OTTAWA, ON – The Carleton University Student Association Aboriginal Service Centre (ASC) launched its RISE 2016 campaign this January as a replacement to previous Aboriginal Awareness Months at Carleton University. Ten different events mark the month-long celebration of ongoing Indigenous resurgence that includes a Mental Health workshop, a blanket exercise, a photo gallery aimed at challenging stereotypical imagery of Indigenous people, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission info night, a number of film screenings and a hip-hop show, just to name a few.
ABOUT RISE 2016
RISE stands for Revitalizing Indigenous Strength & Education. RISE 2016 is a month long celebration taking place in January and aims to bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous students at Carleton University and the larger Ottawa community to learn from one another. In the spirit of Aboriginal Awareness Month, the Indigenous community changed it to RISE to better reflect the principles of knowledge sharing, reciprocity, resurgence, and reconciliation.
Canadian narratives have often excluded the Indigenous perspective in the history of Canada, thus marginalizing entire nations and their stories. RISE works to revitalize the distinct and diverse truths many Indigenous people hold, and attempts to strengthen relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, communities, and nations. All events held during the month of January reflect this particular mandate.
About CUSA ABORIGINAL SERVICE CENTRE
The ASC is the front-line organization for anyone interested in most things that pertains to Indigenous students at Carleton University. Established in 2006, the ASC has undergone numerous challenges and identities but often becomes to be first point of contact for Indigenous students new to the Carleton campus, usually those seeking the larger Indigenous community. The ASC coordinates numerous events throughout each school year and is currently working to establish other services such as an Indigenous Studies Resource Centre where students can borrow scholarly literature for their Indigenous Studies courses. The ASC also hopes to provide leadership building workshops for Indigenous students in the near future.
CONTACT
To learn more about RISE 2016, please contact:
Ash Courchene, ASC Coordinator
316A Unicentre Building (inside REC HALL)
Office: 613-520-2600 x 1268
Cell: 613-700-4383
aboriginalcentre@cusaonline.ca
