Indigenous Intellectuals Speaker Series
Professor Lynn Lavallée, strategic lead of Indigenous Resurgence at the Faculty of Community Services (FCS), is hosting a four-part gathering and conversation series with Indigenous Intellectuals from Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Recordings of the first conversation (external link, opens in new window) and second conversation (external link, opens in new window) are available on YouTube.
“We have an open plan and take questions from those who want to join the conversation. We wanted to have a free-flowing conversation about the issues that, as Indigenous academics, are part of our everyday experiences,” said Lavallée. “Borrowing from the Aussie term, ‘Yarning Circle,’ we share stories and knowledge spontaneously, having organic conversations that relate to all of us as Indigenous academics. We also help each other make connections for publishing, academic jobs, and the tenure and promotion process.”
The informal group came about after conversations related to challenges and opportunities Indigenous scholars experience. Professor Taima Moeke-Pickering (external link, opens in new window) , Laurentian University, and assistant professor Angela Mashford-Pringle (external link, opens in new window) , University of Toronto led the initial gathering of 11 scholars who first gathered in October 2020. The group decided to hold a speaker series, which led to these events hosted by Lavallée. Moeke-Pickering hosts a website along with blogs written by various people (external link, opens in new window) and a Twitter account: @IIIAcademix (external link, opens in new window) .
“I think it is important that we gather as Indigenous academics and create spaces to talk to each other. There are a lot of issues that we have in common as well as issues where we hold differences of opinions, which makes our conversation even more vibrant,” said Lavallée. “Gathering, building community, and listening to our various community views and needs, is an important part of that.”
The event was organized for members of the Indigenous community and the general public who are interested. Attendees can submit questions in advance through the Eventbrite registration page (external link, opens in new window) .
Participating academics include:
- Carrie Bourassa, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- Bronwyn Carlson, Macquarie University
- Sheila Cote-Meek, York University
- Madi Day, Macquarie University
- Joanna Kidman, Victoria University of Wellington
- Lynn Lavallée, Ryerson University
- Percy Lezard, Mnimcelx, Wilfred Laurier University
- Angela Mashford-Pringle, University of Toronto
- Tara McAllster, University of Auckland
- Taima Moeke-Pickering, Laurentian University
- Sareana Naepi, University of Auckland
- Sandy O’Sullivan, Macquarie University
- Pamela Roach, University of Calgary
- Tess Ryan, Australian Catholic University
- Bryanna Scott, Lakehead University
- Moana Theodore, University of Otago
There are three more engagements in the speaking series:
- Wednesday, March 24, 6 p.m. EDT
- Wednesday, March 31, 6 p.m. EDT
- Wednesday, April 7, 6 p.m. EDT
Interested participants can register via the event page.