Concordia launches Pîkiskwêtân (Let’s Talk) — an Indigenous learning series for faculty and staff

The Indigenous Directions Leadership Council (IDLC) was established at the university in 2016 by Concordia President Graham Carr, who at the time was the university’s vice-president of academic affairs. The IDLC’s mandate is to explore, identify and recommend priority areas that Concordia can improve upon in its responsiveness to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Principles for Reconciliation and Calls to Action.

IDLC consultations with Indigenous faculty, staff and students led to a host of recommendations reflected in the university’s Indigenous Directions Action Plan — a key element of which is providing training across the university.

Register for a Pîkiskwêtân* workshop

To advance that priority, an annual Indigenous learning series is launching this month and will run from January 25 to May 28.

“Participants have the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the experiences and challenges of First Nations, Métis and Inuit in postsecondary education as well as the meaning and implications of reconciliation, decolonization and indigenization,” says Manon Tremblay, senior director of Indigenous Directions at Concordia. 

Through workshops, learners will get the chance to develop self-awareness and build greater cultural competence.

“Pîkiskwêtân will provide a safe space for mutually respectful dialogue where participants can ask questions, voice concerns, address their unconscious biases and learn about the socio-political realities, experiences, perspectives and cultural diversity of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada,” Tremblay adds.

“This series is the foundation for Concordians to begin advancing their critical thinking, knowledge and awareness of Indigenous Peoples, with a focus on Indigenous values and traditional knowledge.”

*Pîkiskwêtân means “let’s talk” in Cree.

2021 Pîkiskwêtân workshop schedule
 

Register for Concordia’s Pîkiskwêtân (let’s talk) workshop series today.