Joining together for National Indigenous Peoples Month & Day

Royal Roads University is pleased to join partners from across the region to co-host an exciting month of virtual events in honour of National Indigenous Peoples Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Hay’sxw’qa si’em, ƛ̓eeko ƛ̓eeko, thank you!

Heartfelt thanks to the Elders/Old Ones/Knowledge Keepers and all the partners who make these events possible: Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, University of Victoria, Camosun College, West Shore Parks & Recreation, School District 62, Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council, M’akola Housing Society, Métis Nation of Greater Victoria, Indigenous Perspectives Society, Island Métis Family and Community Services Society, Ocean Spirit Canoe Family, Sooke Family Resource Centre Victoria, Vancity Credit Union, Victoria Foundation.

Register to attend Zoom events through West Shore Parks & Recreation

Register to get access to the full month of Zoom sessions that represent Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) Peoples of Canada. You will also need to register separately to attend Zoom sessions held on National Indigenous Peoples Day June 21, 2021.

Please register in advance through West Shore Parks & Recreation to receive the Zoom links.

Everyone is welcome and all events are free. Space is limited and on a first come, first served basis.

Join the NIPD Facebook event page to get notified of live events and stay connected

Join the NIPD Facebook event page to get notified of live events, stay up to date about Zoom sessions and connect with NIPD partners.

Event schedule highlights

JUNE 1

NOON TO 1 P.M. – LAUNCH OF NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES MONTH – ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY, INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

Come listen and learn what special activities have been planned for the month of June that celebrates Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, & Inuit) People. We will celebrate the National Indigenous Peoples Day and Month Planning Committee, and share the scheduled events and how you can join!

JUNE 4

1 TO 2 P.M. – POUND FITNESS – ISPARC

Pound, led by Amanda de Fay, is a great way to move our bodies using drumsticks, release stress and is adaptable to any fitness level, including sitting or standing participants. Best of all, it is FUN! All you need is drumsticks or other banging utensils like wooden spoons, chopsticks or empty paper towel rolls, water and some space to safely move.

JUNE 10

11:30 A.M. TO 2 P.M. – HISTORY OF THE MÉTIS NATION – MÉTIS NATION AND ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

Live hosts will showcase a pre-recorded presentation about the History of Métis People by Brodie Douglas and Asma-na-hi Antoine, director of Indigenous Engagement at Royal Roads University. Brodie Douglas, born and raised in Merritt, BC, is a Métis citizen with ancestral roots from Manitou-Wapah, Historic Manitoba House, will facilitate a Métis History Presentation examines essential events in the provincial and national history and how Métis. Although Métis nation is recognized in BC, they are still “invisible” within the public narrative.

Brodie has contributed to several publications relating to Métis identity, culture and customary adoption. He is passionate about sharing Métis culture and firmly believes that knowing who we are as distinct Aboriginal peoples will markedly reduce prejudice against our peoples.

Brodie holds a Bachelor of Arts from Thompson River University.

Agenda:

• 11:30 am – Welcome, Asma-na-hi Antoine, Bill Bresser, and Jo-Ina Young
• 11:40 am – Brodie Douglas, Presentation
• 12:50 pm – Dialogue, Questions, Answers
• 1:30 pm – Métis Cultural Entertainment

JUNE 14

11 A.M. TO 12:30 P.M. – INDIGENOUS STUDENT EXPERIENCE PANEL – ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA AND CAMOSUN COLLEGE

Panel of Indigenous students discussing the importance of engaging with Indigenous solidarity and supporting one another as Indigenous people within colonial institutions such as high schools, colleges and universities

JUNE 18

1 TO 2 P.M. – HOPE AND HEALTH FOR LIFE SOCIETY 

Come join the Hope and Health coaches and special guests in a fun filled hour of fitness, fun animal movements and stretches, along with a mentorship spotlight focused on the theme of “Building Resiliency” and a Mindful Closing.

Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day!

JUNE 21

9 TO 9:30 AM. – NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY OPENING CEREMONY – ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY, MINISTRY OF INDIGENOUS RELATIONS AND RECONCILIATION

Join us on Facebook Live to launch this year’s National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations. The event features a traditional Indigenous welcome from Songhees Nation Elder Butch Dick, a welcome message from Royal Roads President Philip Steenkamp and greetings from the Honorable Murray Rankin, minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. Enjoy performances from the Lekwungen Singers and Dancers, ANSWER Drum Group, Red River Cart Dance and the Indigenous Perspectives Society drumming and Singing Performance.

10 TO 11:15 A.M. – RECONCILIATION REPORT CARD – ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY AND UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA

Join Royal Roads University Director of Indigenous Engagement, Asma-na-hi Antoine and Ry Moran, a member of the Red River Métis and founding director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) at the University of Manitoba.

Moran is a member of the UVic Libraries’ senior management team, Moran leads the efforts of UVic library to decolonize approaches to the university’s archives and collections and integrates Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Moran will provide his view and expertise on how Canada grade using a reconciliation report card.

10 TO 11:15 A.M. – MÉTIS BEADING FOR BEGINNERS AND KIDS – ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY AND UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA

Join Métis knowledge keeper and Cultural Director for the Métis Nation of Greater Victoria for this interactive event.

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – BANNOCK MAKING

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – BEADING WITH SARAH

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – INDIGENOUS WAYS OF COMMUNICATING – M’AKOLA HOUSING SOCIETY

Join Charla Huber, Royal Roads grad, Times Colonist writer and M’akola Housing Society director of communications and Indigenous relations, who will share the Mitacs research on Indigenous ways of communicating and better supporting Indigenous employees.

1 TO 2 P.M. – POW WOW ZUMBA – INDIGENOUS SPORT, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND RECREATION COUNCIL (ISPARC) & MADELAINE MCCALLUM

Get up and move with Madelaine McCallum, a dancer from Ile a la Crosse Sask. specializing in Métis dance.

1 TO 2 P.M. – BANNOCK AND STARBUCKS

1 TO 2 P.M. – OUR RECONCILIATION JOURNEY

Facilitator Natasha Tony - This past year has been a year filled with grief, empathy, deep learnings and empowering moments that can be seen as gifts of connection. Purposely creating sustainable pathways to inclusion in the workplace means that we need to learn how to have conversations that not only examine systemic barriers of exclusion but amplify the joy and liberation that comes from incorporating transformative ways of knowing and being.

2:15 TO 3:15 P.M. – POW WOW ZUMBA – ISPARC AND MADELAINE MCCALLUM

Get up and move with Madelaine McCallum, a dancer from Ile a la Crosse Sask. specializing in Métis dance.

2:15 TO 3:15 P.M. – BANNOCK MAKING

3:15 TO 4:30 P.M. – NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY CLOSING CEREMONY – ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY, MINISTRY OF INDIGENOUS RELATIONS AND RECONCILIATION

Meet us back on Facebook Live to close the day’s activities and celebrations with special teachings and messages from our partners.

• Canoe Landing Protocol - new interviews with Butch Dick, Max Henry Sr., Max Henry Jr., Asma-na-hi Antoine,
• Metis Trappers Tent
• Partner video compilation – a thank you to all of the Partners for the activities planned throughout the month of June
• Cedar Harvest Teachings
• Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day Montage!

JUNE 23

11:30 A.M. TO 1 P.M. – INDIGENOUS ALUMNI: STAY CONNECTED – ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA AND CAMOSUN COLLEGE

Join us to hear from Indigenous alumni members who choose to stay connected by continuing to share their knowledge and experience with post-secondary institutions.

JUNE 25

1 TO 2 P.M. – FIT NATION – ISPARC

Come join the Hope and Health coaches and special guests in a fun filled hour of fitness, fun animal movements and stretches, along with a mentorship spotlight focused on the theme of “Building Resiliency” and a Mindful Closing.

JUNE 30

NIPD PLANNING COMMITTEE CELEBRATION

As we close another successful month of celebrating and honouring Indigenous People, we will gather today to celebrate each other for the hard work and endless hours we have committed to run a successful month. We are grateful to the planning committee, and we look forward to what will be in store when we can gather on the traditional lands of Lekwungen and Xwsepsum ancestors and families at Royal Roads University in 2022! Stay tuned for updates and ways you can volunteer and participate!