Dear members of the McGill community,
Please join the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII), and partners from across the University and beyond, in the upcoming Indigenous Awareness Weeks (IAW). From September 19 to October 2, weĂŰĚŇ´«Ă˝appl be offering you opportunities to gain a better understanding of topics important to Indigenous peoples and to engage with Indigenous knowledges, both of which are goals of McGill’s 52 Calls to Action.
The theme of this year’s edition of IAW is honouring trailblazers. This implies reflecting on the work done before us by Indigenous academics, activists and artists – this has been captured in our event artwork, undertaken by Mi'kmaq artist Brandon Mitchell. You can find it, as well as programming for the weeks, on our IAW event webpages.
New and notable
This year’s IAW program includes perspectives from local to international Indigenous academics, knowledge keepers, professionals, and artists, all of whom are deeply committed to their respective Indigenous communities and nations.
Those interested in attending the opening keynote event can register to hear Dr. Laara Fitznor of the University of Manitoba on “Engaging Indigenous Philosophies and Practices for Mutual Respect and Leadership across University Landscapes.” There is also a virtual panel discussion on Mohawk governance and a closing talk by world-renowned Hawaiian Studies scholar, Noelani Goodyear, to name but a few events.
This year’s Pow Wow, organized by team members at the First Peoples’ House, will be trying something new: moving indoor to the . As in years past, expect Indigenous art, dancing and music, including Inuit throat singing and Métis jigging.
Learn more about IAW
Because learning and awareness are critical to the success of IAW, we invite you to learn more about the weeks by reading . Throughout the year, remember to visit our OII pages to learn about services and opportunities for students, faculty and staff at McGill.
Finally, I look forward to seeing many of you in the coming days, including on September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Miigwetch,
Celeste Pedri-Spade
Associate Provost (Indigenous Initiatives)