We are our Stories, Come Share with us: Four storytellers share their knowledge virtually for Indigenous Education Week
In the spirit of inspiring lives with leadership and purpose, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives has decided to switch up our annual Indigenous Education Week (IEW) from our usual first week of March time. We will host IEW during the last week of October, from Oct. 26 to 30.
We hope to engage the Laurier community and our external community to join us as we adjust to celebrating our diversity and culture from an in-person weeklong event to our online programming for 2020.
The theme of this year’s Indigenous Education Week is “We are our Stories, Come Share with us.” The Office of Indigenous Initiatives has invited four guests to share their stories with students and the community throughout the week.
“We are excited for our guests to share their knowledge and celebrate Indigeneity during Indigenous Education Week,” says Melissa Ireland, director and interim senior advisor of Indigenous Initiatives at Laurier. “Although we can’t gather in person this year, we are eager to expand our perspectives and learn how our stories connect us, even when we’re apart.”
The following are a list of events taking place virtually for Indigenous Education Week. Each presentation will run for an hour, including a questions and answers period.
Tuesday Oct. 27
Public Lecture with Janet Rogers
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Janet Rogers, poet, author, broadcaster and documentary producer, will read from Ego of a Nation and discuss a number of literary issues, publishing, self-publishing, media and poetry.
Wednesday Oct. 28
Conversation with Jody Wilson-Raybould
10 to 11 a.m.
A conversation about From Where I Stand and the reconciliation process in Canada between Member of Parliament Jody Wilson Raybould and Melissa Ireland, director and interim senior advisor of Indigenous Initiatives at Laurier
Thursday Oct. 29
Through Pandemics and Trauma: Indigenous Futures Cannot be Stopped and Here's Why
1 to 2 p.m.
Author and educator Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair will provide an overview of the specific methods that Indigenous cultures and communities use to resist, create, and re-create their communities – and how these can be shared in order to support their future mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual selves today.
Friday Oct. 30
Public Lecture with Lee Maracle
10 to 11 a.m.
Lee Maracle, author and mentor, returns to speak with the Indigenous Student Centre about the importance of storytelling.
We will host this engaging and phenomenal event over the Zoom platform, and we will have an opportunity for students to receive books by the authors at no cost to the student.
If you have any questions, please contact Corri Daniels – codaniels@wlu.ca.