The Aboriginal Sustainability Project seeks to develop a broad-based educational campaign aiming to provide Aboriginal-specific programming and opportunities for bridge-building among diverse members of the McGill community.
For more information, please contact Project Coordinator Allan Vicaire at (514) 398-3711 or by email. You can also find more information on the Facebook page.
The Aboriginal Sustainability Project is supported by the First Peoples’ House, the Social Equity and Diversity Education Office (SEDE), the Office of the Dean of Students (represented by the Aboriginal Outreach Coordinator).The project is funded by the Sustainability Project’s Fund from the Office of Sustainability at McGill.
Cultural and Educational Programming
Aboriginal Awareness Week
The first Aboriginal Awareness Week was held on September 12th to the 15th 2011. The weeks’ aim is to increase awareness of Aboriginal cultures in Canada, including First Nations, the Inuit and the Métis. The week consisted of educational and cultural activities; an opening and closing ceremony; film screening; music performance; day at the Botanical Gardens; book reading; Inuit soapstone carving workshop; guest lectures on two spirited people and sex-trafficking; and a panel on representation of Aboriginal peoples in public spaces.
The week was a success in highlighting and educating the community of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. The week has now become an integral part of McGill in providing a week long programming honour Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
In collaboration with the following the First peoples’ House, the Social Equity and Diversity and Education Office (SEDE), Ethnoculture, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), the Post Secondary Graduate Society (PGSS), KANATA; Mushkeg Media Inc, the Native Friendship Centre of Montreal, the Inter-Tribal Youth Centre of Montreal, the Botanical Gardens, the McGill Bookstore, the Faculty of Architecture, the Yellow Door, and the Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy Network.
The Boreal Forest: Our Lands, Our Stories, Our Responsibility
On November 16 2011, we had the opportunity to work with the Canadian Boreal Initiative in bringing three prominent leaders to McGill; Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come; Chief Paul Gull; and Stephen Kakfwi. The event brought their experiences and perspectives on conservation and land use planning. The discussion on methods of balancing between conservation and self-determination gave insight to creative solutions and a lively discussion.
Also, we were honoured to have Kathia Rock, Innu singer and songwriter, to perform three wonderful songs.
In collaboration with the Canadian Boreal Initiative.
Attawapiskat Benefit Concert
In a heartfelt response to the Attawapiskat housing crisis, we teamed up with the Canadian Red Cross to host a benefit concert on McGill campus on the evening of December 2, 2011. Despite the prompt response of the event, we were able to gather community members to share their words of wisdom and hope, and musical talent for the Attawapiskat community. The solidarity of the community was not only heartfelt, but inspiring.
The benefit concert raised $441.91 to the Canadian Red Cross’ Relief Fund for the community. The event gave opportunity to raise awareness to systemic problems in housing on First Nation communities across Canada, and a commitment to carry the conversation in terms of educating on the issues.
In collaboration with the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU).
The Wampum Chronicles
On January 11, 2012, Darren Bonaparte brought his Wampum Chronicle, a living history presentation to the McCord Museum. A storyteller, he offered a glimpse into Mohawk history through the recreation of 18 intricate, hand woven wampum belts. Each wampum is woven with stories of a people, and together displayed a rich history. The evening brought a highly informative piece of cultural and political history of the Mohawk people.
In collaboration with the McCord Museum.
Indigenous Education: Lessons in Self-Determination from the Akwesasne Freedom School
On the evening of March 1 2012 at the Jean-Sauvé Scholar House, we were honoured to have Dr. Louellyn White to discuss her research on the Akwesasne Freedom School and the progress on self-determination in indigenous education. She provided a historical background of the school, and explained how the people came together to educate themselves in their holistic cultural education. The evening was a success in illustrating an example of how First Nations communities are coming together to create the education that they want their children to experience, and their future generations to preserve a way of life that was once was theirs.
In collaboration with the Sauvé Scholars Foundation.
Arctic Realities: Inuit Perspectives on Change
On March 12th embarked our long week entitled Arctic Realities Perspective on Change.
In collaboration with the McGill’s Aboriginal Health Interest Group, the Aboriginal Law Students’ Association, KANATA, and the Inter-Tribal Youth Centre of Montreal.
Film Screening: Reel Injun: How Hollywood Portrays Indians
On March 30 2012, we teamed up with Redpath’s Freaky Fridays’ program that confronts myths, and debunks misconceptions. The collaboration brought a first in its program in tackling misconceptions in a social context rather than science. The evening, we screened Reel Injun: How Hollywood Portrays Indians, followed by an inside look behind the scenes with one of the producers Christina Fon. Her involvement with the film, provided an interesting discussion in how Hollywood films have defined Aboriginals, and the impacts of these conceptions. The heated debate in the auditorium proved that impacts of the portrayal still linger and through dialogue we are able to debunk them, one at a time.
In collaboration with the Redpath Museum’s Science Outreach Program.
Housing Policies for First Nations Communities
On April 4 2012, Dewey Smith, Senior Advisor on Housing and Infrastructure of the Assembly of First Nations gave a snap shot on the current realities of housing in First Nation communities across Canada. In light of Attawapiskat, Smith provided insight to why communities do not have housing policies and why other First Nation communities do.
There are numerous factors that decide the outcome in housing policy per community. A “successful” policy stems from the willingness of the community to self-determine their needs then outside pressures and ideologies. The communities’ shared vision in change is met with successful outcomes, not only in housing, but in all aspects of community; economic; well-being; social; and so forth. Smith’s final remark was that change will only happen when the people want it to happen.
In collaboration with the Post Secondary Graduate Society (PGSS).
Community Projects
The Best Story Ever Told
The Best Story Ever Told is a collaborative project developed with the Inter-Tribal Youth Centre of Montreal. The aim of project is to bridge communities together; Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal; and to develop a new medium inn dialogue on cultural and social issues. In addition, the program has created opportunities for greater understanding through shared experience.
Once a week, McGill students and urban Aboriginal youth come together to participate in an art and media series.
In collaboration with the Inter-Tribal Youth Centre of Montreal.