Kwey Kwey, Boozhoo, Sek:on, Taanshi and Ulaakut,

Dear Carleton Community Members,

You are invited to the second annual Kinàmàgawin Symposium, which will be streamed online on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021.

The day-long symposium includes keynote speakers, panel discussions and Inuit cultural performances—all focused on this year’s theme: The Inuit Relocations: Intergenerational Impacts and Inuit Resilience.

The theme—chosen by students—refers to the Government of Canada’s relocation of Inuit to the High Arctic in the 1950s, which led to years of hardships and ongoing intergenerational trauma. Many years later, the Government of Canada publicly issued an official apology. The Inuit Relocations continue to impact Inuit communities to this day.

We are honoured that Martha Flaherty and Sheila Watt-Cloutier will join us as keynote speakers.

Martha FlahertyMartha Flaherty was born in Northern Quebec and belongs to one of the families that were relocated from Inukjuuaq, Nunavik to Grise Fiord, Nunavut on Ellesmere Island in the 1950s. Martha has held many positions across Canada and internationally as an Indigenous women’s leader and advocate as well as a long-time professional Translator-Interpreter.

Sheila Watt-CloutierSheila Watt-Cloutier is an environmental, cultural and human rights advocate. She is a Nobel Peace Prize nominee who is in the business of transforming public opinion into public policy. She speaks with passion and urgency on the issues of today—the environment, the economy, foreign policy, global health, and sustainability—not as separate concerns, but as a deeply interconnected whole.

This event is open to the community and anyone is invited to attend any portion of the symposium. A full agenda is available online. Please save your spot by registering online. We hope that you will join us on Feb. 25!

Sincerely,

Benny Michaud
Director, Centre for Indigenous Initiatives

Benoit-Antoine Bacon
President and Vice-Chancellor