—Day 1 Presenters—
Friday March 19th
OPENING PRAYER
Elder Doug Williams
A Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg and former Chief of Curve Lake First Nation. He is currently Co-Director and Graduate Faculty for the Indigenous Studies PhD. Program and oversees the cultural and spiritual components of the program. He is a member of the Pike Clan, and was one of the first graduates of what is now called Indigenous Studies at Trent University in 1972. He is a Pipe Carrier, a Sweat Lodge Keeper, and Ceremony Leader. He is a language speaker and considers himself a trapper, a hunter, and fisherman. Beyond his work in the academy, he is active at the community level and works to ensure that Indigenous Knowledge is maintained within the community. Doug is also the author of the book, Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg: This is Our Territory.
WELCOME ADDRESS
Chief Laurie Carr
Chief Emily Whetung
Dr. Michael Khan
Dr. Michael Khan has been Trent University’s Provost and Vice-President Academic since August 2020. He was previously the Dean of Human Kinetics at the University of Windsor where he oversaw the Department of Kinesiology and Athletics & Recreational Services. Prior to his appointment at the University of Windsor, he was the head of the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences at Bangor University, Wales, U.K. Prof. Khan grew up in Trinidad and Tobago, holds a Ph.D. in Human Kinetics from the University of British Columbia, an M.A. in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario, and a B.Sc. in Geophysics from McGill University.
Diane Therrien
Diane Therrien completed her undergrad degree at McMaster University in Hamilton before moving to Peterborough to complete her Master’s Degree in Canadian and Indigenous Studies at Trent University. She has experience in the private, public, and non-profit sectors, and has worked for the former Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, the Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network, and Trent University. Diane was elected to city council in 2014, and in 2018 was elected mayor of Peterborough.
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
RoseAnne Archibald, Ontario Regional Chief
Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald of Taykwa Tagamou Nation, is a calm, respectful and heart centred leader, who has over 25 years of experience in First Nations politics.
RoseAnne has dedicated all of her adult life to serving and striving to create a better quality of life and future for First Nations people. She represents a generational change, bringing diplomacy and encouraging unity in the First Nations political system, while breaking down barriers since the start of her political career, having been the first woman and youngest: Chief for Taykwa Tagamou First Nation (1990), Deputy Grand Chief for Nishnawbe-Aski Nation (1991), Grand Chief for Mushkegowuk Council (1994). She is also the First member of her community to complete a Master’s Degree.
After a ground-breaking career in political leadership that spanned 25 plus years, RoseAnne began a successful consulting business in 2009, providing advice and guidance to First Nations leaders, and organizations, specializing in negotiations, facilitation. Archibald holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Master’s Degree in Humanities from Laurentian University and has been awarded the prestigious “Canada 125 medal” for having “made a significant contribution to Canada” through Aboriginal leadership. As Ontario Regional Chief, she remains dedicated to empowering women and youth in seeking community based solutions that encourage capacity-building, leadership development and resiliency
TWO SPIRIT VOICES
Smokii Sumac
Smokii Sumac (Ktunaxa) is a poet and PhD Candidate in Indigenous Studies at Trent University, where his work centers on the question how do we come home? As an Indigenous adoptee, intergenerational residential school survivor, and two-spirit person, Smokii's lived experiences are deeply embedded into his art and research. His first poetry collection, you are enough: love poems for the end of the world, (Kegedonce Press, 2018) won an Indigenous Voices Award for published poetry, and Smokii has recently been named as a finalist for the Dayne Ogilvie Prize. Currently teaching at College of the Rockies in Cranbrook, BC, Smokii is extremely grateful to be living in ʔamaʔkis Ktunaxa (Ktunaxa territories), where he and his cat, Miss Magoo, have recently (and begrudgingly, on Magoo's part) added a new family member: a "big ole rez dog" named Kootenay Lou.
Sharp Dopler
Sharp is a non-binary, niizh-manitowag (two-Spirit) person of Sauk/Fox/Cherokee and Irish ancestry. They live, work and play in Ottawa, the unceded traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg people. Sharp is a carrier of ceremony and Helper in Indigenous and other communities He is an educator, advocate and researcher who uses ALL the pronouns in every context. She is a military veteran, martial artist, trained as a social service worker and has been self-employed as a consultant since early 2016. They have presented on a wide variety of topics at local, national and international venues for over 20 years.
Heidi Whetung
Heidi Whetung is a Two-Spirit person of the Bear Clan from Curve Lake First Nation, who works for the Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre as the Indigenous Mentor for Indigenous Two-Spirit LGBTQ+ people. They create safe spaces where everyone feels safe, accepted, and included. She believes that everyone deserves to have access to their traditions and within their organization everyone has the responsibility to support and affirm the Two-Spirit LGBTQ+ community in Indigenous and non-indigenous spaces. Heidi was part of the Advisory Group along with Curve Lake First Nation Chief and Council who held the First Annual Pride in their community. This included the raising of Curve Lake's very own Pride flag that will be flown throughout the year at the Administration Office.
Angeni Lovelady
Angeni Lovelady is a mixed European and Anishinaabe poet, student, and crazy unty (uncle/aunty) with a passion for the arts. They are Niizh Manidoowag, a water protector, and an advocate for Two Spirit youth.
INDIGENOUS WOMAN LEADERSHIP
Moderator: Nahannee-Fe
Nahannee-Fe is of Mohawk, French and Dutch heritage and is an artist at heart. She is in the Indigenous Studies PhD program and is interested in the intersection of gender, Indigenous Knowledge, and climate. She has also been extensively involved with a wide range of areas such as Indigenous education, curriculum and pedagogy, online mentorship, rural/remote health program delivery, Indigenous health, eHealth, Human Rights, Genocide Studies, Psychology and Spanish.
Elder Reepa Cvic-Carleton
Reepa was born in Cumberland Sound, Nunavut, but lived on the land until her family was relocated to the community of Pangnirtung when she was 5 years old. Ms. Evic-Carleton’s work experience included 10 years as a Housing Manager in Pangnirtung and one year as Community Social Worker in Child Protection. In 1989 she moved to Ontario. She has worked as a Family Support Worker at Tungasuvvingat Inuit for several years where she worked closely with the CAS Ottawa, the AODS committee of Ottawa and extensively with the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse while faclitating the groundwork to translate the first Inuit specific trauma and addictions treatment curriculum from Inuktitut to english. Reepa co-founded the Mamisarvik Healing Centre, the first INuit specific trauma and addicitons treatment centre in Southern Canada. In 2019 she presented at the hearings on Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women.
Diane Longboat
Kahontakwas Diane Longboat, BA, BEd, MEd is a member of the Turtle Clan, Mohawk Nation at Six Nations Grand River Territory, Canada and a citizen of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. She is a ceremonial leader, traditional teacher and healer. Diane is founder of Soul of the Mother, a Healing Lodge on the shores of the Grand River at Six Nations Grand River Territory, with extensive relationships with First Nations in Canada, the United States and globally.
Manulani Aluli Meyer
Manulani Aluli Meyer is the fifth daughter of Emma Aluli and Harry Meyer who grew up on the sands of Mokapu and Kailua beach on the island of O’ahu and along the rainy shoreline of Hilo Palikū. The Aluli ohana is a large and diverse group of scholar-activists dedicated to Hawaiian education, restorative justice, land reclamation, ohana health practices, cultural revitalization, arts education, prison reform, transformational economics, food sovereignty, and Hawaiian music. Manu works in the field of indigenous epistemology and its role in world-wide awakening. Professor Aluli-Meyer obtained her doctorate in Philosophy of Education from Harvard (Ed.D. 1998).
Katsi Cook
Katsi Cook, Iewirokwas: meaning She's pulling the baby out of the water, out of hte earth, or a dark, wet place. Kasi is a highly respected elder Mohawk midwife who works to promote processes of care, both clinical and socio-cultural, that support Native American women and girls in developing control of their reproductive power and voices. She is an Native American rights activist, and women's health advocate.
Katsi is a nationally and internationally recognized community leader working at the intersections of environmental justice and reproductive justice.
OFFERING WORDS OF WISDOM PANEL
Elder Edna Manitowabi
Odawa/Ojibway from Wikwemikong First Nation. Edna is a gifted traditional singer, storyteller & Indigenous performance artist. As Professor Emeritus in the Indigenous Studies Faculty & as part of the Trent Traditional Advisory Council, she is called upon to lecture, & participate in workshops, conferences & symposiums within the undergraduate & graduate programs. She is also known as a drum carrier & the keeper of the Little Boy Water Drum. Many have traveled across Canada to participate in Edna's Medicine Camps. These Medicine Camps are another place of learning where she takes the university back to the land reconnecting learning and teaching to our Mother. In 2005, Edna's longstanding commitment to building Indigenous performing arts and the local communities was fully realized in the creation of Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space. As an educator, lecturer, medicine keeper & ceremonialist, Edna continues this work today, carrying & sharing Indigenous knowledge.
Shirley Williams
Shirley Williams, Professor Emeritus, Elder, Activist, Nishnaabemowin Language. Shirley is a member of the Bird Clan of the Ojibway and Odawa First Nations of Canada. Her Anishinaabe name is Migizi ow Kwe meaning Eagle Woman. She was born and raised at Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island and attended St. Joseph’s Residential School in Spanish, Ontario. After completing her NS diploma, she received her BA in Native Studies at Trent Univer-sity and her Native Language Instructors Program diploma from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. Shirley received her Master’s Degree from York University in Environmental Studies. In June of 2004, Shirley retired from the Indigenous Studies Department and now holds the title, Professor Emeritus
Katsi Cook
See above
Mary May Simon
Mary May Simon, Canada's Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs, has attained international recognition for her work on Arctic and Indigenous issues. Throughout her distinguished career, Ambassador Simon has been committed to seeking diplomatic and policy solutions to problems in the North. In the environmental, economic and political arenas, Mary Simon has been a leading advocate for Inuit concerns and cooperation among Arctic nations.
Born in Kangirsualuujuaq (George River) on Ungava Bay, Ambassador Simon began her career as a radio broadcaster with the CBC northern service. As a young woman, she held a series of executive positions with the Northern Quebec Inuit Association and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, which led to the first land claims agreement in Canada. Together with other aboriginal leaders, Ambassador Simon participated in efforts that resulted in the historic recognition of aboriginal and treaty rights in Canada's Constitution. Later, as President of Makivik Corporation, she was directly involved with the implementation of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, and with the protection and promotion of Inuit rights
Thank you for joining us for this free virtual event.
We are excited to have you come and visit with the Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers. If you would like to help us continue to deliver amazing offers like this event and would like to leave a monetary gift – we would be grateful.