11th Indigenous Women's Symposium

Welcome to the 11th
INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S SYMPOSIUM

Maamoonginmong Anishinaabe-kwe dan-kendaaswinimonan
Embodying Indigenous Women's Knowledges

March 23 to 25, 2012
First Peoples House of Learning
Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario

Currently Accepting Workshop Facilitator Submissions

This year’s symposium will focus on the topic of embodying Indigenous women’s knowledges. The format of the symposium will provide participants with an opportunity to engage in "ji-kendimon ezhi-chigeyan" (learning by doing; knowing what you are doing-through active participation). Workshops will be interactive and will allow participants to explore how they can develop relationships with knowledge as opposed to being passive observers. The format of the conference will also allow participants to network and develop relationships with each other as they move through various workshops in groups. This year we are looking for workshop facilitators who can offer workshops in the following areas:

Traditional foods: will share knowledge about various Indigenous traditional foods while preparing those foods with participants. Participants will eat this food for lunch on Saturday March 24;

Artistic Performance: including dance and theatre, powwow dancing, hip-hop dancing, singing, etc..;

Beading, basket-making, quill work, sewing, regalia making, moccasins, carving, hand drums and shakers, painting, drawing, etc..;

Poetry, creative writing, spoken word, etc..

Health and wellbeing

These are just some possibilities of workshops that fit within "ji-kendimon ezhi-chigeyan" and the overall topic of embodying Indigenous women’s knowledges. The symposium committee welcomes other ideas for workshops that fit within the topic and theme of the symposium.

Individuals interested in facilitating (or co-facilitating) a workshop for this years symposium should submit a workshop proposal by email or fax to: Indigenous Women’s Symposium: indigenouswomenssymposium2012@gmail.com or by fax: attention: Indigenous Women’s Symposium. Fax proposals to 705-748-1416. Proposals for workshops must be received by January 31, 2012.

Proposals for workshops should include a title, summary, and bio (s) as well as the minimum and maximum number of participants needed in a workshop. Proposals should also include fees for materials.

SYMPOSIUM REGISTRATION FORM PDF FORMAT

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

JUMP TO CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Welcome to the website for the Indigenous Women's Symposium.

The symposium was established by Elder Edna Manitowabi ten years ago as part of the Indigenous women's course she created within the Indigenous Studies Department at Trent University. Over the years we have had various themes, keynotes and speakers along with thousands of people from across North America and the world. The gathering has continued to grow and has allowed us to come together and discuss the critical issues that we face as Indigenous women, as well as ongoing resistance and restoration in our communities (reserve, rural, remote, and urban).

The symposium this year is focused on the theme of restoring Indigenous women's knowledges and relationships within our homelands. We have three incredible keynote addresses from Manulani Meyer, Josephine Mandamin and Alanis King. In addition to the keynotes we will have various presentations from women and allies, youth workshops, and delicious food!

We look forward to seeing you in March!

Miigwech

Restoring Indigenous Women’s Knowledges and Ways of Knowing in Our Homelands

Indigenous women on Turtle Island have always engaged with the philosophies and practices of neighbouring Nations both near and far. The most profound and transformative change has been with European Nations who settled within Indigenous homelands. Engagement with these Nations—by choice, force or fate—has led to Indigenous women's alienation from our landscapes, kinship ties, languages, and ceremonies. It has also led to alienations from all our relations in Creation and the knowledges that are generated from these relationships. Through colonialism, Indigenous women's knowledges and relationships with the land and waterscapes in our homelands has been purposefully left out of or misrepresented in the correspondence, journals, reports, and documentation that European explorers, settlers, and colonialists created. The subsequent histories created through settler colonialism are also inaccurate. A growing body of scholarship and women’s political action has begun to disrupt these stereotypes and misconceptions.

The symposium this year will focus on Indigenous women’s knowledges through presentations by Indigenous women and our allies that celebrate the multifaceted realities and experiences of Indigenous women around the world. It will showcase the many durable and creative ways Indigenous women have restored and are restoring their knowledges within their homelands.

This year’s Keynote Speaker is Manulani Meyer. She is the fifth daughter of Emma Aluli and Harry Meyer. She is from a large family with roots in Wailuku, Kohala, Hilo and Kailua. Manu earned her doctorate from Harvard researching Hawaiian ways of knowing. Manu is dedicated to transforming ideas of intelligence, research, and science to better address the needs and honour the unique contributions of Indigenous peoples. She will join us in this celebration of Indigenous women’s knowledges and relationships with homelands.

Goodminds is the host vendor for the Indigenous Women's Symposium. Goodminds provides Educational Resources for Native American Studies, First Nations Studies, Indigenous Studies, and Aboriginal Studies. Native American Educational Resources for schools, libraries, and the general public, for grades K to Post Secondary. www.goodminds.com