This event has been postponed until Fall 2023!
It is a common story: an organization decides it wants to “Indigenize” and/or “decolonize” and hires an Indigenous person to do this work for them, but usually this position is not one of decision-making authority or autonomy. The Indigenous person accepts the job, hoping that the organization understands Indigeneity and decolonization the same way they do and that they will be able to influence change.
Join Leslie Wexler, Senior Educational Developer, Indigenous Knowledges & Anti-Racist Pedagogies for the kick-off reading group of the calendar year. The Indigenous reading group series will offer 10 books to consider from an Indigenous context.
This group will cover a single chapter in Toward Braidings by Jimmy Elwood and Vanessa Andereotti and can be found online. We open this discussion based on material from the section: "For organizations starting this journey..."
Materials will be distributed a week in advance, but also all materials are online in a handout at the above web address. Leslie will lead a circle discussion that address the main topics of starting an indigenization journey and the underlying values associated with each:
- What do you expect Indigenous perspectives to do for you? [integrity]
- What kind of learning are you willing to do? [commitment]
- What are the hidden costs and labour involved in your invitation to engage? [harm reduction]
- When problems arise...[resilience]
- Heterogeneity within Indigenous communities, and engaging with divergent indigenous perspectives. [complexity]
Registration
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Cancellations
Many of our workshops have waiting lists, so if you've registered but can't attend, please cancel your registration well in advance through the registration system, so that someone else can fill your spot.
Accessibility
The University of Waterloo is committed to achieving barrier-free accessibility for persons with disabilities who are studying, working, or visiting at Waterloo. If you have questions concerning access, such as parking, building layouts, or obtaining information in alternative formats, or wish to request accommodations for a CTE workshop or event, please contact CTE via email (cte@uwaterloo.ca) or phone (ext. 33857) and include the session’s title and date. Our workshops typically involve a mix of presentation and discussion-based activities, and we encourage a scent-free environment. We also welcome accompanying assistants, interpreters, or note-takers; notify us if accommodations are needed in this regard. Please note that some accommodations may require time to arrange.