NAISA Conference, June, 2017

From June 22 to 24, 2017, the University of British Columbia and its co-hosts will welcome NAISA, the largest scholarly organization devoted to Indigenous issues and research, to UBC’s Vancouver campus on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam Nation.

To get a feel for UBC, Vancouver, and the rich local history of Indigenous activism and arts, watch our conference trailer. Follow the tabs above for logistics and other information, and watch this space for regular updates as the conference approaches. We look forward to seeing you in Vancouver in June!

In this place and territory, we honour our commitments to ethical relationships and rigorous exchange of ideas that further the aims and sovereignties of Indigenous individuals, communities, and nations and the goals of NAISA as a scholarly organization. As the host committee, we are seeking to create a space that is free from harassment and violence, physical or otherwise. We ask for your support in this, and we take our direction from the First Nations House of Learning’s mandate which follows the Longhouse Teachings of Respect, Relationships, Responsibility, and Reverence. All of this is in keeping with longstanding protocols, relationships, and commitments established here. We hope attendees come with a generous spirit, a deep sense of ethics, and a genuine enthusiasm for the work we will all be doing together.

To register:

http://naisa2017.arts.ubc.ca/registration/

BCTF Reconciliation Activities

Just a reminder of Spring Reconciliation activities coming up for you to participate in.  Please see below for some ideas and see First Nations Child & Family Caring Society link https://fncaringsociety.com/events-make-difference for more information.

Bear Witness Day, to take place May 10, encourages individuals of all ages to honour Jordan’s Principle implementation by bringing their teddy bears to daycare, school or work. This year marks 10 years since Jordan’s Principle was unanimously passed in the House of Commons, and last year the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ordered the federal government to fully implement Jordan's Principle by May 10th, 2016. With another year passed, First Nations children continue to face discrimination in accessing government services on the same terms as other kids. Anyone can show their support and “Bear Witness” to Jordan’s Principle by hosting a “bear birthday party”, coffee break or lunch to learn more about Jordan’s Principle and to honour Jordan River Anderson. Photos of Bear Witness events can be shared on social media, including the Bear Witness Facebook event page (https://www.facebook.com/events/1272485976133090/) using the hashtag #JordansPrinciple.

Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams (HMPD), which is celebrated annually in May and June, invites people of all ages to join in reconciliation by planting heart gardens in their communities. Heart gardens honour residential school Survivors and their families, as well as the legacy of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Heart gardens can be indoors or outdoors; they can include decorated paper hearts and/or real flowers and medicines. Each heart that is planted represents the memory of a child lost to the residential school system, and the act of planting represents that individual’s commitment to finding their place in reconciliation. You can find out more and register your event at honouringmemoriesplantingdreams.ca.

           

Our Dreams Matter Too (ODMT) is an annual walk and letter writing event that takes place in June to support culturally based equity for First Nations children. First Nations children get less funding than other children for services like education, health and child welfare and this makes it hard for them to achieve their dreams and grow up proud of who they are. ODMT is an opportunity to encourage children, youth, families, schools and organizations to write letters to their MP and the Prime Minister supporting culturally based equity for First Nations children, and to organize a walk to a mail box in their community. ODMT highlights the importance of reconciliation and that every child matters no matter where they come from! You can find out more and register your event at ourdreamsmattertoo.ca.

At the Caring Society, we believe that meaningful reconciliation engages people of all ages in learning about Indigenous child rights in Canada. Our spring reconciliation activities provide individuals and organizations with the opportunities they need to make a difference, in fun and creative ways. We hope that you can join us by taking part this spring!

If you have any questions or require any resources, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Gail Stromquist

Assistant Director, Aboriginal Education
Professional and Social Issues Department BCTF
100-550 West 6th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4P2

gstromquist@bctf.ca
604-871-1854

BCTF Residential School Resource, The Gladys We Never Knew

The Gladys We Never Knew (The life of a child in a BC Indian Residential School)  ebook is now online!

Please see the link below and click on the “What’s New?” tile to access the Gladys ebook.

http://bctf.ca/AboriginalEducation.aspx

_______________________________________________________

Miranda Light, Administrative Assistant
Professional & Social Issues Division
Aboriginal Education & Peer Support Services
BC Teachers’ Federation 100-550 West 6th Ave.,
Vancouver, BC  V5Z 4P2

e: mlight@bctf.ca, web: www.bctf.ca
d: 604-871-1807, TF: 1-800-663-9163, (1807)ml:tfeu

FNESC workshops

Science First Peoples and Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation

REGISTRATION is now open for two more workshops in our Learning First Peoples Series.

1. Science First Peoples Workshop (Grades 5-9), MAY 5, 2017, Vancouver
2. Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation Workshop (Elementary and Secondary), MAY 26, 2017, Vancouver

These full-day workshops are designed for BC teachers to support them to teach about First Peoples in informed and appropriate ways.

Representatives from BC First Nations schools may claim travel reimbursement.

For online registration and full details, please visit http://www.fnesc.ca/events-lfp/

REEL Canada

Hi Teachers,

I'm writing because REEL CANADA has a special FREE opportunity for schools in the Vancouver area next month:

A screening of the award-winning documentary film Angry Inuk (dir. Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, 2016) followed by a presentation and in-person Q & A session with special guest and director Alethea Arnaquq-Baril!

This free Indigenous themed event, presented by REEL CANADA as part of the Beyond 150 Years: An Acknowledgement of Cinematic Territory film festival in partnership with Vancouver International Film Festival, is being offered to high school schools on Monday, March 6th, 2017. 

We also offer free lesson plans about the film for teachers to use before and/or after the film screenings.

I've attached a formal invitation to this email for you to read more about this exciting opportunity.

Please let me know ASAP, as spaces are limited, if your school is interested in participating in this exciting day: 1-855-733-5709 ext. 203. 

Thanks and I look forward to hearing back from you!

Cheers,

Stephanie

Stephanie Turenko, B.Ed

Production Coordinator

REEL CANADA

Ask Me About:

National Canadian Film Day 150

April 19, 2017

@canfilmday #CanFilmDay 

504-720 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2R4

416-642-5796 | Toll-free: 1-855-733-5709 

www.reelcanada.ca  |  canfilmday.ca

VIFF Aboriginal Films

Join us for two upcoming high school screenings of the following Aboriginal films:

COLONIZATION ROAD (February 23, 2017 at 10am)

Michelle St. John, 2016, Canada, 49 mins

$8/student 

Email Cecelia Cheung at education@viff.org to book 

In towns throughout Ontario, there are startling reminders of the colonization of Indigenous territories and the displacement of First Nations people. Anishinaabe comedian and activist Ryan McMahon takes us to his hometown of Fort Frances and down its main drag, which is called Colonization Road. Similar streets have similar names in towns and cities across the province, direct reminders of the Public Lands Act of 1853 and its severe impact on First Nations, their treaties and their land in the name of "Canadian settlement." On his journey through Ontario, McMahon explores the history of these roads, meets with settlers in solidarity and raises significant questions about "reconciliation" and what it means to "decolonize."

ANGRY INUK (March 6, 2017 at 9am)

Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, 2016, Canada, 85 mins

FREE screening

Email Stephanie Turenko at stephanie@reelcanada.ca to reserve seats

Seal hunting, a critical part of Inuit life, has been controversial for a long time. Now, a new generation of Inuit, armed with social media and their own sense of humour and justice, are challenging the anti-sealing groups and bringing their own voices into the conversation. Director Alethea Arnaquq-Baril joins her fellow Inuit activists as they challenge outdated perceptions of Inuit and present themselves to the world as a modern people in dire need of a sustainable economy. 

We look forward to having your class with us!

Cecelia Cheung

VIFF Education Coordinator

Stanley Park Ecology

Indigenous Plant Use

February 25 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Walk through the forest with an experienced guide of Coast Salish descent and learn about the traditional and present-day indigenous relationships with local flora and fauna. While there will be no collecting on these tours, Stanley Park offers a perfect setting to learn about sustainable harvesting. Join us on this walking tour to nurture yourself with nature and harmonize your well-being with the natural world.

We meet at the Stanley Park Nature House and will begin promptly!