Celebrating Indigenous Expertise in Sustainability

Hosted by Concordia University, this event brings together guest speakers to discuss and celebrate Indigenous expertise in environmental sustainability. Sub-events include “Decolonizing Climate Policy in so-called Canada”, “Co-developing knowledge with Indigenous communities to facilitate sustainable fisheries management”, and “Partners in Indigenous Conservation and Environmental Futures”.

Telling Our Own Stories: Self-Determination in Data and Research – Virtual NAISA Regional Gathering

The Native American and Indigenous Studies Association  This gathering, held at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, is to highlight and support Indigenous people and communities that are reclaiming their roles as storytellers within their communities.

Decolonization Is for Everyone | Nikki Sanchez | TEDxSFU

Indigenous environmental activist Nikki Sanchez discusses decolonization’s target audience during her TEDTalk. She discusses the uncomfortable question to the settler of “can you name the territory your grandmother was born on?”.

Legacies: Earth to Table – Grassroots Community Project

This is a grassroots project started by just a small group of food activists across many backgrounds. Both young and old, urban and rural, settler and Indigenous and Canadian and Mexican. This project is a meeting place for discussion around all things food, but especially food justice and sovereignty. Other themes in their programs focus on anti-racism in food and Indigenous/settler relations.

@mxd2Sprairien8v – Instagram

Brendan Campbell creates informative content for both their own community as well as those outside it. Their posts range from topics on Settler Identity, White Passing Currency, to Language Resurgence Programs and various Workshops led by Indigenous peoples.

MusiCounts – Kanata: Contemporary Indigenous Artists and their Music

MusiCounts is a Canadian music education charity started in 1997. It works from an  understanding that the success of the music industry strongly relies on the past generation of musicians, and that the next generations will be influenced by how (or if) music is taught in their schools. The Kanata Music program brings in supports for educators and help them bring Indigenous perspectives and music into their classrooms. All the materials are free to use and download, and can be utilized for in person, or online learning. The program also aligns with curricular requirements. 

Beyond 94 – Truth and Reconciliation In Canada

This website began in 2018, and is designed to allow all citizens and internet users to view each aspect of the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions 94 calls to action. It explains what the TRC is and why it was formed. It has an active list of each call that has been met, the calls with projects currently running, the calls with projects being proposed, and the calls that have not been started yet.

Good Fire Podcast

The Good Fire podcast is a show that began in 2019 to provide insight into the vast benefits of intentional practices by many First Nations around the world. This includes cultural burning, seasonal burns, and more, which rejuvenate the landscape by clearing out dead underbrush and delivering essential nutrients to the ecosystem. They discuss how Indigenous fire stewardship is critical to cultural empowerment of many nations, since it is a practice that brings together community, acknowledges cyclical events, and provides intense healing and release. Good Fire subverts Western notions of fire as destructive and “evil,” by recentering Indigenous knowledge and practices of fire as balancing.

Decolonizing the Library Initiative at Simon Fraser University

The Decolonizing the Library initiative at Simon Fraser University is one of three initiatives at SFU Libraries to incorporate Indigenous knowledge, authors and academics, and provide books and other information that is truthful about Canadian history and settler colonialism. Part of this is acknowledging SFU library locations on Coast Salish territory. Decolonizing the Library is a response to the report of the Aboriginal Council at SFU and the TRC Report and Recommendations from the Canadian Federation of Library Associations.

The Freedom Lounge

The Freedom Lounge is a study and social space for BIPOC and racialized students on Trent Symons Campus. Run by the Trent Central Students Association (TCSA), and inspired by the TCSA’s review of internal policies, training and community engagement practices in 2020, the Freedom Lounge was developed to provide a safe space for BIPOC students and engage the entire student body in initiatives that challenge white-dominated, Western mentalities. 

Archives – CBC – Massey Lectures

The CBC Massey lectures have been going on for over half a century, starting in 1961. They bring speakers, educators, authors, and knowledge holders together to host educational seminars held over several days. There have been numerous speakers over the years, such as Tanya Talaga in 2018 and Thomas King in 2003, though not all speakers are Indigenous, such as Noam Chomsky or Martin Luther King Jr. 

Elephant Thoughts – The Indigenous Journey

Elephant thoughts is a charitable organization that was founded in 2002 with goals to effect change in education not only within Canada, but across the globe. They work within over 100 Indigenous school communities across Canada on a yearly basis. They have online e-learning portals for visitors to the website to access. The first option under their e-learning selections is titled The Indigenous Journey. “We believe everyone has a responsibility to expand Knowledge of Indigenous Education” (2021). They also understand that educators, new and old may encounter some difficulties with the changing curriculum in Canada and aim to address this issue with the Indigenous Journey modules and teachings.

First Nation Child & Family Caring Society – Spirit Bear’s Calls to Action

Author, Spirit Bear, published the booklet titled, Calls to Action, in 2020. This booklet is a “youth-friendly guide to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada 94 Calls to Action.” The booklet contains the “94 activities all governments, courts, businesses, schools, and people living in Canada can do to help fix the mistakes of the past and present so that all children – including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children – can grow up happy, healthy, safe, and proud of who they are.”

University of Alberta – Indigenous Canada

The University of Alberta is offering a free course titled Indigenous Canada under the faculty of Native Studies. This online course has 12 modules of study and approximately takes 21 hours to complete. The course is done through an Indigenous perspective addressing significant issues. Indigenous Canada has flexible due dates, a sharable certificate upon completion, and subtitles in 7 different languages. This course is recommended for beginners who want to start to their journey into learning Indigenous history, and contemporary Indigenous life. 

Halifax Thunderbirds Inclusion and Empowerment Program

Announced in November 2020, the Inclusion and Empowerment Program is a collaborative initiative between the Halifax Thunderbirds professional lacrosse team, Black Lacrosse Alliance, Turtle Island Lacrosse, Indigenous Players Lacrosse Association, and Nova Scotia Sirens Female Lacrosse Program. This intersectional partnership is based in Mi’kmaq traditional territory, known as Nova Scotia. They have committed “to hosting a series of interactive community ‘Try Lacrosse’ programming and will join community members on monthly Zoom calls to discuss local matters, social issues, and most importantly: to listen” (2020).

York University’s Indigenous Environmental Justice Project: Aki-naagadendamowin Youth Outreach

The Aki-naagadendamowin Youth Outreach program offered through York University’s Indigenous Environmental Justice Project is an initiative which recruits Indigenous youth (either in high school or university) to engage in storytelling, events, and other outreach projects to present at local schools in the GTA. This program is broken down into three sections—Climate Change Futures, Listening to the Land, and Changing Your World—

Decolonization Toolkit

The Decolonization Toolkit was developed by the Victoria International Development Education Association with the Vancouver Foundation and other partner organizations. It includes a facilitator guide so the toolkit can be taught widely. This toolkit is a beginner guide of decolonizing, which includes many steps and questions surrounding reconciliation, positionality, relationships, and Indigenous knowledges. The toolkit is organized in six main categories:

Land and Treaties: Indigenous Orientation Toolkit for Newcomers to Canada

This lesson plan from The National Centre for Collaboration (Indigenous Education) is designed to educate newcomers to Canada of Indigenous histories and the country’s current relationship with Indigenous peoples. This one-day workshop was developed in Treaty 1 with Immigration Partnership Winnipeg and multiple partners, and has a lesson plan and facilitation guide allowing for different facilitators across Canada to deliver it.

#IndigenousReads

This is an annual campaign, most recently run in December 2020, that “encourages reconciliation by increasing Canadians’ understanding of Indigenous issues, cultures, and history” (2020) through reading. The campaign invites Canadians to read Indigenous authored literature and join in the conversation to share what they have read using on social media using #IndigeousReads. It was implemented by the Government of Canada in their work towards reconciliation

Homeless Hub: Definition of Indigenous Homelessness

The definition of Indigenous homelessness was published in 2017 on the Homeless Hub, an online library for research and resources on homelessness in Canada, authored by Jesse Thistle and the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. This document is appropriate for use by advocates, academics, and those seeking a deeper understanding of the systemic issue of homelessness. The definition of Indigenous homelessness extends beyond the mainstream understanding of homelessness, it is not just lacking a stable structure (house)

University of Toronto Aboriginal Worldviews and Education Online Course

The University of Toronto has developed an Aboriginal Worldviews and Education online course offered through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC). This 14-hour course is intended for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals to learn about Indigenous knowledges, ways of knowing, and ways of being. As stated on the website, “Topics include historical, social, and political issues in Aboriginal education; terminology;

Cultural Competency – Indigenous Perspectives Workshop

Cultural Competency – Indigenous Perspectives is an 11.5 hour workshop a part of the Indigenous Learning Series awareness training and professional development. This workshop is 

Queen’s University – Treaties Recognition Week

Treaties recognition week was introduced across Ontario in 2016, to help settlers recognize and understand the importance of Indigenous Treaties. Treaties teach us about the importance of our relationships and responsibilities to our ancestors and how to honour these Indigenous Treaties. Recognizing the importance of the many Treaties in Ontario, helps non-Indigenous people understand the need to honour these treaties and acknowledge the traditional territory they learn, work, and thrive on, daily.

How to Be an Ally to Indigenous Peoples

Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario created a webpage that expresses the importance of creating alliances with Indigenous peoples. This webpage was designed to express the privileges that white settlers have taken for granted in the past and in today’s society as well as helping to remove obstacles that continue to disturb the rights of Indigenous peoples. This online resource gives students and community members a good place to start when it comes to creating

Indigenous Days of Significance – Toronto District School Board

The Toronto District School Board provides educational resources on their website that are related to the importance of Indigenous education and historical events that continue to affect Indigenous peoples in Canada. Throughout the school year, the schoolboard promotes Indigenous education among all its schools to express the cultural importance of Indigenous peoples in Canada. On their webpage, the Board provides the public with significant days to honour Indigenous people in Canada including Orange Shirt Day (September 30),