Events

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.

Please join the Department of Philosophy for a public lecture by Dr. Kyle Whyte, professor, Timnick chair, and environmental activist at Michigan State University. His work focuses on problems and possibilities facing Indigenous peoples regarding climate change, environmental justice, and food sovereignty.

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.

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.

The Indigenous Speakers Series returns this term with the first of our online events featuring Dr. Evan Adams addressing the impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous communities in Canada.

The Indigenous Speakers Series second online event this term features Logan MacDonald, professor in the Department of Fine Arts and Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Indigenous Art.

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.

The Indigenous Speakers Series is honoured to present Lenore Keeshig, storyteller, poet, author, and naturalist, for our first in-person event in more than two years.

The Faculty of Arts and the Balsillie School of International Affairs co-present this conversation with George Elliott Clarke (BA '84 English at UWaterloo) and Dr. Wendell Adjetey (McGill University) exploring the complexities of identity and the question, “Who do you think you are, and who gets to decide?”.