Dear members of the McGill community,
I am pleased to invite you to join the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII), along with partners across McGill and beyond, for Indigenous Awareness Weeks (IAW), taking place Sept.18 to 30. This year, we are celebrating the 15th anniversary of Indigenous Awareness Weeks, and the 25th edition of the Pow wow, taking place tomorrow.
IAW creates a space where Indigenous voices are centered and invited guests share their knowledge, talents and lived experiences. We are delighted to bring a lineup of special events to the McGill community, encouraging participants to engage in meaningful learning and reflection.
Throughout the two weeks, community members will have opportunities to engage with Indigenous knowledges, perspectives and experiences through panels, film screenings, lectures and community gatherings. Programming also highlights such important topics as Indigenous business innovation, everyday reconciliation, the Sixties Scoop, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+), Orange Shirt Day and other issues that continue to shape Indigenous communities today. While some of these conversations may be challenging, they are essential to understanding the history, realities and resilience of Indigenous Peoples.
The complete program is available on the IAW event page.
Highlights of this year’s program include:
· 25th Annual Pow Wow: On Sept. 18, join us for a day of dancing, drumming, art and more at Macdonald Campus, presented in collaboration with John Abbott College. Free shuttle buses from downtown to Macdonald Campus will be running all day.
· Phyllis Webstad: On Sept. 21, at Macdonald Campus, residential school survivor, CEO & Co-Founder of Orange Shirt Society, Webstad will facilitate a dialogue around Orange Shirt Day – Every Child Matters and the Indian residential school system.
· Prof. Jarita Greyeyes: On Sept. 30, join Prof. Jarita Greyeyes for a talk based on a multi-year research project involving 22 Indigenous academic leaders who hold senior leadership positions in universities and tribal colleges across Turtle Island.
Notable initiatives:
· Threads of Belonging: This year, OII is launching a special design contest for Indigenous students. Participants are invited to submit original artwork for an official McGill-branded hoodie inspired by the theme of Indigenous student experiences at McGill. In partnership with the McGill Campus Store and Decolonial Clothing, this initiative celebrates creativity and Indigenous expression.
· Animated video: We are also pleased to launch a new animated video about Tsi Non:we Onkwatonhnhets, the recently redesigned Y-Intersection. Created in partnership with McGill's video production team, the video explores the meaning behind the name, "the words that come before all else," and reflects on the significance of the space within the McGill community.
Learn more
Awareness and learning are at the heart of Indigenous Awareness Weeks. Therefore, we invite you to read more in this McGill Reporter article.
Throughout the year, I also invite you to visit the Office of Indigenous Initiatives website to learn more about the services, programs, and opportunities available to Indigenous students, staff and faculty at McGill.
I look forward to seeing many of you over the coming weeks, including on Sept. 30, when we gather to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Miigwetch,
Celeste Pedri-Spade
Associate Provost (Indigenous Initiatives)
