canada and beyond, this digital revitalization is a meaningful way to reach broader audiences, share Indigenous teachings and cultural information, and support Indigenous academic life in accessible, sustainable ways.
Nukskahtowin
Connect with Indigenous Knowledge and supports.