Indigenous Workshops

Remembering and celebrating the legacy of Steve Powley and the historic Métis victory
at the Supreme Court of Canada on September 19, 2003 in Canada v Powley

• Please click HERE to confirm your interest so that the registration form from Metis Nation of Ontario can be shared with you.

Target Audience: All faculty and staff

In this workshop participants will consider the detrimental impacts of trauma enacted through the Residential School system.  It took the bravery of Residential School survivors for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to finalize 94 calls to action. The truth is that multiple acts of cultural genocide fractured many Nations through the Residential School system. What does reconciliation truly mean in higher education? Reconciliation is not a one-day affair.

Key Benefits:

• Acknowledge how trauma and colonization have affected Indigenous societies using deep personal reflection (assessment)
• Consider the benefits of Indigenous voice in the position of your work
• Truth and Reconciliation commitments begin with self-awareness

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to [consider or be aware of the detrimental impacts of trauma caused by the Residential school system by acknowledging the TRC final report and honoring the calls to action through self-reflection, moving forward in meaningful reconciliation.

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Target Audience: All faculty and staff

In this session, you will gain a deeper awareness of Indigenous worldviews to effectively think about Mino Bimaadziwin. Indigenous worldviews are ways one receives knowledge. Knowledge is passed down through generations.  This session will guide you to value Indigenous ways of knowing using the guidance of the Anishinaabe seven grandfather teachings to live the good life = Mino Bimaadziwin

Key Benefits:

• Value Indigenous Knowledge systems
• Decolonize the Western way of thinking to guide other ways of knowing

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to respect indigenous ways of knowing and their contribution to Mino Bimaadziwin by appreciating the importance of observation in gaining knowledge within indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing.

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Target Audience: All faculty and staff

We are all treaty people. Maybe you have heard this saying. Canada is obligated to uphold treaty rights that coincide with the rights of Indigenous peoples. Treaties are agreements made between Canada and Indigenous peoples. These treaty agreements are alive and well today, but many treaties have been broken and not fulfilled. The Wampum belt is one example of the first treaty. In this workshop, the facilitator will guide you through the many treaties that exist across Turtle Island.

Key Benefits:

• Understand the many different treaties throughout Turtle Island.
• Understand the wampum belt and how this is relevant in today’s society
• Understand that treaties are valid relationships that need to be upheld and honored.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to define and recognize treaties as agreements made between Canada and Indigenous peoples by acknowledging the ongoing relevance of treaties today.

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Target Audience: All faculty and staff

Anishinaabe storytellers are important figures throughout their respective Nations.  Storytelling is used to teach values, beliefs, morals, history, and life skills to young and old.  What do land, oral tradition, kinship, and resistance all have in common? Why is it important for Indigenous peoples to have narrative sovereignty? In this session, we will value the connection of storytelling to land, and honor the Indigenous voice.

Key Benefits

• The significance of oral tradition and storytelling within Indigenous societies
• Move away from Western ways of thinking as the only true method of knowledge transmission.
• Why Elders are significant to Indigenous societies.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this [workshop], you will be able to [identify and speak out about ] + [common themes of land, oral tradition, kinship, and resistance)] + [by explaining the importance of narrative sovereignty for Indigenous peoples and how it empowers them to control and shape their own stories and representations.

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Target Audience: All faculty and staff

Key Benefits:

• The significance of land acknowledgment
• Land acknowledgments as they pertain to treaty territories.
• Canada’s obligations to respect Indigenous people and their unique relationship to the land.

Participants will:

• Learn how to participate in building relationships with Indigenous communities based on respect, and knowledge sharing.
• To value the meaning of saying meaningful land acknowledgment
• Value the knowledge that land offers

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Target Audience: All faculty and staff

Historical writings have depicted the narrative of Indigenous peoples as a thing of the past and these stereotypes have carried through to the present day. Have you taken the time to learn about your Indigenous neighbors beyond stereotypes?  Do you know how many Nations within Ontario alone have distinctive languages, traditions, and ceremonies? Can you name ten well know successful Indigenous peoples?  

Participants will learn to:

• Envision a relationship with Indigenous communities that move forward in respect and truly understand the meaning of reconciliation.
• Move beyond stereotypes and build respectful relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities.

Key Benefits:

• Guide participants to understanding that Indigenous peoples represent many different Nations, cultural and traditional practices, languages, and values.
• Change negative language and move away from deficit thinking about Indigenous peoples.

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Target Audience: All faculty and staff

Powwows are social events held within First Nations communities. Maybe you have wondered what some of the dancers wear to powwows. In this session, you will learn about the Jingle dress one of the many types of regalia worn during powwow dancing. The jingle dress dance is also called the healing dance. This session will be guided by storytelling.

Participants will learn to:

• Respect the relationship that Indigenous peoples have with Mother Earth which includes inanimate/animate objects.
• Listen to the teaching of the jingle dress and respect this deeper understanding of this dance.

Key Benefits:

• Using the correct terminology that is heard throughout the powwow trail.
• Value the lesson of community and kinship.
• Respect the jingle dress and the significance of reclamation, resilience, and resurgence.

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Target Audience: All faculty and staff

Dot art painting is meant to mimic traditional Métis floral beadwork. The designs symbolize both traditional and contemporary patterns.

Our artwork will be determined closer to the date.

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Target audience: All faculty and staff

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4 Seasons of Reconciliation was selected by the President’s Indigenous Reconciliation Task Force as being a truly engaging multimedia course that includes high quality films and videos, quizzes, and an amazing arrangement of rich content.  This training highlights the historical and current experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, beginning pre-contact and including modules on residential schools, intergenerational trauma, reconciliation & restitution, and more.

 All employees of Ontario Tech University are expected to register and participate in this training as part of our commitment to reconciliation. The course is 3 hours long and can be completed in stages. 

Log-in instructions

Highlights the historical and current experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, beginning pre-contact and including modules on residential schools, intergenerational trauma, reconciliation & restitution, and more.