I’m happy to announce an upcoming event co-orgnanized this year with a team from OFNIE in Education. Please save the date!
McGill Symposium on the University’s Role in Supporting Indigenous Languages (May 10 – 11, 2018)
In response to Call to Action #34 of the Final Report of McGill’s Task Force on Indigenous Education and Indigenous Studies, onMay 10th and 11th, the Department of Linguistics and the Office of First Nations and Inuit Education are jointly hosting a symposium examining the role of the university in Indigenous language maintenance and revitalization. Organized with the support of the Kanien’keháka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Centre, McGill Faculties of Arts and Education, the McGill Indigenous Studies Program, and McGill’s Institute for the Study of International Development, the purpose of this Symposium is to (a) signal McGill’s commitment to Indigenous languages in this province and (b) examine more closely what role the University should play in supporting the health of Indigenous languages, locally and regionally. The Symposium will involve both closed-door and public sessions with the goals of establishing a broad consultative body on this question and developing a concrete plan of action for McGill to pursue. Special invitees include Indigenous language teachers, scholars, and university program directors from across Canada:
- Mary Bear (Cree School Board)
- Ewa Czaykowska-Higgins (University of Victoria)
- Ryan DeCaire (Onkwawén:na Kentyohkwa, University of Toronto)
- Gabrielle Doreen (Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, McGill University)
- Ellen Gabriel (Kanehsatà:ke Education Center)
- Megan Lukaniec (Huron-Wendat Nation, UC Santa Barbara)
- Brian Maracle (Onkwawenna Kentyohkwa)
- Akwiratékha’ Martin (Kahnawà:ke Education Center)
- Onowa McIvor (nehiyaw Nation, University of Victoria)
- Mary Ann Metallic (Listuguj Education Directorate)
- Rita Novalinga (Kativik Ilisarniliriniq)
- Keren Rice (University of Toronto)
- Kahtehrón:ni Stacey (Kahnawà:ke Education Center, McGill University)
- Mark Turin (University of British Columbia)
All those interested in learning more about this topic and advancing McGill’s response to this issue are asked to save the following date, May 10th from 1:30pm to 5:00pm in the Jack Cram Auditorium (EDUC-129), for a Public Forum. The schedule of activities include an opening Keynote from Kanien’kehá:ka Language teacher and McGill PhD Student Kahtehró:nni Iris Stacey, three panel presentations from our invited experts, and public discussion.
Those interested in attending are asked to please register here: https://goo.gl/forms/djIv5RBV9bsr481E3
Please follow the facebook event page here for ongoing updates: https://www.facebook.com/events/1886367051693868/
