Over the course of three days (June 25 - 27), the 2024 National Building Reconciliation Forum, hosted by Laurentian University, will be focused on the theme, "Indigenous Education and Mapping Out Institutional Spaces". The Forum's preliminary program, keynote speakers, and registration form is now available on the Forum website.
Four guiding sub-themes will be shared, including:
- The Power of Storytelling: Crafting Compelling Narratives;
- Language and Culture: Elders and Cultural Practitioners in the Workplace;
- Cultural Diversity: Celebrating Differences and Building Bridges;
- Shaping the Future: Trends and Insights in Implementing Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.
This will be the eighth National Building Reconciliation Forum since 2015 when these annual events were initially planned, in part, as a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action. The Forum is an opportunity to bring together university leadership and administrators with Indigenous peoples, governments, researchers, academics and students to advance reconciliation and Indigenous education in Canadian universities.
"We are honoured to host the National Building Reconciliation Forum," said Dominic Beaudry, Associate Vice-President of Academic and Indigenous Programs. "As an academic institution that has prioritized Indigenous education and reconciliation, we hope to both model and strengthen the collective understanding of what postsecondary institutions can do to advance reconciliation at universities across Turtle Island."
The 2024 Forum will facilitate knowledge sharing in a wide variety of formats. Planned events in the preliminary program include panel discussions, oral histories, workshops, lectures, and artistic presentations. Guest speakers, Elders, and Knowledge Holders will be engaging with participants throughout the event.
Esteemed guest speakers who will provide keynote presentations include authors, Tanya Talaga and Waubgeshig Rice and academics, Dr. Susan Manitowabi and Dr. Sheila Cote-Meek. Some social engagements planned include, The Nibwaachidwin Social, which will be held in the Round Room at the Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre and visits to two local First Nations, Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and Wahnapitae First Nation on Day 1 of the Forum.
Universities from across Canada will be in attendance for the Forum. Events throughout the weekend are open to the public. Registration is required and is now open.
