Indigenous news and events at McGill
Join in on a virtual medicine walk with Michel Durand Nolett (Abénaki), who introduces and discusses some of the medicinal plants at the Gault Nature Reserve. Note that this video series is presented in French.
To watch all the videos, click here!
On Friday September 24th at 12:30pm, Eldon Yellowhorn (Simon Fraser University) will be presenting “Finding Indigenous Children: Forensic Anthropology and Restorative Justice” for a speaker series hosted by the Department of Anthropology.
Dr. Yellowhorn is Piikani and has family and cultural ties to the Peigan Indian Reserve.His early career in archaeology began in southern Alberta where he studied the ancient cultures of the plains. He is especially interested in the mythology and folklore of his Piikani ancestors in both ancient and recent times.
He was appointed to faculty at Simon Fraser University in 2002 and established the Department of First Nations Studies in 2012. He is the past president of the Canadian Archaeological Association (2010–2012) and the first Aboriginal person to hold this title. He continues his involvement in the CAA and is now the co-chair of the Ethics Committee. He is also working on the Ethics Task Force with the Society for American Archaeology as it reviews its statement of ethics for its membership
The Tenth Annual Indigenous Awareness Weeks will take place between September 13th to 24th.
On Monday September 13th, join Otsi’tsaken:ra (Charles) Patton Kanien’kehá:ka Elder
from Kahnawa:ke for the Opening, and Welcome Remarks by Christopher Manfredi (Provost &
Vice-Principal Academic). As well, listen in on artistic performances by Beatrice Deer and Craig Commanda
In March 2021, Aaju Peter, Inuit cultural advisor and lecturer, began a ceremony with the lighting of the sacred Qulliq, a traditional lamp. The Qulliq’s lighting opened McGill’s first Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ): Traditional Knowledge in the Contemporary World Virtual Roundtable, organized by McGill’s Professor Marianne Stenbaek.
The Virtual Roundtable was supported in part by funds from a SSHRC Connection Grant, which support events and outreach activities to exchange knowledge and to engage with participants on research. The aims of the roundtable included to showcase Inuit culture and wisdom, and to explore how Inuit traditional knowledge is relevant to contemporary society, both for Inuit and non-Inuit peoples. Featuring Inuit and non-Inuit scholars, artists, and activists from across Inuit Nunaat and Lower Canada, the day comprised of three sessions: “We Believed in the Words of Our Elders”; “Our past, Our Present, Our Future”; and “Honoring the Timeless Creative Genius of the Inuit.”
Click here to read more about this event, which was written by Wáhiakatste Diome-Deer
The Indigenous Studies and Community Engagement Initiative (ISCEI) at McGill, in collaboration with Kanien’kéha-learners group Ionkwahronkha’onhátie’, is hosting an online Workshop Series this summer with the goal of furthering knowledge and awareness about tools for language learning, transmission, and documentation, and identifying topics and tools to help language learners gain knowledge and skills in areas of interest in their language-learning paths.
This new Speaker Series features talks given by Noelani Arista, James Crippen, Sandra-Lynn Leclaire, Marianne Mithun, among others.
About Ionkwahronkha’onhátie’:
Ionkwahronkha’onhátie’, “We are becoming fluent,” is a grassroots group created by and for second language speakers who are revitalizing the Kanien’kehá:ka “Mohawk” language. The group exists across Kanienkehá:ka communities and extends to all spaces that our language can be spoken. The goals of Ionkwahronkha’onhátie’ are to, in full-immersion settings, (1) support second language speakers throughout their language learning journey, (2) provide and continue to develop a network of speakers, and to (3) re-center our elders and first language speakers to prioritize language and knowledge transmission.
During the month of June, the School of Continuing Studies will be hosting various talks and workshops for National Indigenous History Month.
See two of the interactive presentations given by Wanda Gabriel and Alex Allard Gray:
Wanda Gabriel Presents: A Look at the Truth & Reconciliation Commission
Wednesday June 2, 10:30-12:00 EST
In this session led by Wanda Gabriel participants explore the five different types of elements addressing the legacy of Residential Schools, as listed in The Settlement Agreement. One of the elements, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) will be examined in detail. Participants will look at the process of this historical commission of their years of operation and how they carefully approached survivors to gather the stories. Particular focus will be on the calls to action and what this means for Canadians. Participants will be invited to explore, share views and find ways to engage in the calls to action via breakout rooms.
Alex Allard Gray Presents: Braiding Sweetgrass; Understanding Indigenous Resilience and Making Space for Indigenous Ways of Thinking
Tuesday June 29, 10:30-12:00 EST
In this interactive presentation, participants will have the opportunity to discuss and learn of ways to incpororate and create space for Indigenous ways of thinking into their work. Indigenous Resilience will be highlighted through examples pertaining to the presenter’s community and how his Indigenous identity guides his work with Indigenous learners.
For this year’s 2021 Margaret A. Gilliam Lecture in Food Security, join Jacquelyn Wright (President and CEO, Canadian Feed The Children); Glenn Checkley (Program Manager, Canadian Feed The Children); Glenna Cayen (Food Forest Project Coordinator, Canadian Feed The Children); and Ernie Bussidor (Project Leader, the Seal River Watershed Initiative) for a four-part presentation on Supporting Indigenous Food Sovereignty: A Community-led Approach to Reclaiming Food Systems & Nourishing Communities.
As a reminder, today (Feb 8th) at 5:30pm, there will be a debrief circle concerning the recent name change of the Men’s Varsity Team. Indigenous students, staff, faculty, and alumni are invited to this event.
This circle intends to provide closure to the campaign and provide an opportunity for the Indigenous community on campus to collectively heal from the emotional and mental distress that was experienced on a variety of levels.
You can register for this circle here.
Registration for the upcoming talks in the Department of English’s Speaker Series has opened. To learn more about this series and ISCEI’s involvement, check out our previous post about it here. These talks are free but require an RSVP, if you would like to register, please follow the links below!
Vicky Boldo (Cree/Métis), Autumn Godwin (nehithaw iskwew), Laurence Lainesse (white settler): “Collective Resistance & Solidarity: Creating Social and Decolonial Change” (January 27, 3-5pm EST)
Register to attend this talk here
Kim TallBear (Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate): “Diversity v. Decolonization in the Academy” (February 9, 5-6pm EST)