Indigenous Awareness Week an opportunity to unite campus through spirit of relationship building
** Media are invited to a special availability in advance of the mini-powwow and Blackfoot Naming Ceremony on Monday, March 11 from noon to 12:25 p.m. in the Science Commons Atrium
The University of Lethbridge’s annual Indigenous Awareness Week, March 11-15, embraces the spirit of reconciliation by offering a host of activities designed to facilitate conversations and understanding.
“What Indigenous Awareness Week does is bring people together and build relationships,” says Dr. Leroy Little Bear, vice-provost Iniskim Indigenous Relations. “The more we talk to each other, the better we know each other, the easier it is to work together. In my words, it's all about relationships. If we have good relationships, it's much easier to work together and to cooperate.”
The week begins with the Opening Ceremony at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 11, in the Science Commons Atrium, followed by a mini-powwow and dance demonstration at 12:30 p.m., as well as a special Blackfoot Naming Ceremony for the Faculty of Fine Arts.
Each day of the week offers several events, including an Indigenous Artisans Market and the launch of “We are Iniskim” merchandise on Tuesday and Wednesday, a West Coast fashion show, dance and singing demonstration on Tuesday afternoon, a decolonizing Wikipedia “editathon” and a smudge box workshop with Elder Shirlee Crow Shoe on Wednesday, a film screening and discussion of Iniskim – Return of the Buffalo on Thursday, and a Métis meet-up on Friday.
A list of events is available at go.uleth.ca/iaw.
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Contact:
Caroline Zentner, public affairs advisor
University of Lethbridge
403-394-3975 or 403-795-5403 (cell)
Melissa Villeneuve, communications specialist
Iniskim Indigenous Relations and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
University of Lethbridge
403-892-0467 (cell)
Our University’s Blackfoot name is Iniskim, meaning Sacred Buffalo Stone. The University is located in traditional Blackfoot Confederacy territory. We honour the Blackfoot people and their traditional ways of knowing in caring for this land, as well as all Indigenous Peoples who have helped shape and continue to strengthen our University community.