June 18, 2021

UCalgary celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day with virtual Campfire Chats

Leaders and experts to share stories, symbols and celebrate Indigenous culture

Calgary, AB – In honour of National Indigenous Peoples’ Day on June 21, the University of Calgary is proud to present its sixth annual Campfire Chats. Hosted this year in a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program includes a panel of Indigenous leaders, and the presentation of a buffalo robe that provides the winter’s count (annual review) of ii’taa’poh’to’p, UCalgary’s Indigenous strategy.

The event will be moderated by Elissa Twoyoungmen, University of Calgary’s Indigenous cultural education and protocol specialist, with special remarks provided by Dr. Michael Hart, vice-provost of the Office of Indigenous Engagement.

Guests will have the opportunity to listen and learn from a panel of Traditional Knowledge Keepers, which include Lee Crowchild, Tsuut’ina First Nation, Dr. Reg Crowshoe, Piikani First Nation & UCalgary’s Traditional Knowledge Keeper in Residence, Rose Crowshoe, Piikani First Nation and Rod Hunter, Stoney Nakoda Bearspaw First Nation.

Campfire Chats, launched during UCalgary’s 50th anniversary in 2016, is typically a day of rich cultural programming. Previous programming included teepee raising, storytelling, dancing, drumming and singing.

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.

WHAT: Campfire Chats - media interview opportunities are available before and after the event

WHEN: Monday, June 21, 1:30 – 3 p.m. MDT

WHERE: Webinar. Register now and learn more.

WHO: Speaker information below

Speaker Biographies:

Elissa Twoyoungmen, Indigenous cultural engagement and protocol specialist

Elissa Twoyoungmen is from the Stoney Nakoda Nation and graduated from UCalgary with a double major in Law and Society and International Indigenous studies. Being a proactive ally for social justice leading towards societal change has always been an enormous part of Twoyoungmen’s journey, influenced by her family and community’s history, her lived experience, and her education.

Dr. Michael Hart, vice-provost, Indigenous engagement

Hart’s career has been focused on Indigenous Peoples and ways of helping that will enable the University of Calgary to realize its goals for indigenization on our campuses. His approach is about connecting with and learning from Indigenous elders and traditional knowledge keepers to explore how these philosophies can guide us, transcend boundaries and take incremental steps to change the conversation between different cultures.

Since 2012, Dr. Hart has held a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Knowledges and Social Work through the University of Manitoba. He has also held the role of acting director of the Master of Social Work in Indigenous Knowledges program at the University of Manitoba. For the past 17 years, he has been a board member for the Aboriginal Social Workers’ Society in Manitoba, and was a founding committee member. He holds a BSW, MSW and PhD in Social Work from the University of Manitoba, as well as a BA in Psychology from the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Reg Crowshoe and Elder Rose Crowshoe

Dr. Reg Crowshoe is also known as Awakaaseena, meaning Deer Chief in the Blackfoot language. His teachings as a Spiritual-Cultural Advisor have been instrumental to cross-cultural learning surrounding Canada’s TRTL.

Reg is from the Piikani Nation in Southern Alberta. As an Elder and a Bundle Keeper, he runs ceremonies of the Thunder Pipe, the Sun Dance, and the Brave Dog Society, as a part of his traditional lineage and Blackfoot identity. Reg attended the University of Calgary, receiving an honorary degree. He joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and worked on several reserves in Saskatchewan before returning to work with the Peigan Band departments, and with the Province of Alberta in developing the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump heritage site. He has also developed cultural courses with the University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge, and has co-authored numerous works, including Akak-stiman and Science in the Native Community.

Reg’s wife, Rose Crowshoe, was born and raised on the Piikani Nation in Southern Alberta and fills a variety of roles – wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

Elder Rod Hunter

Elder Rod Hunter is a former Councilor for the Bearspaw First Nation of the Stoney Nakoda Nations in Morley, Alberta. He co-founded the popular drum group, Eya-Hey Nakoda, with his son Anders in 1994 and still leads the family drum group today. Rod Hunter is the lead singer and drummer for UCalgary. He is a Sundance maker, a medicine holder and a residential school survivor.

Elder Lee Crowchild

Xakiji Lee Crowchild is the third generation Xakiji following in the footsteps of his father, former Xakiji Gordon Crowchild and his grandfather, former Xakiji David Crowchild whom Crowchild Trail is named after.

Having an extensive and varied educational background, Xakiji Crowchild has graduated from Washington State University ‘82 B.Sc.P.E with a focus on biomechanics and Exercise Physiology, the University of British Columbia ’99 Dipl. EDST, Diploma in Film at The Vancouver Film School ‘02, He started at Mount Royal (College) University, where he was asked to return as an instructor.

His achievements extend over many different disciplines and endeavors including and not limited to “The Tom Longboat Award – Canada’s Athlete of the year 1982” “Entrepreneur of the Year 89” from the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and the Khot-La-Cha Award from the University of British Columbia ‘99. He also successfully led a Dance company known as “Red Thunder Native Dance Theatre” for 13 years.

He has worked in many capacities and positions within Tsuut’ina. This includes, Manager of Infrastructure, Director of Public Works, and Emergency Management for the Nation.

Outside the Nation he has also held a wide-range of positions for various boards including APTN Board of Directors and the Chairman of Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society Board of Directors.

 

Media Contact
Jacqueline Sinnett
Media Relations Advisor, Media and Issues Management 
University of Calgary (Advancement)
jmsinnet@ucalgary.ca  

403-389-3476

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is a global intellectual hub located in Canada’s most enterprising city. In our spirited, high-quality learning environment, students thrive in programs made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. Our strategy drives us to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, engaging the communities we both serve and lead. This strategy is called Eyes High, inspired by the university's Gaelic motto, which translates as 'I will lift up my eyes.' For more information, visit ucalgary.ca/eyeshigh.

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