Events for Week of February 17, 2014

Events:

Monday February 17, 2014-8pm-10pm-The Shittiest Warrior: The Ryan McMahon Ontario Tour Comes to Toronto @ the Central, 603 Markham Street, Toronto, ON

TICKETS: http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ryan-mcmahon-comedy-ontario-tour-toronto-tickets-10075553251

Ryan McMahon has hit the road to tour his newest album The Shittiest Warrior! Touted as the Native George Carlin, comedian Ryan McMahon returns to Toronto on Monday, February 17 at The Central for an unapologetic but brutally honest standup comedy show about the relationship between Indian Country and the mainstream.

Thursday, February 20, 2014-6:30pm- Mi’kmaq Warriors Speaking Tour Comes to Toronto Members of the Mi'kmaq Warriors Society who have been arrested and incarcerated will be on a speaking tour in January and February to raise awareness about their struggle against fracking, their ongoing assertion and exercise of nationhood, and the repression they face from police and courts.

@ Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre, 439 Dundas Street East

 Space is wheelchair accessible through the main door on Dundas St.
*Hot soup and bread to be provided
*TTC Tokens available

Monday February 24- February 28, 2014- Indigenous Education Week @ First Nations House This year, we are honoured to welcome Dr. Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Professor of Indigenous Education at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand. Dr. Smith will discuss ground breaking work in Maori education as well as her seminal book, Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples.

Additional guests for the week include Mississauga Anishinaabe scholar Leanne Betasamosake Simpson who will be reading from her debut collection of short stories, Islands of Decolonial Love. First Nations House is also pleased to welcome internationally recognized Indigenous scholar Dr. Filiberto Penados. Renowned orator, writer, and Traditional Teacher Lee Maracle and FNH Elder-in-Residence Andrew Wesley will be offering open teachings throughout the week.

Saturday March 1, 2014-12pm-5pm- 12^th Annual Pow wow and Education Career Fair @ York University by CASS (Centre for Aboriginal Student Services) Vari Hall, 4700 Keele Street

Smoke Trail Singers- Host Drum

Charging Horse- Co-host Drum

Old Mush Singers-Water Drum

 

March 19 and 20, 2014  from 9 AM to 4 PM- The Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC) is holding a two day Symposium at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, 16 Spadina Road.

The two-day symposium offers participants a thorough introduction to the essentials
of community-based research (CBR) with urban Aboriginal peoples. Topics will
focus on best practices for research development, design and dissemination,
plus highlight strategies for putting policies and principles into practice.

Who should attend: the symposium is designed to provide an Indigenous
perspective on conducting research with urban Aboriginal peoples and is
intended for students, academics, policy-makers, and government agencies.

Cost: Full rate - $350.00 / Student rate - $300.00

Fee includes lunch, refreshments and materials

Speakers include:  

 Dr. Amanda Sheppard - The Hospital for Sick Children

 Dr. Janet Smylie - St. Michael's Hospital

 Randy Jackson and Doe O'Brien - Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network
(CAAN)

 Dr. Margaret Robinson - Centre for Addictions and Mental Health
(CAMH)

 Bernice Downey - The Well Living House

 Rebeka Tabobondung - Indigenous Knowledge Network

Participants will gain a better understanding of the steps to initiating
research with Aboriginal peoples, communities and agencies as well as
develop tangible skills for working with Indigenous ethical research
frameworks, specifically the:

*Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving
Humans; Chapter 9 - Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis
Peoples of Canada; the
* First Nations Information Governance Committee's Principles of OCAP:
Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession; and the
* Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centre's USAI Research
Framework: Utility, Self-Voicing, Access, and Inter-rationality. 

Who should attend: the symposium is designed to provide an Indigenous
perspective on conducting research with urban Aboriginal peoples and is
intended for students, academics, policy-makers, and government agencies.

A limited number of complimentary seats are available to Aboriginal students
or Elders. Contact us for details. 

For more information please email:  info@tassc.ca

Business Profile- GOODMINDS.com-Supporting Aboriginal Libraries Today- SALT

Sheila Staats and Jeff Burnham of GoodMinds.com

Good Minds.com owner Jeff Burnham showing some of their reading collections at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference

Sheila Staats and Jeff Burnham of GoodMinds.com showing librarians some of their reading collections at the 2014 Ontario Library Association Super Conference at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre during the Aboriginal Awareness Circle

(Photos taken by Christine Smith (McFarlane)

GoodMinds.com is an Aboriginal family owned book wholesaler located on Six Nations of the Grand River (Brantford) in Southwestern Ontario, and is a great resource for those looking for great Aboriginal content.

GoodMinds.com has a goal to support Aboriginal communities that do not currently have a public library and to help existing Aboriginal public libraries enhance and expand by implementing a program called SALT- SUPPORTING ABORIGINAL LIBRARIES TODAY.

This is an important endeavor because did you know that there are approximately  617* reserves in Canada and less than 60 First Nations, Metis and Inuit public libraries in Canada? Less than 1 in 10 Aboriginal communities have a public library, and many of the existing Aboriginal libraries are in inadequate facilities.

This means that most of the Aboriginal libraries lack adequate collections, and funding can be hard to come by because Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada does not allocate funds for libraries. *AANDC's website

The first project that GoodMinds.com has in mind is to support the expansion plan for the new Six Nations Public Library. To read more about this, please visit:

http://snpl.ca/major-capital-campaign/

Public Libraries are important, and they are much more than just books. It's a meeting room, it runs children's programs, gives you reading time, internet access, access to research, DVD's, allows for featured movie nights, allows for summer reading clubs and other special events. Many libraries subscribe to special databases for research and provide a much higher quality of information than you would be able to do in a basic web search.

How you can help:

When Canadian public libraries purchase books from GoodMinds.com their purchases will automatically generate a GoodMinds.com contribution of 10% of the net sale to the SALT Fund.

Encourage Service Clubs, Organizations and Individuals to support SALT by purchasing books from GoodMinds.com and request GoodMinds.com to contribute 10% of the net sale to the SALT Fund

or

Make a Tribute Gift either in Honour of or in Memory of someone special


SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT SALT!! WITH YOUR PURCHASES WE CAN SUPPORT ABORIGINAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN CANADA!

For more information please contact :

Jeff Burnham, GoodMinds.com
1 (877) 862 8483 ext. 110

Email: burnhamj@goodminds.com

Website: http://goodminds.com

Opinion Piece- Got Land? Thank An Indian!

Image Courtesy of Jeff Menard)

Got Land? Thank An Indian!!

By: Christine Smith (McFarlane)

This slogan has definitely been stirring up a lot of controversy, and the creator of this slogan Jeff Menard has been featured in the news several times because of the reactions it has received from mainstream society. First I’ll give you a little background of what happened.

On January 14, 2014, CBC News reported that 13-year-old Tenelle Starr, a First Nations Saskatchewan student was told not to wear the  “Got Land? Thank An Indian” hoodie to school, after some parents, students and officials took offense to it.

Starr, who is a member of the nearby Star Blanket First Nation goes to school in Balcarres, which is about 90 kilometres northeast of Regina. She told CBC News “ I wear it proudly around the school,” even though some students told her the message was “cheeky” and “rude”. (www.cbc.ca/.../first-nation-teen-told-not-to-wear-got-land-shirt-at-school.)

Though the controversy has been resolved, and additional meetings that were held between the school and leaders of the Star Blanket First Nations led to the understanding that Star’s sweatshirt, and its message, were acceptable after all, I still find the whole situation to be infuriating on so many levels.

The first issue is the right to have the fundamental freedom to express yourself. According to Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, there are the following fundamental freedoms, we as Canadian citizens are allowed:

Freedom of expression

Freedom of religion

Freedom of thought

Freedom of belief

Freedom of peaceful assembly and lastly

Freedom of association.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Charter_of_Rights_and_Freedoms)

I believe that all of us as Canadian citizens should have the freedom to express ourselves, in a manner that is conducive to invoking discussion and proactive action. I don’t condone freedom of expression that may be harmful, but that’s another story altogether. The question I have out of this whole situation is why was the wearing of this hoodie by a 13 year old girl seen as so troubling to some members of mainstream society. The slogan on her hoodie is not the only slogan we have seen on other merchandise out there.

And they can be seen as “cheeky” also.  Just conjure up in your mind the infamous image  of Geronimo and the words “ Homeland Security-Fighting Terrorism since 1492.”  People wear these t-shirts and from what I know there has been no one getting up in arms over that slogan.

Another issue that I find disturbing about the whole fiasco of the “Got Land, Thank An Indian” is the actions of Vancouver based Michelle Tittler, 59, who runs "End Race Based Laws."(or ERBL Inc) End Race Based Laws was created a year ago in reaction to the Idle No More Movement. This woman had the nerve to go on a 13 year old girls Facebook page and leave such harassing posts that this young girls parents felt the need to shut their daughter’s Facebook page down in order to protect her.

According to CBC, Tittler has been known for aggressive online trolling, and is also known for posting inflammatory comments about Aboriginal issues and people, which has led to at least two police probes-although this, most recent case has been halted by the RCMP.

CBC has been doing an ongoing examination of this woman and have found that Tittler has a history of harassing people. They say “In 2006, a criminal court judge in B.C. granted a peace bond against Tittler after a neighbor complained of harassment,” but this hasn’t deterred Tittler from what she is doing with her so called not-for-profit organization ERBL Inc., or End Race Based Law Inc.

With ERBL Inc, the facebook page has 3,330 likes and Tittler has stated in an interview with CBC that “she is unemployed and spends most of her time online denouncing Aboriginal treaties, posting rants on YouTube and engaging in caustic debates with vocal critics.”

She has registered several domain names containing the words “Idle No More” to intercept web traffic from the actual site of the group and has also filed formal complaints against people to Facebook and internet providers alleging that some sites are promoting racism.

Well, I took a brief look at her page, and I found it quite disturbing that her most recent post says

“Treaties ALL broken by the natives.....all.
Canada has more than fulfilled the Treaties, by billions and billions EACH AND EVERY YEAR, it's the natives who haven't, so IT'S A LIE when they say Canada has not fulfilled the treaties....a total 100% lie. Not even one bit of it is true.” (https://www.facebook.com/ENDRACEBASEDLAW?ref=br_tf)

And without making an effort to know or understand our histories and/or treaty rights as Indigenous peoples, this woman is promoting racism and hatred and it needs to be stopped now.

Lastly on my opinion regarding Michelle Tittler, I would love to know why she feels its alright to harass a young girl over the internet. If this person was doing something like this to any of my nieces, I would be extremely infuriated and would do what I could to stop her actions!

I say boycott this End Race Based Laws Inc. and do not give into this vitriolic hatred that is being spread by an obviously racist woman. Tennelle Starr deserves to be applauded because as a youth she is taking a stand about First Nations land and treaty rights. It is good to see a youth assert their stance on something as pivotal as First Nations land and treaty rights because when one youth takes a stance, other youth are hopefully encouraged to do the same.

In speaking with Jeff Menard, the creator of this hoodie, I asked him how he felt in regards to the controversy that has been stirred, and he said "I found it unbelievable that this is happening here in Canada because every Canadian should have the right to freedom of speech, and be able to express their opinion.”

On the success of the hoodies with “Got Land, Thank An Indian” and how it got started Menard said “I began the line in the summer of 2012. At first I sold it out of my girlfriend’s home, but then as the news of the hoodie started to spread like wildfire, I started selling it online, and out of the city and at the gas stop by Roseau River Band Line.”

Got land? Thank an Indian goes a lot deeper than just words on a hoodie. It speaks of the many injustices that the First Nations of Canada have faced since European contact.

I'm talking about racism, discrimination, land theft and First Nations peoples being uprooted and placed on lands that are prone to flooding and are unsustainable when it comes to living the way we have been taught.

It speaks of the assimilationist policies that have been put in practice by the Canadian government, and the outright denial by the Canadian government to respect our treaties and treat us as the original stewards of the land.

There has been several uncalled for reactions by a lot of the mainstream society when it comes to First Nations peoples and their desire to practice their culture, or to state the obvious unrest in relations between Canadian First Nations and the Canadian government.

In closing, Menard says “ By creating this hoodie, I wanted to create awareness and bring back pride to the Native community, and help bands with land treaty rights. I also want to see our Prime Minister Stephen Harper wear this hoodie, because if he wants to deal with Natives, he will in a good way adorn the hoodie. It would be a show of good faith.”

For more information on Jeff Menards “Got Land, Thank an Indian” line, please visit http://www.thankanindian.com

Self Care and the Medicine Wheel

Self-Care and the Medicine Wheel

By: Christine Smith (McFarlane)

First Nations peoples have a way of envisioning the world that involves incorporating the teachings from the Medicine Wheel in their everyday lives. This is especially important when it comes to knowing how to take care of you, physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

The Medicine Wheel is an ancient symbol used by almost all the Native people of North and South America. The way it is understood varies nation to nation, because each nation views the concept of the Medicine Wheel according to their own teachings and what has been passed down to them through their Elders and medicine people.

According to the book “The Sacred Tree,” written by Phil Lane, Jr, Judie Bopp, Michael Bopp, Lee Brown and Elders “there are many different ways that this basic concept is expressed: the four grandfathers, the four winds, the four cardinal directions, and many other relationships that can be expressed in sets of four,” and the medicine wheel can be used to help us see or understand things we can’t quite see or understand because they are ideas and not physical objects.” (pg.9)

The Medicine Wheel teaches us that we have four aspects to ourselves: the physical, the mental, the emotional, and the spiritual. Each of these aspects must be in balance and equally developed in order for us to remain healthy, well balanced individuals. It is said that by living by the teachings of the Medicine Wheel, we as individuals will learn to develop vision of what is possible and that this vision will bring us closer to our vision of being a happy, healthy human being.

Each direction of the Medicine Wheel deals with certain aspects of us as individuals, and I find that the concept of self-care when it comes to the Medicine Wheel can be explained best when it is looked at it via the four directions- The North (Spiritual) deals with connection and the following feelings; faith, virtue, respect, love, selflessness and prayer. The Eastern (Physical) has to do with movement and the following behaviors non-smoker, non-drinker/drugs, balanced diet, rest, fitness level, lack of disease and safe sex. The Southern (Mental) aspect of the Medicine Wheel has to do with thinking and your ability to do the following-decision making, ability, judgment, reading, creativity, stress reduction, education and enhancement. Lastly, the Western (Emotional) has to do with feeling- how you express yourself, how your self-esteem is, the ability to cope, having a positive attitude, having healthy relationships and feeling adjusted.

Staying balanced is integral to good self-care. I remember in the early stages of my healing journey, a therapist brought forth the concept of self-care. She said

"Christine, when it comes to recovery and healing, don't be afraid to put yourself first. Take time for yourself, do what you need to do in order for you to feel good about yourself.

I remember looking at her and saying "but self care that's being selfish!"

My therapist smiled, shook her head and said

"No, that is what you have been raised to believe by some people who don't know themselves and what healthy boundaries are."

It took me awhile to digest that thought, and to really start adopting that into my daily life. I was afraid of upsetting people, and them being angry with me. I thought the worst of myself because instead of putting others ahead of myself, I was taking the time to pay attention to myself first, and the feedback I sometimes got was not always the greatest.

When I got negative feedback from people who did not like me putting myself first, I had to learn how to build myself up and keep myself strong. Turning to the Medicine Wheel was one thing but acting on what I learned from it takes a lot of work. When it comes to taking care of yourself spiritually, it is important for you to be gentle with yourself, and because it has to do with connection, think about yourself and what will help you to be or stay connected. Does it mean making time for friends? What about volunteering or going to ceremony and/or seeing an Elder?

In order to function in a balanced way, we all need proper rest, a balanced diet, exercise, a lack of disease, which is difficult when a large number of the First Nation population has to deal with the rising levels of diabetes in their families and communities. Another important aspect of the physical when it comes to self-care is not dabbling in drugs or alcohol. Smoking is another thing, but I cannot speak to that, because this is something that I still have to work on.

The mental aspect of the Medicine Wheel involves your thinking and your ability to do the following- good decision making, ability, judgment, reading, creativity, stress reduction, education and enhancement. For me, I love having time to myself to read a good book, watch my favorite television show, paint my nails or be creative in one way or another whether that is through writing, painting, beading or sewing.

People use various techniques to help themselves mentally I have listed a few that you might consider, but do what works for you. Lastly, when it comes to the emotional side of ourselves, we need to have a positive outlook, express ourselves in a healthy manner, be able to cope well and have healthy relationships. So, the next time that you are feeling particularly stressed out or feeling low about something, try to think of the top ten things that you can do for yourself, in order for you to feel at the top of your game again and do them

Listen to your self talk, if you hear yourself repeating things that hurtful people have told you in the past, stop what you are doing and tell yourself "this person is wrong," and "I'm going to turn my thoughts into positive thinking." 

Having healthy self-esteem is important, and being able to maintain it can be a regular workout, but it’s worth it. Next time you find your self esteem suffering, sit down, tell yourself "I am going to be okay," and say it over and over again. Eventually you will start to believe it and your self-esteem won't take such a blow with whatever experiences life throws your way.

Remember the number one thing is that being gentle with yourself is of utmost importance and self-care can be anything that makes you feel good, as long as it is safe. 

Bringing you Events for Week of February 10, 2014

Events:

  

Tuesday, February 11, 2014-7pm- Young Lakota Film Screening and Discussion

Screening followed by a discussion with Native Youth Sexual Health Network.

@ Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Avenue

$5-$10 suggested donation

Tuesday, February 11, 2014-7:30pm-11pm- Book Thug’s 10^th Anniversary Party

Where: Monarch Tavern @ 12 Clinton Street (1 block south of College)
PWYC. Suggested $5.00.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014- OPEN MIC @ Ciro’s with Dave DeLeary and Glen Gould

Time-8pm-2am

Where: Ciro’s Restaurant 1316 Bloor Street. West

Come out of the cold, keep warm and join us for live music, food & a beverage or two! Bring your guitar and share your talents; spoken word, performance or a few tunes!

Acoustic guitar, bass guitar and digital drums available !!!

Ciro's is at the NW corner of the intersection of Bloor & Lansdowne, just steps away from Lansdowne subway station !!!

Wednesday February 12, 2014-6pm-9pm Muskrat Magazine, Toronto & York Region Métis Council, and The Sound of My Heart Collective present:

Honouring Indigenous Women Booklaunch & Fundraiser
Hearts of Nations - Vol. 2

Featuring Readings from Guest Writers:
Angela Mashford - Pringle
Cristina Lai
Tera Beaulieu
Zainab Amadahy
Faith Turner

Special Guest Speaker:
Audrey Huntley, co-founder of No More Silence will discuss the new community run database documenting violent deaths of Indigenous women/Two-Spirit and Trans people

Also featuring Hand Drum Group (tba)

Come join us at the newly opened Toronto Birth Centre, 525 Dundas Street East for an evening to honour Indigenous women. Light refreshments will be served. Families welcome. Wheelchair accessible.

Donated proceeds go towards Drummers & Community-Run Database - Event is FREE!!

February 13, 2014-1pm-6pm- Canadian Blood Services Blood Drive

Where: Canadian Blood Services, 67 College St.

One person every minute in Canada needs blood. It's in us to give. Together we can change lives!

A bus will be available at 2:10pm and 4:10pm to pick up students and return them to the Front Steps of Hart House 7 Hart House Circle. Otherwise students can walk over to 67 College St. (Corner of College & Elizabeth) to donate blood any time between 1-6pm on Thurs. Feb 13. Refreshments are available following your donation!

To register:
http://www.multifaith.utoronto.ca/Events-And-Programs/Blood-Drive-Feb-13-2014.htm

Co-sponsored by Health Promotions, Health and Wellness, Student Life, Hillel of Greater Toronto, the Muslim Student Association, the Multi-Faith Centre, the Nursing Society, Agape Impact, the Coptic Orthodox Student Association, University of Toronto Canadian Blood Services Youth Committee, and the Graduate Students’ Union.

Friday February 14, 2014-12:30pm-1:30pm- 9^th Annual Strawberry Ceremony in Honor of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Those Who Have Died Violent Deaths by Colonialism:

Strawberry Ceremony with Wanda Whitebird begins at 12:30 Police Headquarters 40 College Street at Bay, Toronto

Community Feast catered by NaMeRes at the 519 Church Street Community Centre; 519 Church Street following the rally.

Please leave your agency and organizations signs and banners at home and make some in honour of women who have died instead.

Tokens will be available at the rally.

 

Monday February 17, 2014-8pm-10pm-The Shittiest Warrior: The Ryan McMahon Ontario Tour Comes to Toronto @ the Central, 603 Markham Street, Toronto, ON

TICKETS: http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ryan-mcmahon-comedy-ontario-tour-toronto-tickets-10075553251

Ryan McMahon has hit the road to tour his newest album The Shittiest Warrior! Touted as the Native George Carlin, comedian Ryan McMahon returns to Toronto on Monday, February 17 at The Central for an unapologetic but brutally honest standup comedy show about the relationship between Indian Country and the mainstream.

Ryan McMahon is one of North America’s fastest rising comedians. He has appeared at the Just For Laughs Festival and Winnipeg Comedy Festival and was the first Native comedian to ever record a full-length comedy special for CBC TV. His most recent album spent 6 months at the top of the iTunes comedy charts and he just finished a live recording at CBC Radio 1 to a sold-out audience in Edmonton. The CBC show will be aired

The Shittiest Warrior is a loose, fast-paced and silly but always-honest look at society from the perspective of a “Native dude.” McMahon’s comedy is irreverent and boundary pushing as he focuses his attention on the good, the bad and the ugly of Indian Country. Ryan’s show will sell out and is not to be missed.

Kaha:wi Dance Theatre Presents: Powwow Bootcamp 2014

Bringing you your Weekly Event Postings.....

Events:

February 4, 2014- 7pm-8:30pm-An Evening with Award Winning Photojournalist Garth Lenz-The True Cost of Oil. Come hear award-winning photojournalist Garth Lenz speak about the True Cost of Oil. This free event is co-presented by Environmental Defence Canada and Toronto 350.org Taking place at 100 St. George Street, Sidney Smith Hall University of Toronto

February 4, 2014-9pm-2am- ANDPVA Presents-The Red Revue featuring Derek Miller, hosted by Cheri Maracle
Open Mic starts at 9:15 p.m.
Derek Miller 10:45 p.m.
The Rivoli
334 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON
$10 COVER

For Open Mic, email Rich Hunter, Development Manager
rich.andpva@gmail.com

For Membership, email Millie Knapp, Executive Director
millie.andpva@gmail.com

Wednesday February 12, 2014-6pm-9pm Muskrat Magazine, Toronto & York Region Métis Council, and The Sound of My Heart Collective present:

Honouring Indigenous Women Booklaunch & Fundraiser
Hearts of Nations - Vol. 2

Featuring Readings from Guest Writers:
Angela Mashford - Pringle
Cristina Lai
Tera Beaulieu
Zainab Amadahy
Faith Turner

Special Guest Speaker:
Audrey Huntley, co-founder of No More Silence will discuss the new community run database documenting violent deaths of Indigenous women/Two-Spirit and Trans people

Also featuring Hand Drum Group (tba)

Come join us at the newly opened Toronto Birth Centre for an evening to honour Indigenous women. Light refreshments will be served. Families welcome. Wheelchair accessible.

Donated proceeds go towards Drummers & Community-Run Database - Event is FREE!!

Friday February 14, 2014-12:30pm-1:30pm- 9^th Annual Strawberry Ceremony in Honor of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Those Who Have Died Violent Deaths by Colonialism:

Strawberry Ceremony with Wanda Whitebird begins at 12:30 Police Headquarters 40 College Street at Bay, Toronto

Community Feast catered by NaMeRes at the 519 Church Street Community Centre; 519 Church Street following the rally.

Please leave your agency and organizations signs and banners at home and make some in honour of women who have died instead.

Tokens will be available at the rally.

www.andpva.com

March 19 and 20, 2014  from 9 AM to 4 PM- The Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC) is holding a two day Symposium at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, 16 Spadina Road.

The two-day symposium offers participants a thorough introduction to the essentials
of community-based research (CBR) with urban Aboriginal peoples. Topics will
focus on best practices for research development, design and dissemination,
plus highlight strategies for putting policies and principles into practice.

Who should attend: the symposium is designed to provide an Indigenous
perspective on conducting research with urban Aboriginal peoples and is
intended for students, academics, policy-makers, and government agencies.

Cost: Full rate - $350.00 / Student rate - $300.00

Fee includes lunch, refreshments and materials


Speakers include:   

 Dr. Amanda Sheppard - The Hospital for Sick Children

              Dr. Janet Smylie - St. Michael's Hospital

            Randy Jackson and Doe O'Brien - Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network
(CAAN)
            Dr. Margaret Robinson - Centre for Addictions and Mental Health
(CAMH)
            Bernice Downey - The Well Living House

            Rebeka Tabobondung - Indigenous Knowledge Network

Participants will gain a better understanding of the steps to initiating
research with Aboriginal peoples, communities and agencies as well as
develop tangible skills for working with Indigenous ethical research
frameworks, specifically the:

*        Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving
Humans; Chapter 9 - Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis
Peoples of Canada; the
*        First Nations Information Governance Committee's Principles of OCAP:
Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession; and the
*        Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centre's USAI Research
Framework: Utility, Self-Voicing, Access, and Inter-rationality. 

Who should attend: the symposium is designed to provide an Indigenous
perspective on conducting research with urban Aboriginal peoples and is
intended for students, academics, policy-makers, and government agencies.


A limited number of complimentary seats are available to Aboriginal students
or Elders. Contact us for details.

Registration:  <http://bit.ly/1awn4N9> http://bit.ly/1awn4N9

For more information please email  info@tassc.ca>

info@tassc.ca