Pîkiskwêtân
The Indigenous Learning Series
Pîkiskwêtân is a Cree word that means “let’s talk.”
Pîkiskwêtân reflects the vision of a safe space where earnest discussion is fostered, and where participants are engaged in sharing and reflecting on the experiences of living and working alongside Indigenous peoples at Concordia.
About the learning series
Pîkiskwêtân is a continuous series of decolonizing and anti-racist Indigenous awareness training and professional development workshops offered in webinar format.
It is intended for members of the Concordia community who wish to build cultural competence and gain the necessary skills and knowledge to work effectively with members of the Indigenous community and provide culturally safe services and programs to Indigenous students.
The series aims to increase awareness and understanding of the diverse cultures and socio-political realities of Indigenous peoples in a safe space, and in a manner that accurately and truthfully conveys the experiences, perspectives and cultural diversity of the Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
The series takes a scaffolded learning approach that slowly introduces topics and concepts. It is designed to help learners progressively develop critical thinking on Indigenous matters. The series provides opportunities to learn about First Nations, Inuit and Métis, and to gain a better understanding of the meaning and the implications of reconciliation, decolonization and indigenization.
Rupert Mackie, Restoring our roots land-based retreat
Webinars offered Fall/Winter 2024-2025
Pîkiskwêtân webinars are open to Concordia staff, faculty, students and alumni. Alumni interested in registering are invited to contact indigenous.directions@concordia.ca.
Comprehensive digital Companion Resource Guides are available through the library for each webinar in the Pîkiskwêtân series. The guides aim to highlight and enhance workshop content by offering opportunities for further learning and thinking via relevant books, reports, articles, web sites, podcasts and videos or films. The guides were prepared by Chloe Belair Morin and Sarah Monnier, library team members hired as part of the Indigenous Student Librarian program.
Please note that in order to foster a safe space for earnest discussions, the webinars are not recorded.
Friday, October 18, 2024 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m
For all
This workshop seeks to present progress to date on the recommended actions and communicate priorities and goals for the upcoming year. Offered on a yearly basis, it allows participants to get information on the indigenization and decolonization efforts at Concordia. Participants will be invited to ask questions, provide feedback and share ideas with members of Concordia’s senior administration and the Indigenous Directions Indigenous Council. The ultimate goal of the workshop is to highlight the Indigenous Directions Action Plan and the work of the Indigenous Directions Leadership Council and to reaffirm Concordia’s commitment to decolonization.
Facilitators: Manon Tremblay and Allan Vicaire
Friday, November 1, 2024 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
For all
This workshop is designed to provide participants with a glimpse into the experiences of First Nations, Métis and Inuit students in post-secondary education.
Topics include:
- tokenism and racial prejudice in the classroom;
- community expectations;
- the importance of culturally safe spaces on campus; and
- barriers to academic success.
The workshop will also seek to address myths and stereotypes tied to Indigenous education with a particular emphasis on the funding opportunities available to Indigenous students. A panel of students will share their personal stories.
Facilitator: Cheyenne Henry
Friday, November 15, 2024 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
For all
This workshop is designed to bring awareness to current and future researchers of the impact of research on Indigenous communities, collectives and organizations.
Discussion topics include:
- access to communities; data management;
- Indigenous perspectives on and experiences with research;
- OCAP principles;
- intellectual property rights;
- and Indigenous research ethics and protocols.
Participants will be invited to reflect on respectful and mutually beneficial ways to conduct research. They will also explore ways to facilitate Indigenous participation in research, building Indigenous research capacity and adequately preparing graduate students before they undertake research on Indigenous people and/or in their communities.
Facilitator: Manon Tremblay
Friday, November 22, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
For all
This workshop introduces participants to Concordia’s territorial acknowledgment and explains the importance of recognizing the land which Concordia is built on. The wording of the Acknowledgment is explained and participants are provided with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand when an Acknowledgment is appropriate and needed. Participants will also learn how to deliver a Territorial Acknowledgement that is honest, respectful and meaningful.
Facilitator: Donna Goodleaf
Friday, November 29, 2024 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
For all
This This workshop is designed to help managers and supervisors acquire the tools and skills to effectively hire, retain, mentor and progress the careers of Indigenous employees. Participants will be invited to explore unconscious biases in the hiring, retention and performance evaluation of Indigenous employees.
The workshop provides an overview of the workforce availability of Indigenous peoples and the daily challenges they face in the workplace.
Topics include:
- how to recognize and put a stop to workplace micro-aggressions, harassment and discrimination;
- reasons for attrition;
- strategies to effectively manage dubious claims of Indigenous identity;
- tokenism; and
- having difficult conversations with Indigenous employees.
The workshop will also seek to dispel myths and stereotypes about Indigenous employees and how Indigenous ways of knowing can bring different and exciting new perspectives and dynamics in the workplace.
Facilitator: Manon Tremblay
Friday, January 24, 2025 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
For all
This workshop is designed to help participants examine their personal values and biases and learn to interact respectfully and effectively with Indigenous peoples. The four components that will be explored:
- Learn about historical and contemporary issues that Indigenous peoples experience
- Recognize the reality Indigenous students’ experiences in the classroom
- Identify appropriate approaches to creating safe learning spaces
- Learn about available resources in respect to cultivating cultural safety for Indigenous students
Facilitator: Carole Brazeau and Allan Vicaire
Friday, February 7, 2025 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
For all
This workshop helps participants gain a better perspective of the many additional hats that Indigenous faculty and staff are expected to wear by their institutions and the toll that the additional workload can take on their health and well-being. The workshop will be dedicated to issues that primarily affect Indigenous faculty but that are also experienced by Indigenous staff.
Discussions will focus on:
- underrepresentation and university hiring practices;
- balancing community expectations vs. institutional commitments;
- tokenism, pigeonholing and the suppression of cultural values and ethics;
- additional duties without compensation;
- mentorship and supervision of Indigenous students;
- institutional support and promotion concerns; and
- obstacles to research funding.
Facilitator: Allan Vicaire
Friday, February 21, 2025 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
For all
This workshop seeks to clarify the concepts of decolonization, indigenization and reconciliation, how they are different from each other while at the same time are mutually supportive of the goals in the Action Plan. It will explore ways that the Concordia community can positively contribute to Concordia’s decolonization, indigenization and reconciliation goals.
It presents Indigenous perspectives and discusses obstacles to decolonization, indigenization and reconciliation such as resistance to change, racist attitudes towards Indigenous peoples, academic freedom, power and privilege. It also provides a detailed explanation of the territorial acknowledgement and discusses the protocols for a respectful and effective delivery.
Facilitator: Manon Tremblay
Friday, March 7, 2025 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
For all
This workshop is designed to provide historical and contemporary perspectives on the politics of being Indigenous.
Topics include:
- government assimilation policies;
- treatment of Indigenous people in the justice system;
- cultural appropriation;
- representation in the media; and
- the misappropriation of Indigenous identity.
Facilitator: Manon Tremblay