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Indigenous Circle

Calumet College has had a long and unique connection with the Indigenous community.  Both colleges are committed to advocating for priorities that enhance Indigenous health and wellness, engaging the Indigenous community and celebrating Indigenous heritage.

Past Events

Movie Night: Jordan River Anderson, The Messenger

March 24, 2022

When five-year-old Jordan River Anderson died with a rare muscle disorder known as Carey-Fineman-Ziter syndrome in 2005, he had spent all of his young life in hospital. The Federal and Manitoban governments argued for years over who was responsible for his home-care costs. He was never able to talk or walk and was kept on a ventilator until he died at Winnipeg Children’s Hospital, almost 1,000 km away from his family’s home in Norway House First Nation.
In an exposé of blatant governmental disregard, award-winning Indigenous filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin documents the long struggle of Indigenous activists demanding the government recognize and enforce “Jordan’s Principle” — the promise that no First Nations children would experience inequitable access to government-funded health, social, and educational services again.

SPECIAL WARNING
The film contains some violent scenes and/or aggressive comments. We will take pauses at specific parts of the film to address them, perform small debriefing reflections and check on participants reactions. We invite attendees to reach the facilitator, Calumet & Stong Colleges resources, or any of York University resources to receive additional support if needed.

Reclaiming Original Sound: An Interactive Zoom Workshop with Amy Desjarlais

March 11, 2022

“Reclaiming Indigenous Sound” will be hosted by Amy Desjarlais. Amy currently works at York University as knowledge keeper and intuitive/spiritual counsellor for the Centre for Aboriginal Student Services. Through this workshop, participants will learn self-empowerment strategies that will help them shift the energetic blockages which minimize one’s inherent sound energy. Participants will need space to stand if they are able, and ideally about a foot of space around them in all directions. Amy will provide modifications for those with limited space or who are unable to stand.

Living in Reciprocity: Historical and Theoretical Perspectives on Indigenous-Black Relations

January 27, 2022

Living in Reciprocity: Historical and Theoretical Perspectives on Indigenous-Black Relations will be an informative presentation by Dr. Bonita Lawrence. Dr. Lawrence, who is Mi’kmaw, is a professor in the Indigenous Studies Program here at York University. She has authored two academic books, a novel, and has co-authored a collection of essays with Kim Anderson.

For the past decade, Dr. Lawrence has been teaching in the area of Indigenous and African diasporic relations on a regular basis. She has published a number of academic articles on the topic, including “Indigenous Peoples and Black People In Canada: Settlers Or Allies?” (with Zainab Amadahy). We invite you to join us via Zoom on Thursday, January 27th, 2022 from 6-7pm where Dr. Lawrence will discuss the topic of Indigenous-Black relations, including efforts in becoming allies as well as social issues faced by both of these groups in Canada.

Poster for the Movie Night: Is the crown with us?

Movie Night: Is The Crown With Us?

March 3, 2021

Is the crown at war with us? by Alanis Obonsawin

In this feature-length documentary by Alanis Obomsawin, it’s the summer of 2000 and the country watches in disbelief as federal fisheries wage war on the Mi’kmaq fishermen of Burnt Church, New Brunswick. Why would officials of the Canadian government attack citizens for exercising rights that had been affirmed by the highest court in the land? Casting her cinematic and intellectual nets into history to provide context, Obomsawin delineates the complex roots of the conflict with passion and clarity, building a persuasive defence of the Mi’kmaq position.

Poster for the dreamcatcher workshop.

Dreamcatcher Workshop

February 10, 2021

In this workshop you will learn how to create a dreamcatcher and its cultural significance to Indigenous Peoples. Learning to produce crafts while sharing some cultural background allows us to enrich our knowledge. By focusing on creating a single delicate piece, students will benefit from de-stressing from their regular challenging activities. This is an opportunity to appreciate diverse cultural art productions.

Materials needed for the workshop (participants’ responsibility):

Option 1 – Build a Dream Catcher
• Scissors
• Pen/Pencil
• Cardboard
• Different coloured string(s)
• Circular object to trace like a plate (optional)
• Feathers (optional)
• Beads (optional)

Option 2 – Draw a Dream Catcher
• Paper
• Pen/Pencil

Poster for the movie night: Donna's story.

Movie Night: Donna’s Story

January 27, 2021

Donna’s Story by Doug Cuthand

This intimate documentary paints a portrait of one Cree woman who left life on the streets to re-emerge as a powerful voice counseling Indigenous adults and youth about abuse and addiction. Raised in foster homes and caught up in drugs and prostitution by the age of 13, Donna Gamble shares her exhilarating and tumultuous journey and what motivated her to turn her life around. Together with her mother and daughters, Donna is working to shatter the cycle of addiction that has plagued their family for generations.

Poster for the dreamcatcher workshop.

Dreamcatcher Workshop

February 10, 2021

In this workshop you will learn how to create a dreamcatcher and its cultural significance to Indigenous Peoples. Learning to produce crafts while sharing some cultural background allows us to enrich our knowledge. By focusing on creating a single delicate piece, students will benefit from de-stressing from their regular challenging activities. This is an opportunity to appreciate diverse cultural art productions.

Materials needed for the workshop (participants’ responsibility):

Option 1 – Build a Dream Catcher
• Scissors
• Pen/Pencil
• Cardboard
• Different coloured string(s)
• Circular object to trace like a plate (optional)
• Feathers (optional)
• Beads (optional)

Option 2 – Draw a Dream Catcher
• Paper
• Pen/Pencil

Poster for the movie night: Donna's story.

Movie Night: Donna’s Story

January 27, 2021

Donna’s Story by Doug Cuthand

This intimate documentary paints a portrait of one Cree woman who left life on the streets to re-emerge as a powerful voice counseling Indigenous adults and youth about abuse and addiction. Raised in foster homes and caught up in drugs and prostitution by the age of 13, Donna Gamble shares her exhilarating and tumultuous journey and what motivated her to turn her life around. Together with her mother and daughters, Donna is working to shatter the cycle of addiction that has plagued their family for generations.

Poster for the welcoming tea event.

Welcoming Tea

January 19, 2021

The Indigenous Circle (IC) program at Calumet & Stong Colleges would like to extend a friendly invitation to all its self-identifying Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to participate in our Welcoming Tea session. We will be sharing a virtual Tea inspired by the traditional Tea Dance (“Dahot s’ethe”) ceremony – Dene Tha’ Nation (Northwest Alberta). In addition, we will have interactive activities and games to make this space a ‘stress-free’ zone. At the event, we will describe the meaning of the traditional tea ceremony, and provide opportunities for participants to connect.