A Dewemaagannag/My Relations workshop with Leila Afriat

The McCord Stewart Museum’s exhibition “Wampum, Beads of Diplomacy” explores the fundamental role of wampums as witnesses of agreements between nations, and bearers of cultural and political meaning.  
 
Rather than approaching the exhibition solely through archival research, the museum collaborated closely with Indigenous experts and communities connected to the wampums. This approach ensured the belts and necklaces’ stories were represented authentically and that Indigenous perspectives were centered, not exploited.

Leila Afriat, Community Relations Advisor at McCord Stewart Museum, is joining us for this edition of the Dewemaagannag/My relations workshop to discuss this collaborative journey. She will share insights into the museum’s approach, guided by the 7 values in the Dewemaagannag/My Relations: Indigenous engagement guide. 

Important: The workshop content and facilitation will be in French. Participants can choose to express themselves in French or English. 

A meal will be served after the event. 

The Office of Community Engagement at Concordia University assists in the creation of academic and non-academic partnerships that are locally rooted, community-driven and beneficial to all involved. With social justice as a core value, we prioritize groups that have been excluded from or dismissed by institutions, and support collaborations that address inequalities in innovative ways. More specifically, we apply the university’s commitment to building long-term and meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities as described in the Indigenous Directions Action Plan.