Students answer the prime minister鈥檚 reconciliation challenge
March 29, 2018
Share
Students in a Global Development Studies course and a Languages, Literatures, and Cultures course have come together to spark a dialogue around the issues identified in the national Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report.
Under the guidance of Thohahoken (Michael Doxtater), Queen's National Scholar in Indigenous Studies: Land- and Language-Based Pedagogies and Practices, the students have organized the 鈥淭reaty Peoples Social Justice Expo鈥, a poster fair in Stirling Hall. The event was aimed at increasing awareness of Indigenous Peoples issues and honour their cultures and languages. The idea to host a poster fair was Dr. Doxtater鈥檚, as a way to foster his students鈥 learning while also providing them an opportunity to find topics that relate to their interests.
鈥淭he aim was to engage these young people in the prime minister鈥檚 challenge to 鈥榤ove towards a nation-to-nation relationship based on recognition, rights, respect, cooperation, and partnership鈥,鈥 says Dr. Doxtater. 鈥淚 am proud of the students鈥 efforts, and pleased that we were able to engage two distinct classes in this multidisciplinary look at contemporary Indigenous issues.鈥
To help create a respectful and inclusive environment, Wednesday鈥檚 event opened with greetings from Elder Mishiikenh (Vernon Altiman) of Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre. Then, guests were welcome to explore the room and learn about 13 topics related to the well-being of Indigenous Peoples.
鈥淭he poster fair included examinations of issues such as environmental resistance and the impact of development on Indigenous health, incarceration of Indigenous peoples, and even portrayals of Indigenous Peoples in sports,鈥 says Penny Cornwall (Artsci鈥18), one of the organizers. 鈥淢y team鈥檚 project, Maanamanji鈥檕, focused on suicide and mental health in Pikangikum First Nation 鈥 a community with an alarmingly high suicide rate.鈥
Ms. Cornwall notes one of her peers has a personal connection to the Pikangikum community, and this student鈥檚 passion led the team to explore that topic.
Dr. Doxtater was hired in 2017 as part of the Principal鈥檚 faculty renewal efforts. He is a Queen鈥檚 National Scholar cross-appointed to the Departments of Global Development Studies and Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Learn more about Dr. Doxtater .