Celebrating National Indigenous History Month

A winter gathering at Carleton brought students, faculty, staff and community together for a Round Dance, a First Nations ceremony of unity, healing and cultural connection. The event created space for celebration, learning and reflection, strengthening togetherness and Indigenous representation on campus.

Students in Carleton’s Indigenous journalism certificate joined an intensive audio course taught by Indigenous journalists. In five days, they produced a professional newscast about Indigenous life, strengthening their storytelling confidence and advancing support for Indigenous learners in journalism.

Madeleine Kétéskwēw Dion Stout’s passing invites us to honour her extraordinary life and legacy. A Nehiyaw/Cree nurse, scholar and Indspire Laureate, she transformed Indigenous health across Turtle Island. At Carleton, she founded the Centre for Aboriginal Culture and Education and was the first Indigenous professor within the School of Canadian Studies.

The Ojigìjowewin Legal Symposium brought together both Indigenous and non-Indigenous lawyers, scholars, Elders and community members to examine Indigenous laws of the land and strategies for their use in addressing false claims to Indigeneity.

Indigenous communities in Kawawachikamach are working with Carleton researchers to address language barriers, cultural disconnects, and systemic obstacles in Quebec’s justice system. Their collaboration seeks reforms grounded in Indigenous traditions, improving communication, fairness and healing for Naskapi and Innu people navigating court processes.

Carleton journalism students learned from Indigenous reporters and Knowledge Keepers who emphasized community‑rooted storytelling, relational accountability and lived experience. The course challenged colonial media norms, encouraged ethical reporting on Indigenous issues and reinforced the importance of centring Indigenous voices in responsible journalism.