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A photo featuring the title, "National Indigenous History Month" and images of an Inukshuk and people in a canoe

National Indigenous History Month Event Series

The School of Continuing Studies is hosting a series of talks and presentations for National Indigenous History Month in June 2022. Learn more and register here.

Learn more here
Poster for the IHSP webinar on systemic racism and health inequities faced by Indigenous peoples, on November 15th at 14:30-16:00.

IHSP Policy Talks Webinar

The Institute for Health and Social Policy will be holding a webinar titled "Systemic racism and health inequities faced by Indigenous people: policy challenges and solutions" on November 15th, 2021 from 2:30p.m.-4p.m. EST. 

Read more
Register here
The five event panelists

Truth and Reconciliation in Practice 

The Indigenous Health Professions Program is holding a panel event on November 2nd, 2021.

Register here
Learn more here
A red and white poster promoting the "Reframing Indigenous Relations Through Economic Reconciliation" event

Reframing Indigenous Relations Through Economic Reconciliation

The School of Continuing Studies is hosting the event “Reframing Indigenous Relations Through Economic Reconciliation” presented by David Carrière-Acco, member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, in connection with the McCord Museum exhibition “Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience”. The talk will take place on October 14th at noon at the McCord Museum. This is an in-person event and participants can register here. The talk will also be livestreamed on the SCS YouTube channel.

Visit the SCS Youtube channel
A poster for Indigenous Awareness Weeks featuring a bear against a blue background

Indigenous Awareness Weeks at McGill

This year's Indigenous Awareness Weeks will take place from September 13-24, 2021. 

View the events
Children's shoes, including a pair of moccasins, are arranged in rows on the grass in honour of the children who attended residential schools

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Sept. 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Visit this page to learn more about events for the McGill community. 

View the events

Murray Sinclair Statement on Kamloops Residential School

"We need to ensure that we put in place healing programs and foundations that will help survivors to gather and share their memories and stories."

-Murray Sinclair

Murray Sinclair, former Senator and former Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, has released a statement following the discovery of a mass burial site at a residential school in Kamloops, BC. In a video for CBC News, he addresses Indigenous communities, survivors of residential schools, and the Canadian public.

Note: This page may contain distressing content. For support, the Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24/7 at 1-866-925-4419. The Hope for Wellness helpline can be reached 24/7 at 1-855-242-3310 or https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/.

Read the statement

Indigenous Health Courses at McGill

The Department of Family Medicine is now offering two courses on Indigenous Health:

FMED 506: Indigenous Perspectives Decolonizing Health Research will be taught be Alex McComber in the Fall 2021 semester. This graduate foundation course explores Indigenous-grounded health promotion in primary health care, with the goal to foster more meaningful patient and community engagement in research and practice.

FMED 527: Inuit Health in the Canadian Context will be taught by Richard Budgell in the Winter 2022 semester. The course will explore the histories, perspectives and contemporary realities of Inuit health in the four regions of Inuit Nunangat (the Inuit homeland) with a particular focus on the Nunavik region of northern Quebec. 

Read more

Putting the Spotlight on Indigenous Architecture

The documentary From Earth to Sky explores the work of accomplished Indigenous architects, including world-renowned Anishinaabe architect Douglas Cardinal. It is available to stream for free through TVO. 

Watch the documentary
The Hiawatha Wampum Belt flag, flying from the McGill Arts Building

Hiawatha Wampum Belt Flag raised from McCall MacBain Arts Building

To celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st, McGill held a ceremony to raise the Hiawatha Wampum Belt Flag above the McCall MacBain Arts Building.

Read more
Watch the ceremony

Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit: Traditional Knowledge in the Contemporary World

A virtual roundtable organized by Professor Marianne Stenbaek explores historical and contemporary Inuit cultural practices, with more than a dozen diverse presenters and panelists sharing their knowledge, research, and experiences.

“I have a passion for the Arctic and its peoples which inspire me and inform all my work. Relationships are pivotal to this type of work, so I’m incredibly thankful to have so many wonderful collaborators from different walks of life on board.”

-Marianne Stenbaek, Professor, Cultural Studies, Department of English

Watch the roundtable

Senate passes bill to implement UNDRIP

The Senate has passed Bill C-15, aimed at implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

Read more

First Nations child welfare case reaches Federal Court

On June 14-18, 2021 Cindy Blackstock of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society is going to court to defend against Canada's appeals of two orders for First Nations children:

1) Compensation for harms (unnecessary family separations, derision of life opportunities related to inequitable public services, and sadly the deaths of some children), and

2) Ensuring that First Nations children without Indian Act status, who are recognized by their nations, are eligible for Jordan's Principle.

Members of the McGill community will be able to watch these hearings in a webcast from the Federal Court. 

Watch the Federal Court webcast
An Indigenous McGill graduate wearing a graduation cap and red scarf walking outside

Virtual Scarf Ceremony celebrates the achievements and dedication of Indigenous graduates

With a keynote address by Cindy Blackstock, this year's Scarf Ceremony celebrated McGill's Indigenous graduates, and honoured the victims of residential schools. 

Read more from the McGill Reporter
Read more from La Converse (French)
Tall, leafy trees in the Gault Nature Reserve

Gault Nature Reserve Partnership Announcement

McGill is pleased to announce a new partnership agreement between the university's Gault Nature Reserve and the Grand Conseil de la Nation Waban-Aki. The partnership welcomes members of the Odanak and Wôlinak communities to practice cultural activities in the nature reserve. 

Read More About the Partnership

Federal Government Releases National MMIWG Action Plan

Read the news release
Acclaimed artist Beatrice Deer performing on stage at McGill University in front of a microphone

Beatrice Deer Performs During McGill's Bicentennial Day

Visit McGill's Bicentennial Day highlights page to watch a performance by acclaimed Inuk/Mohawk artist Beatrice Deer. 

Watch the performance

Indigenous News Across McGill

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Indigenous News:

  • Eastern Door - A community-based newspaper serving the community of Kahnawake since 1992

  • Aboriginal Peoples' Television Network (APTN) - Award-winning television programming by, for and about Indigenous Peoples to share with all Canadians.

  • Nation Talk News - Indigenous-run media outlet (daily email sign-up is available on the website) 

  • Academica Indigenous Top Ten - Academica's Indigenous Top Ten (ITT) is a free biweekly publication designed to share news, interesting research, best practices, and policy developments regarding First Nations, Métis, and Inuit education in Canada.
  • First Peoples Law Blog - First Peoples Law is a law firm dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. They work closely with First Nations to defend their Aboriginal title, rights and Treaty rights, uphold their Indigenous laws and governance and ensure economic prosperity for their members. The First Peoples Law website has a public education section, including a blog, reading lists, and a podcast. 
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