Western University is pleased to announce our upcoming Indigenous Awareness Week happening March 16-21 2015. Indigenous Awareness Week is an exciting premiere that will offer many opportunities for current and prospective students, faculty, staff, and community partners to come together and celebrate Indigenous peoples’ contributions to postsecondary learning through cultures, arts, and scholarship. It is also an opportunity to learn and share information about Indigenous perspectives and initiatives and engage with Indigenous communities and allies both on and off campus.
The week features wall-to-wall programming and will be formally launched on Monday March 16th 2015 with a Sunrise Ceremony at 7:00AM conducted by Elders Dan Smoke (Seneca) and Mary Lou Smoke (Anishinaabe). Afterward, an Opening Celebration will be held at 11:00AM and will provide community with an update on Western’s Indigenous Strategic Planning process – both events will set the tone culturally, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually for the week.
Other events include:
- Panel presentations on Indigenous identity and Indigenous experiences in the workplace.
- Indigenous spoken word and hip hop performance with Tanaya Winder, Frank Waln and Sampson Brothers.
- Indigenous film showcases in partnership with ImagineNative Film Festival. The 2 films featured are Reel Injun by Neil Diamond and Trick or Treaty by Alanis Obomsawin.
- Aboriginal Stories about Illness and Health with Aboriginal speakers Brent Stonefish and Danielle Alcock.
- Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women traveling art (earing) exhibit.
- Indigenous Graduate Student Symposium featuring Western Indigenous student poster and panel presentations.
- Annual First Nations Students Association (FNSA) Traditional Pow Wow.
Please find attached a complete week at a glance poster with specific event dates, times and locations for widespread circulation. Everyone is welcome and all events are FREE
Feel free to go to our website at www.indigenousweek.uwo.ca for more details.
If you have any questions, contact Indigenous Services at is.staff@uwo.ca or 519-661-4095.
