Trent University Native Association is an student organization run by and for indigenous students.

TUNA First Nations Arsts Feststival
Saturday November 21, 11am to 6pm. $2 admission, under 10 - free. Vendors wanted! MORE INFO

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Posted August 1, 2008

The following ideas, initiatives and potential events have been put forward and discussed by the 2008 TUNA executive . We look forward to your feedback and involvement. Please get in touch with any of the Executive.

TUNA- Suggested Committees

Education: This committee is geared toward creating academic support for Students in INDG studies or any other field that becomes affiliated with the committee ( IE: tutor/ student placements, Homework nights at G.S., etc., Grad student lecture series, film nights)

Culture: This committee will be responsible for creating opportunities for all Trent communities members to learn more about Indigenous Culture in a comfortable environment ( ie. Film nights, cultural lectures, Winter Olympics, elder visits, organizing sweat lodges, craft making workshops, etc.)

Social: This committee will handle all social aspects to TUNA ( ie. Movie and Dinner nights, BBQ’s, bowling, paintball, trip to SkyDome powwow, socials, art/ performance displays, etc.)

Powwow: This committee’s sole purpose is to organize the TUNA powwow throughout the year. This includes fundraising (with the support of other committees when needed), advertising, volunteer recruitment, finding sponsors, venue rental, etc.

Suggested Graduate Lecture/ Film Series
TUNA will sponsor a lecture series in association with the Indigenous Studies Graduate students in the hopes of giving Graduate students the opportunity to lecture on the specialization of their field outside of the classroom. This series may happen over a few weeks, one lecture/ film a week ( like the Pine Tree Lectures)

Suggested Winter Olympics
This event may be treated as a fundraiser and advertisement opportunity for the TUNA annual Powwow. TUNA will host a challenge to all of Trent University to learn winter games of Indigenous Communities, and pay a small fee to sign up teams to take part in the events. There will be a school-wide champion team selected. All proceeds go to the TUNA powwow.

ISW orientation week
A permanent TUNA display board is being created for display all this week and for future events.

TUNA hopes to host a BBQ at the end of the ISW week either at Tipi or Gathering Space

TUNA sponsored social with youth drummers and Haudenosaunee- style dance singers at Gathering space

Sept 4th- is World Trent Day, TUNA is invited to create a cultural display, and take part in a cultural performance.

TUNA Mandate& By-laws
It has been suggested that TUNA hold workshops at the beginning of the academic year to revisit the long and short term goals of TUNA as an Indigenous organization with the full involvement of the membership. This includes revisiting the by-laws, and re-visioning our goals and mandate.

SkyDome Powwow Trip
For future reference: it takes place November 28th -30th, 2008. Van rental, weekend passes and room rental can ALL be handled by TUNA if the demand is there. Members will pay to TUNA for their way, it is hoped TUNA will be able to subsidized all members for a portion of the cost of the trip ( which will be announced closer to the date); but until then it is not guaranteed.

York University ALSO has a powwow March 5-7, 2009. If the demand is there; it is possible for TUNA to organize a day trip.

Dinner & a Movie Nights at Mexicalirosa’s
Mexicalirosa’s offers a party package Dinner and a Movie Nights on Wednesdays. It is possible for TUNA to organize a membership outing if the demand is there. The cost is $17.99, TUNA MAY be able to subsidize the cost for membership if the money is available at the time.

Education/ Politics in Indigenous Studies
It is hoped that TUNA can take on an active role in First Nations politics for the educational benefit of its membership. 2008 is a historic year for the recent Residential School Apology by Canada. The residential schools were an influence on South Africa’s Apartheid era. Also of note, for his 90th birthday this year, the USA took Nelson Mendela off of their terrorist watch list. American Indian movements remain on the list.

Also of note:
Trent University symbol: Sword of Champlain piercing a river. Champlain is a major figure in the historical traumas of the Haudenosaunee and Ojibway relationship, cultures, and way of life. How does TUNA feel about having him displayed as a hero at this school?

Truth Commissions taking place in Nunavut into the slaying of Inuit dog teams (which were vital to the existence of the Inuit )by RCMP.

TUNA- Community Outreach
Peterborough has a huge native population. TUNA hopes to look into reaching out and volunteering in the community, creating a strong bridge between and school and the population. Possibly visiting nearby reserve schools to talk about university life, and life at Trent with the Native students. TUNA is open for all ideas!!

TUNA Newletter
TUNA hopes to create a monthly newletter to keep up with the goings on of the students, and the association. Newsletter to be distributed on the Web, to the mailing list, and in locations on campus and downtown student hangouts.