Commit to peace and friendship everyday
HÂþ» University is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq. We who are living on Mi’kmaw Territory are all beneficiaries of the Peace & Friendship Treaty and will fulfil our commitment to making reconciliation, as articulated and called for by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, part of our everyday thinking. Â
Etuaptmumk (two-eyed seeing)
HÂþ»â€™s partnerships and relationships with the Mi'kmaq and Indigenous communities in Mi’kma’ki will be recognized as models of respectful and meaningful engagement, built upon the principles of etuaptmumk (two-eyed seeing), impacting all aspects of teaching, research and service. 
Honour African Nova Scotians as a distinct people
HÂþ» recognizes African Nova Scotians as a distinct people and acknowledges how they have shaped this province and University over centuries. We are committed to redressing the historical and ongoing systemic inequalities for African Nova Scotian communities and to nourishing meaningful engagement, partnerships, and relationships building with the broader African Nova Scotian community.Â
Design and define for excellence
We will build trust amongst the participants and of the process from start to finish. We start by defining the process, designing for authentic and meaningful engagement and relationship building, including addressing barriers to participation and conclude by communicating how decisions were influenced.  
*This principle takes its inspiration from the International Association of Public Participation’s values and spectrum of public participation.
Engage future ready leaders
Our students are the foremost reason for HÂþ»â€™s existence and purpose. We not only engage thoughtfully and authentically with our diverse population of students to ensure their voices are reflected in the decisions of the university, but we do this to inspire and nurture their present and future impact in our communities. 
Create inclusion in every detail
Inequities are structural, systemic and pervasive. Equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility are fundamental elements of the engagement process design from start to finish as barriers can be created by the smallest of details. We recognize that decolonizing the practices of engagement means that each and every day, we will strive towards the best inclusive experience in order to ensure all voices feel welcome in the process.Â
Engage with sustainability in mind
HÂþ» will strive for a culture of sustainability that is reflected in the words we use, the way we engage, the policies we make, and the actions we take.  
Learn and co-create together
The knowledge, and wisdom of our communities uplifts our work and is foundational to excellent teaching, learning and research. Our actions aim to be reciprocal and complementary in nature.
Engage to problem solve
At HÂþ», our research, teaching and engagement is mission-oriented and ensures local and global consequence. We believe engagement is an essential means to problem solving some of our communities and world’s toughest problems. 
