PHOTOS: Learning, celebrating and honouring Indigenous history and culture
Indigenous Education Week took place from Sept. 17 to 22 ending with the student-led Pow Wow on Sept. 23. The following week, community members came together for Orange Shirt Day on Sept. 29.
Indigenous Education Week
Indigenous Education Week was full of educational programming and featured over 20 events including a ribbon skirt-making workshop, a drumming social, a two-spirit identity presentation, beading and earring-making workshops, Pow Wow fitness, tea with Elders, film screenings, an Inuit culture presentation, a tour of the Indigenous medicine garden and so much more.
The week kicked off with the Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM) Reconciliation in Business Conference on Sunday, Sept. 17, organized by the Treaty Relations in Business Education (TRIBE) student group. The one-day conference, with the theme of “Indigenous worldviews from the classroom to the boardroom,” was designed to foster understanding and inclusion of Indigenous perspectives and encourage the adoption of Indigenous ways of knowing in education and places of business. The day included keynote speeches, circle discussions, birchbark canoe teachings, an Indigenous marketplace, a breathwork workshop by Saije Catcheway, an education session on Indigenous food sovereignty by Chef Johl Whiteduck Ringuette and a feast. Photo: Kate Dalton
Throughout the week, SciXchange opened their Hide Tanning Exhibit for community members to experience the art and science of hide tanning. The gallery included photos from the 2019 Hide Tanning Camp held on the TMU campus, as well as several finished hides using a variety of techniques for attendees to touch and see. Photo: Emily Agard.
Pwaaganigaawin Student-led Pow Wow
On Sept. 23, the TMU community came together for the first in-person TMU Pow Wow since 2019. Indigenous undergraduates Mercedes Massingale, social work; Emma Yerxa, criminology; and Gabrielle McMann, journalism, co-led the planning of the Pow Wow through paid positions, providing employment and experience to Indigenous students. The Pow Wow included a sunrise ceremony, Pow Wow etiquette, grand entry, dancing, drumming, singing, a vendor market and more.
One of the dances performed at the Pow Wow was the jingle dress healing dance. One would offer semaa (tobacco) to a dancer to pray while dancing. The shape and sound of the cones on the dress is part of the healing process. Photo: Amy Sargent.
Red Bear Singers, a collective of singers and drummers who are residential school and Sixties Scoop survivors and descendants, presented their songs. Photo: Amy Sargent.
The potato dance special – dancers keep moving to the music and try not to let the potato drop. If it does, those dancers are out of the competition. The last pair standing wins! Photo: Amy Sargent.
Ozaawaa Babigoyaan Giizhigad (Orange Shirt Day)
On Sept. 29, TMU community members gathered in the SLC to commemorate Ozaawaa Babigoyaan Giizhigad (Orange Shirt Day). The day began with an opening song and welcome remarks, followed by a presentation by Nicole Ineese-Nash and Nyle Johnston of Finding Our Power Together (external link) and a delicious feast. Photo: Nadya Kwandibens.
President Lachemi provided opening remarks and shared that as part of the university’s commitment to systemic changes that support Indigenous community members, TMU is implementing an Indigenous Wellbeing and Cultural Practice Leave. Through this new leave, eligible Indigenous staff from Canada can take up to five paid days per year to support healing and well-being, including cultivating cultural interests and practices in whatever ways they so choose. Photo: Nadya Kwandibens.
Community members met in the TMU quad for the raising of the survivors’ flag to honour all survivors, families and communities impacted by the residential school system in Canada. Learn more about the survivors’ flag (external link) and what each element depicted on the flag represents. Photo: Nadya Kwandibens.
On the silent memorial walk through campus, attendees were asked to reflect on what it would be like to attend an institution like TMU and be unable to speak their own language, practice their spirituality or religion or go home to see their family and friends. Photo: Nadya Kwandibens.
Orange Shirt Day feedback form
If you attended Orange Shirt Day, please fill out this feedback form (external link) by Monday, Oct. 16 to let us know your thoughts about the event. We want to hear from you so that we can continue to improve our logistics and content for future Indigenous events at TMU. For further information and/or discussion, email indigevents@torontomu.ca.
On behalf of the Orange Shirt Day organizing committee, we thank you all for coming together in commemoration. If you would like to join the organizing committee for next year or contribute in some way, please email the chair of the organizing committee, Crystal Osawamick at crystal.osawamick@torontomu.ca.
Upcoming Indigenous events on campus
- (google form) Treaties Recognition Week, November 6-10 (external link)
- Gdoo-maawnjidmi Mompii Indigenous Student Services events
Interested in volunteering for a future Indigenous event? Fill out this (google form) volunteer sign-up form (external link) , open to all Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, faculty and staff.