Indigenous Awareness Weeks 2018
Indigenous Awareness Week has been expanded this year to Indigenous Awareness Weeks, now spanning the last two weeks of September.
“I saw how much good work had been done with IAW, and, as the events started rolling in and we started building partnerships with the different faculties and departments at McGill, I realized how difficult it was going to be to cram everything into one week,” Janelle Kasperski (Equity Educational Advisor in Indigenous Education) told the McGill Reporter.
The series began with a launch, "Honouring Where We Stand". The event included a rendition of the Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen, the Kanien'kehá:ka Thanksgiving Address, by Elder Charlie Patton from Kahnawá:ke. His words and teaching for us set the tone for the rest of the evening, which demonstrated the strength and resilience of Indigenous peoples; including the voices of the Traditional Kahnawá:ke Singers, who shared Kanien'kehá:ka social songs with attendees in their language. Other words were shared by Janelle Kasperski, Veronica Amberg (Associate Director of SEDE), and Tomas Jirousek (SSMU Indigenous Affairs Commissioner). Janelle spoke about the journey that brought her to McGill and the planning of Indigenous Awareness Week. Tomas shared his gratitude for Janelle's work and spoke about how far McGill as come in terms of Indigenous affairs but also how far it has to go, mentioning his experience as an Indigenous student athlete who has to compete as a McGill "Redman". Veronica thanked Allan Vicaire for his work in starting Indigenous Awareness and congratulated Janelle on her expansion of the programming.
There are many events still to come! We hope you will join us over the next two weeks. Read more about IAW here.
Wednesday September 19th
-Turtle Island Reads Launch Event & Storytelling Workshop; https://www.facebook.com/events/2639164549434387/
Thursday September 20th
-In Solidarity and Support- Panel Discussion; https://www.facebook.com/events/736724573334718/
-To Be, In Solidarity and Support Open Mic Night (Closed event for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour); https://www.facebook.com/events/679439719092481/
September 21st
-17th Annual McGill Pow Wow; https://www.facebook.com/events/285812382147408/
September 24th
-RezBlues w/ Juno Award Winner Murray Porter & Elaine Bomberry
1130am-230pm, Faculty of Music: 8th floor, Wirth Music Building
-Outdoor Bike Powered Film Screening- “Wake Up! Hard Femme Intimacy”; https://www.facebook.com/events/2219588438323824/
September 25th
-ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᕐᓇᐃᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᓂᕕ ᐊᒻᒪ ᓴᓇᙳᐊᒐᑦ – Inuit Women in the Arts; https://www.facebook.com/events/297606387495180/
September 26th
Country Food Dinner (Closed to Indigenous Students); https://www.facebook.com/events/535037040280748/
September 27th
-Our Peoples Will Be Healed, Film by Alanis Obomsawin; https://www.facebook.com/events/289091291904699/
-On Coming Home- Stories from a 2S Adoptee w/ Smokii Sumac; https://www.facebook.com/events/2001702213453716/
September 28th
-Commodication of Spiritual Items- Tibetan & Indigenous Solidarity; https://www.facebook.com/events/581698585576505/