Indigenous

The College is committed to continuing its work on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion as they relate to the materials that we develop and our organizational practices and processes. As part of this commitment, the College will seek to develop partnerships with Indigenous communities to begin to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action within the regulatory context.

This webpage includes College information and updates related to our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation as well as practice resources that may be useful for social workers and social service workers serving Indigenous clients and communities in Ontario. Note: We will continue adding resources and updates as they are developed and become available.


Practice Resources

We will continue to add updates and resources as they become available.


Video Resources

Disrupting Racism and Decolonizing Child Welfare

Supporting First Nations Rights to Mental Wellness

Reconciliation and Social Work and Social Service Work Practice

Rethinking Social Justice: On the Path to Change


College updates


Land acknowledgement

The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers is on the occupied land of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Chippewa, and other Anishnaabeg nations, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. The College’s office is in the “Dish With One Spoon Territory”, which is a treaty between the Anishinaabe and the Haudenosaunee that binds them to share the area and protect the land in the spirit of community. Other Indigenous nations, settlers and all newcomers to Ontario have been invited into this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship and respect. Under this treaty, we are all responsible for caring for each other and the land. We acknowledge the history of the meeting place on which we are gathered, knowing that all settlers have a responsibility to consider what it means to recognize the history and ongoing legacy of colonialism, and are grateful to have the opportunity to live and work on this land.

Today, the province of Ontario is home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Each nation is unique in their worldviews, language, histories, current position and future accomplishments.  

A land acknowledgement is a first step, not an end point. The College is actively working on building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities and individuals, in the spirit of partnership, collaboration, truth and reconciliation. We are doing so as part of our public protection mandate, to better serve Indigenous people living in Ontario and to support non-Indigenous registrants in improving their cultural competency when they are working with Indigenous clients and communities. This acknowledgement is a reminder that colonialism is still present in our society, and that we are and remain committed to continuing to engage in the current and ongoing important work of truth and reconciliation within our regulatory context.