March 20, 2018
Indigenous Awareness Week honours Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, connecting and being
Jingle dancers Amelia Crowshoe, left, and Savanna Sparvier at the opening ceremony.
Mariah Wilson, courtesy of The Gauntlet
Indigenous Awareness Week is underway now until this Friday. Presented by the Indigenous Students’ Council, IAW is an annual student-led showcase of Indigenous culture that promotes teachings, collaboration, and sharing of knowledge, and celebrates Canadian Indigeneity both on campus and throughout Calgary.
Following the launch of ii' taa' poh' to' p (the University of Calgary’s Indigenous Strategy) in November 2017, faculties, units and student groups have started a path toward reconciliation by honouring Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, connecting and being. This week of student-led celebrations and awareness-building is an important gesture of commitment and incentive from UCalgary students.
The opening ceremony took place Monday, with traditional hand drumming and powwow dancing presented by members of the Blackfoot Confederacy and the Paul Band First Nations, respectively.
Rich Sparvier, vp chief (president) of the Indigenous Students' Council.
Mariah Wilson, courtesy of The Gauntlet
Workshops, talks, and events happening throughout the week include:
Tuesday, March 20
2 – 5:30 p.m.: Teepee centerpiece workshop
Eagle Boardroom, Native Centre
6 – 8 p.m.: Author series
Nickle Galleries, Taylor Family Digital Library
Wednesday, March 21
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Indian taco sale
Red Lodge, Native Centre
5 – 7 p.m.: Principles of Canadian Aboriginal Law and the Energy Industry
Murray Fraser Hall 2370
Thursday, March 22
12 – 3 p.m.: What does community mean to you?
Earth Sciences Hub
1 – 2:30 p.m.: Lecture: Dispelling Myths
Cassio A & B, Mac Hall
6 – 8:30 p.m.: Indigenous film and discussion
Red Lodge, Native Centre
Friday, March 23
12 – 3 p.m.: DiversiTEA Event
Faith and Spirituality Centre
3 – 5 p.m.: ISC Meet & Greet
Red Lodge, Native Centre
Nathaniel Rain, drummer from Paul Band First Nation.
Mariah Wilson, courtesy of The Gauntlet
The Indigenous Students’ Council provides cultural, educational, and social support to its Indigenous and non-Indigenous members with ceremonies, speakers, hands-on presentations and activities, and other events with the goal of sharing rich and diverse Indigenous cultures. Learn more about the Indigenous Students’ Council and Indigenous Awareness Week.
ii’ taa’poh’to’p, the University of Calgary’s Indigenous Strategy, is a commitment to deep evolutionary transformation by reimagining ways of knowing, doing, connecting and being. Walking parallel paths together, ‘in a good way,’ UCalgary will move towards genuine reconciliation and Indigenization.