The Acadia University Office of Indigenous Affairs and Glooscap First Nation will present an online speaker series to share Mi'kmaq knowledge with the community in the New Year. Initially planned to be in-person campus events, the series will now be presented live online and incorporated in future Acadia curriculum lessons. Acadia University and Glooscap First Nation recognize the support of the Province of Nova Scotia through the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage. Funding for the series comes from the Support4Culture, a designated lottery program of the Nova Scotia Provincial Lotteries and Casino Corporation. We are pleased to work in partnership with the Province of Nova Scotia to develop and promote cultural resources for all Nova Scotians.

"This is an exciting opportunity to share our culture, customs, and philosophies with the entire community – Indigenous and non-Indigenous," explained Zabrina Whitman, Acadia's Coordinator of Indigenous Affairs. "There is value in better understanding each other, so this series is an easy and entertaining way to gain knowledge."

The Indigenous Speaker Series is an action encouraged under the University's Strategic Plan, Acadia 2025: Transforming Lives for a Transforming World. The Maximizing our Impact strategic direction focuses on engaged research, innovation, and collaborative initiatives for community cultural and economic development.

"By working with the Mi'kmaq in our region, we are learning about Indigenous ways of knowing, different ways of seeing the world, and the importance of traditional knowledge. That has the power to change the way we look at the problems we are trying to solve," said Dr. Peter Ricketts, Acadia University President and Vice-Chancellor. "The unique partnership that Acadia has with the First Nations means we will be walking together with them on the path toward truth and reconciliation."

The Acadia University Indigenizing Science Working Group and Senate's Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee will encourage faculty to build the educational programming into course work during the Winter Term. The series will take place during the two-week quarantine (self-isolation) period before Acadia begins classes on January 17, 2021.

"The idea is to provide worthwhile programming to our students and faculty when they are not carrying the day-to-day burden of courses and instruction," explained Whitman. "For all attendees, the series will offer insight about Mi'kmaw history and community. It's a chance to get the answers to questions you might otherwise not know how to ask."

Plan to attend the Indigenous Speaker Series

Each presentation is available as a Teams Live event. All are welcome to attend. Click on each event for a link to join the presentation.

• Netukulimk and Two-Eyed Seeing
  Wednesday, January 6, 2021
  1–3 p.m.
• Pow Wow Protocol and Regalia
  Thursday, January 7, 2021
  1–3 p.m.
• Landscape and Place Names
  Tuesday, January 12, 2021
  1–3 p.m.
• Glooscap and Annapolis Valley First Nations
  Tuesday, January 12
  6:30–8:30 p.m.
• Cultural Space and Racism in Sport
  Sunday, January 24
  8:00-9:30 p.m.

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