Indigenizing Course Content: How can our pedagogy shift in response to the TRC?

When it was published in 2015, the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada sent ripples across the country.  In it, the authors asked the important question, “Now that we know about residential schools and their legacy, what do we do about it?” In the face of the significant truths presented in this report, what steps can staff and faculty at Concordia take towards reconciliation?  What tools and resources do we need to facilitate our response? Several of the 94 Calls to Action outlined in the report link to the mandate of post-secondary institutions, particularly those surrounding education for reconciliation. Recognizing the importance and magnitude of this work, this community of practice gathering will focus on the ways in which we can integrate indigenous voices, knowledge and leaders into our teaching. What impact can this have and how can it be achieved? What fears and hesitations hold each of us back?  Most importantly, when we partner with community members on our efforts to respond to the TRC, how can we ensure that we do so in a way that is both meaningful and mutually beneficial? 

Guests:
Born in British Columbia, Vicky Boldo is a transracial adoptee from the ‘60’s Scoop Era – although she was placed for adoption at birth she is a strong ally to the survivors of this time. Vicky is of Cree/Métis heritage. She is passionate about effecting change for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. She is highly involved within the urban Aboriginal community in and around Montreal. She is a board member to the Native Women’s Shelter and the First People’s Justice Centre of Montreal, a representative for the Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy NETWORK, a member of the SPVM Aboriginal advisory committee, and she frequently guest lectures at the post-secondary level on racism, discrimination and the history of colonialism.

Elizabeth Fast has Métis and Mennonite ancestry and was born in St. François-Xavier, Manitoba. She is one of two special advisors to the provost on Indigenous Directions at Concordia and also teaches in the First People’s Studies Program. Elizabeth's research focuses on Indigenous youth, with a particular focus on understanding of the cultural needs of Indigenous youth raised outside of their biological families or disconnected from their cultural roots. She is passionate about fostering cultural safety in the ways we teach about colonial histories and Indigenous knowledges in the classroom.

Chantel Henderson is an Ojibway woman, mother of one, activist, educator, and environmentalist. She was raised in Winnipeg, MB and hails from Pinaymootang First Nation and Sagkeeng First Nation. She holds a Graduate Diploma in Community Economic Development from Concordia University and a Bachelor's Degree in Urban and Inner City Studies from the University of Winnipeg. She currently lives in Montreal, QC.

Sovereign Acts II
This event will be hosted in the Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery during their exhibition of Sovereign Acts II. Curated by Wanda Nanibush, the exhibition contends with the legacy of colonial representations by examining the history of Indigenous peoples performing cultural dances and practices for international and colonial audiences. Drawing on the depiction of the imaginary Indian—the ahistorical, pre-contact ‘primitivism’ in popular and mass culture—artists Rebecca Belmore, Lori Blondeau, Dayna Danger, Robert Houle, James Luna, Shelley Niro, Adrian Stimson and Jeff Thomas, recover and construct new ways of performing the complexity of Indigenous cultures for a contemporary art audience. Their work returns to the multi-levelled history of ‘Performing Indian’ to recuperate the erased and objectified performer as an ancestor, an artist and an Indigenous subject.

Living Knowledge participants are strongly encouraged to visit the exhibit prior to attending this event. The Gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.

 

This is the third of four meetings of the Living Knowledge community of practice during the 2016-2017 academic year. The Living Knowledge community of practice brings together faculty and staff who share a passion for community engaged scholarship, with the goal of creating connections, sharing ideas and strengthening our collective practice. Students, community organizers and representatives from other universities are also welcome. For more information, or to RSVP, please email livingknowledge@concordia.ca.