Indigenous Awareness Weeks offerstudents, staff, and faculty the opportunity to learn about Indigenous cultures, histories, and communities, promoting greater knowledge and understanding about Indigenous peoples in Canada. They aimto raise awareness and initiate an exchange of ideas on First Nations, Métis, and Inuit topics within the ۲ݮƵ community.
Indigenous Awareness Weeks provide a space to amplifyIndigenous voices and perspectives on campus. Since 2011, invited guests have includedacademics, community members, Elders, and students. Topics have included health, identity, language revitalization, the Indian Act, Residential Schools, Indigenous legal traditions, Canadian policies, education, child welfare, and Indigenous ways of knowing.
The 11th annual IAW series took place from Monday, September 19th to Friday, September 30th.
Event Calendar
Week One
Monday, September 19th, 2022
Opening Ceremony & Keynote Address (5:45-8:00 pm), ۲ݮƵ University, Strathcona Anatomy and Dentistry Building, Room M/1
Join us in celebrating the launch of this year's Indigenous Awareness Weeks! The event will begin with opening words from Kanien'kehá:ka Faith Keeper Otsi'tsakén:ra (Charlie) Patton, followed by a keynote address by Celeste Pedri-Spade, ۲ݮƵ’s first Associate Provost (Indigenous Initiatives). Following this, attendees will be treated to performances by Inuit throat singers Nina and Sierra Segalowitz, and Kanien'kehá:ka social song singers Iakotennikonhrare Doreen, Tiohatehkwen Patton, and Karonhiakwas Patton. Food from the Roundhouse Café/Café de la Maison Ronde and drinks will be provided.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Tuesday, September 20th, 2022
Film screening ofThree Thousandand Q&A with the director, asinnajaq (6:00-7:30 p.m.),۲ݮƵ University, Macdonald-Harrington Building, G-10Auditorium
asinnajaq is a visual artist, filmmaker, and writer based in Montreal, QC. For her short film Three Thousand (2017), she uses thousands of hours of historical footage from the National Film Board of Canada's archive to reframe the past of Inuit and create a vision for the future. For more information on the film, visit the .
We look forward to seeing you there and encourage you to come prepared with questions!
Wednesday, September 21st, 2022
Virtual presentation and Q&A with Cassidy Caron (President, Métis National Council) (11:00 am - 12:00 pm), Zoom
Cassidy Caron is a Métis woman with roots in the historic Métis communities of Batoche and St. Louis, Saskatchewan. She grew up closely connected to her Métis traditions, heritage and culture and is driven by her family and community values of respect, honesty, collaboration and responsibility. Cassidy is the first elected woman to hold the office of President of the Métis National Council.
Join President Caron for a live Zoom presentation on thepast, present, and future of the Métis Nation. We kindly ask that you register in advance for this event using .After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing the link to join the meeting.
Thursday, September 22nd, 2022
۲ݮƵ Farmer's Market x Indigenous Awareness Weeks Collaboration (11:00 am - 5 pm),۲ݮƵ University, 3460 McTavish St, Montreal
To celebrate Indigenous Awareness Weeks at ۲ݮƵ, Indigenous Initiatives is collaborating with the۲ݮƵ Farmer's Market to bring more Indigenous artists and vendors to the Market. Stay tuned for a complete list of the Indigenous vendors you can check out and support.
Roundtable discussion on Inuit self-governance with panelistsPita Aatami (President, Makivik Corporation), Lisa Koperqualuk (President, Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada), and Natan Obed (President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami) (6:00-7:30 pm),۲ݮƵ University, Moyse Hall Theatre
This roundtable discussion will explore Inuit self-governance at various levels: regional, national, and international. It will be moderated by Patricia Johnson-Castle, the former Director of Policy and Planning at the Nunatsiavut Government and the former Coordinator of the Indigenous Studies Program at ۲ݮƵ University.
Watch the recording.
Friday, September 23rd, 2022
21st Annual ۲ݮƵ Pow Wow (11:00 am - 4:00 pm),۲ݮƵ University, Lower West Field (845 Sherbrooke St. W.)
Dancers bring your regalia and drummers, bring your hand drums. First Nations, Inuit, andMétis artisans, vendors, and organizations are welcome. This is a free, public event.
For more information, please contact firstpeopleshouse [at] mcgill.ca.
For the full pow wow schedule, please visit the First Peoples' House events page.
Week Two
Monday, September 26th, 2022
Niriqatigiit(Coming Together to Eat) with Inuk chef Trudy Metcalfe-Coe (5:00-7:00 pm),First Peoples' House
Originally from Nain, Nunatsiavut, the Inuit Land Claims region in Northern Labrador, Inuk Chef Trudy Metcalfe-Coe has called Ottawa home for thirty plus years. Trudy started cooking around the age of twelve and takes pleasure in bringing comfort to family, friends and community, through her love of creating tasty dishes from Country Food (food from the Arctic such as caribou, seal, arctic char and musk ox).
Join Chef Trudy as she prepares a meal for the Indigenous community at ۲ݮƵ's First Peoples' House.
If you are Indigenous and would like to attend this event, please contactaneeka.anderson [at] mcgill.caindicating your interest. Please note that the First Peoples' House will also be sending out an invitation to RSVP for this community dinner in the coming days.
Tuesday, September 27th, 2022
Live broadcast of "Wampum in Montreal History" with Darren Bonaparte (12:30 - 1:00 pm), ۲ݮƵ University YouTube
Tune into this live YouTube broadcast of"Wampum in Montreal History" with Darren Bonaparte. Bonaparte is the Mohawk writer, artist, and cultural historian behind . In this video, Bonaparte discusses wampum, or the belts through which the Haudenosaunee documented their history and culture, in the Montreal context.
View the presentation here:
Wednesday, September 28th, 2022
Inuit games demonstration byᐋᓪᓚ ᐋᓪᓚ(12:00-1:30 p.m.), University Centre - Shatner Building,Madeleine Parent Room (202)
Born in St. John's, NL, and raised in Ottawa, ON, ᐋᓪᓚ ᐋᓪᓚ (which translates to Stranger in English) has spent more than a decade demonstrating and teaching traditional Inuit games. At this event, ᐋᓪᓚ ᐋᓪᓚ will talk about the history of the games and demonstrate some of his favourites.
Joinᐋᓪᓚ ᐋᓪᓚ on the 2nd Floor of the University Centre (3480 McTavish Street) for this exciting demonstration.
Space for this event is limited, so we kindly ask that you RSVP.Thank you!
"The Legacy Game: Honouring the Indigenous Roots of Lacrosse" (Part One): A Presentation on the Meaning and History of Lacrosse byMike Kanentakeron Mitchell (4:00-5:30 pm), RVC West Lounge 014
Kanentakeron is a knowledge keeper from Akwesasne who has played lacrosse all his life. For almost twenty years, he served as President of the Iroquois Lacrosse Association. He also served as the First Nations Director to the Canadian Lacrosse Association from 1998-2011. In 2014, Kanentakeron was awarded the Lester B. Pearson Award by the Canadian Lacrosse Association for his dedication, sportsmanship, and leadership in the lacrosse world. Read more .
Kanentakeron is also the former Akwasasne Grand Chief, and "was a member of the historic Indian Film Crew, an all-Indigenous group of film trainees formed at the [National Film Board] in 1967." Kanentakeron directed the IFC film You Are on Indian Land(1969), which was formally credited to him in 2017. Read more .
Space for this event is limited, so we kindly ask that you RSVP . Thank you!
Thursday, September 29th, 2022
۲ݮƵ Farmer's Market x Indigenous Awareness Weeks Collaboration (11:00 am - 5 pm), ۲ݮƵ University, 3460 McTavish St
To celebrate Indigenous Awareness Weeks at ۲ݮƵ, Indigenous Initiatives is collaborating with the ۲ݮƵ Farmer's Market to bring more Indigenous artists and vendors to the Market. Stay tuned for a complete list of the Indigenous vendors you can check out and support.
"ᐃᓄᐊ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᐅᒪᔪᖅ (INUA and Qaumajuq): Going Forward Together" with Krista Ulujuk Zawadski (6:00-8:00 pm),Macdonald-Harrington Building, G-10 Auditorium
Krista Ulujuk Zawadski is a curator, anthropologist, arts leader, researcher, scholar and writer, who is originally from Igluligaarjuk (Chesterfield Inlet) and now calls Rankin Inlet, NU, home. Zawadski will present a talk on her involvement inand.INUA is the inaugural exhibition ofQaumajuq, the new Inuit art centre at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, that brings togetherthe work of over 90 Inuit artists from across Inuit Nunangat and southern centres.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Friday, September 30th, 2022
4th Annual "We Will Walk Together/SkàtneEntewathahìta" Event (10:00 am - 12:00 pm), Education Building (3700 McTavish St) Patio (outside) and Learning Commons area (inside)
This year's "We Will Walk Together/Skàtne Entewathahìta" event will involve an outdoor ceremony honouring the children, survivors, and families impacted by residential and day schools. It will include guest speeches and drumming performances. Following the ceremony, there will be an interactive information fair that highlights Indigenous initiatives within the Faculty of Education and beyond. The event's theme is "Education is the key to reconciliation."
"The Legacy Game: Honouring the Indigenous Roots of Lacrosse" (Part Two):Varsity Men's Lacrosse Game and Ceremony (7:45 - 10:00 pm),Percival Molson Memorial Stadium (475 Pine Ave W)
Friday, September 30th's varsity men's lacrosse game against Queens University will be dedicated to both Orange Shirt Day and Indigenous contributions to and stewardship of the game of lacrosse. In addition to the varsity game, the event will feature an opening ceremony, fundraising, half-time performances, and a closing ceremony involving the awarding of legacy sticks to the teams. Importantly, this is the first edition of what will become an annual Legacy Game at ۲ݮƵ.
The game will be free to attend for Indigenous peoples (please contact Aneeka Anderson at aneeka.anderson [at] mcgill.ca to receive your promo code). Orange shirts designed byWhite Buffalo Crafts By Isabelle (Isabelle Zwicker) will be sold at the game as a fundraiser forthe Native Friendship Centre of Montreal, and donations are being accepted on the ticket platform below.
Get your tickets here: