Events

The Indigenous Speakers Series presents renowned author and teacher Lee Maracle, who will be joined by choreographer Bill Coleman for an integrated lecture/dance performance. 

Waterloo Centre for German Studies invites you to a screening of the documentary film, Searching for Winnetou, and a conversation with Ojibway author and humourist Drew Hayden Taylor about his quest to understand the roots of the German obsession with Native North Americans.

The Indigenous Speakers Series proudly presents David Alexander Robertson, the bestselling author of children’s books, graphic novels, and novels whose works educate and entertain readers about Indigenous Peoples, reflecting their cultures, histories, communities, as well as illuminating many contemporary issues.  

The Indigenous Speakers Series proudly presents Jesse Thistle, a Métis-Cree-Scot from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, whose bestselling memoir, From the Ashes (Simon and Schuster Canada), chronicles his life on the streets and how he overcame trauma and addiction to discover the truth about who he is. His scholarship is focused on intergenerational and historic trauma of the Métis people, and also reflects on his own past struggles with homelessness. Jesse is widely recognized in the scholarly community and beyond.

Tomson Highway's Songs in the Key of Cree is a collection of Cree and English songs written by one of Canada’s most renowned authors. Part of a larger Indigenous language revitalization project, this integrated performance-speaker event presents the captivating vocalist Patricia Cano, guitarist Kevin Barrett, saxophonist Marcus Ali, and fiddler Nathan Halcrow, joined by artist Emma Rain Smith and historian Susan Roy.

Sheila Ager, Dean of Arts and Professor of Classical Studies, argues that, when it comes to the status of women, the ancient world is not as far away as one might think.

Meet Jean Becker, UWaterloo’s first senior director of Indigenous initiatives, in conversation with Lori Campbell. Over many years, Jean has built reciprocal and respectful relationships between post-secondary institutions and Indigenous communities, and now we’re so lucky to have her back on campus.

Join the University of Waterloo for an engaging conversation on current affairs straight from the headlines. Who's defending democracy? will be hosted by Dean of Arts, Sheila Ager and President Feridun Hamdullahpur, and features three experts from the Faculty of Arts in a conversation moderated by CBC-KW host Craig Norris. 

Silicon Valley companies have brought digital technology into every sphere of modern life. But while Big Tech garners unprecedented power and profits, everyday existence becomes ever more deeply enmeshed in the circuits of capital. To what end? What are the limits of the digital frontier?

The Indigenous Speakers Series is pleased and honoured to present Jean Teillet, lawyer, author, teacher and artist, as the first of our 2021-22 speakers.