This online round-table was organized to mark the 30th anniversary of the Kanehsata'kehró:non resistance to the siege of Kanehsatà:ke. The event is intended to honour and build solidarity with the long-standing Indigenous resistance to settler colonialism by making links between the Kanehsatà:ke and Wet’suwet’en struggles, while also making connections to the Haudenosaunee Landback movement and the assertion of Mi’kmaq fishing rights, and bring attention to Indigenous-led land and water defense actions across Turtle Island and internationally. This event is inspired by the Unist’ot’en Solidarity Brigade’s call for action on July 11th. There will be a component that directs attendees to donate funds to land and water defense movements.

The link to join this online webinar will be emailed to registrants the day before the event, and an hour before the event starts.

Speakers Include:

Sandra Owén:nakon Deer, Kanien’kehá:ka, McGill University :

My name is Sandra Owén:nakon Deer-Standup I am a Kanien’kehá:ka (people of the flint) woman of the Haudenosaunee (people of the longhouse). I was born and raised in Kahnawà:ke, a Kanien’keha/Mohawk territory located on the south shore of Montreal. I am of the Bear clan family and a mother of two young men. I have four grandchildren and many, many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. I began my teaching career as a volunteer at my son’s school teaching in Kanien’keha (Mohawk) language. From there I enrolled into university and acquired a teaching certificate, this began my path to higher studies. I enrolled at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and moved my whole family there while I competed my bachelor degree. I completed my Master’s degree at McGill in 2014 and I am currently working on the completion of my dissertation through McGill University. My doctoral studies focus on pedagogical philosophies tied to Indigenous identity. I have also presented on my work, published a journal article (In Education, 2016) as well as been invited to contribute several curriculum-related book chapters, using autobiography and storytelling (Deer, 2018, 2019) and curriculum theory (Deer, 2020). I am also an active journal/book reviewer and, was one of the co-editors on the special issue on the TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) and education for the McGill Journal of Education. And throughout my studies I worked as a curriculum consultant for the Cree School Board, the Akwesasne Mohawk Board of Education, and I am currently writing curriculum for Karihwano:ron Tsi Ionterihwaienstahkhwa/The place of learning our precious words. This is an all immersion language school that follows Kanien’kehá:ka ideologies as the foundation of learning. Nià:wen/thank you

Pamela Palmater, Mi’kmaw, Eel River Bar First Nation, Chair of Indigenous Governance, Ryerson :

Dr. Pamela Palmater is Mi’kmaw citizen and member of Eel River Bar First Nation in northern New Brunswick. Pamela has been a practicing lawyer for 22 years and currently serves as Full Professor and Chair in Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University. She comes from a family of 8 sisters and 3 brothers, and has two sons who are also active in the community.

Pamela has 4 university degrees, and completed her Masters and Doctorate in Law from Dalhousie University Law School specializing in First Nations Law. Pamela has been studying, volunteering and working in First Nations issues for over 30 years on a wide range of social, political and legal issues impacting First Nations.

She has been recognized with many awards and honors for her social justice advocacy on behalf of First Nations generally, and Indigenous women and children specifically, and most recently for her work related to murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. Pamela works behind the scenes to support grassroots land defenders and water protectors and has been very active in trying to educate the public in relation to the recent violence against the Mi’kmaw fishers by non-native fishers and in solidarity with Land Back action movements across Turtle Island.

Pam’s area of expertise is in Indigenous education, sovereignty and nationbuilding. She has numerous publications including her new book: Warrior Life: Indigenous Resistance and Resurgence published by Fernwood Publishing. She also has a political blog, Indigenous Nationhood ; a YouTube channel dedicated to public education on Indigenous issues; a Warrior Life Podcast lifting the voices of grassroots land defenders and Warrior Kids Podcast which celebrates everything Indigenous and teaches children to be warriors for social justice and earth justice.

Pamela is well known speaker, presenter and educator on Indigenous issues across Canada and internationally. She is frequently called as an expert before Parliamentary and United Nations committees dealing with laws and policies impacting Indigenous people (Dr. Pamela Palmater, 2020).

Sleydo' Molly Wickham , Gidimt'en Camp Spokesperson of the Wet'suwet'en people:

Sleydo’ Molly Wickham is a Gidimt’en Clan member, adopted into the Cas Yikh (Grizzly Bear House) originally from House of Spookw. Molly’s father clan is C’ilhts’ëkhyu (Frog Clan). Her matrilineal ancestors have been intermarried into Witsuwit’en since the early 1900s and have lived on Witsuwit’en yintah since that time. Molly completed her undergraduate degree on Coast Salish territories at the University of Victoria (UVIC) in Sociology and went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in Indigenous Governance, also at UVIC. After completing university in 2010 Molly moved home with her family to learn to more land, culture and traditional governance.

She currently lives on the yintah with her partner and children, and is the official spokesperson of the Gidimt’en Camp. She has been interviewed by and featured in numerous publications internationally on efforts of land defense movements and the importance of recognizing Indigenous sovereignty as colonial violence continues to threaten Indigenous Nations. Molly has been active in land and water defense action against the illegal construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, which is trespassing on the traditional, unceded territory of the 5 Wet’suwet’en clans. Molly is passionate about governance, the health and well-being of the territories and the transmission of culture, language and traditional song and dance.

Starla Myers, Kanienka:haka Journalist, Real People's Media :

Starla Myers, Kanienka:haka Turtle Clan, is from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Starla is a Journalist for Real People’s Media and has been reporting on the land back movement at 1492 Land Back Lane. Starla is an advocate for Indigenous voices in journalism, and has called attention to the issue that major media corporations and the police work to silence Indigenous Journalist as a tool of colonial violence. Several Indigenous Journalists, including Starla were arrested for their coverage of the action of land defenders located at part of the Haldimand Tract known as 1492 Land Back Lane that has unlawfully been sold to a developer by the Canadian government. Following her arrest, Starla has been speaking out to highlight how the police forces’ actions in response to Indigenous journalists are used as a method to silence Indigenous voices and violate the “Freedom of Speech Act”. Starla’s work as a journalist also covers racism and anti-Indigeneity in health care, violence of colonial state repression, and land back movements across Turtle Island.

Skyler Williams, Kanien’kehá:ka Land Defender, Spokesperson for 1492 Land Back Lane at Six Nations of the Grand River

Skyler Williams, Haudenosaunee , Six Nations of the Grand River Territory is Land Defender and spokesperson for 1492 Land Back Lane. Skyler, along with his wife, Kahsenniyo, and fellow land defenders have been taking action to resist colonial violence that continues to encroach upon Six Nations territory at the Haldimand Tract through an illegal sale of land that is part of Six Nations Territory to the Mackenzie Meadows corporation. As spokesperson for 1492 Land Back Lane, Skyler has worked to address the way colonial law and police forces have been weaponized to disenfranchise Indigenous in representing themselves in legal issues, particularly related to land claims. Skyler and Kahsenniyo have three children together, and have been part of the land defense movement at 1492 Land Back lane that was established early July of 2020. Born and raised on Six Nations, Skyler speaks both Onondaga and Cayuga, which are both Six Nations traditional languages. Skyler’s passions include learning more about Six Nations languages, song and ceremonies.

Organizers

The event is being organized by SJE Solidarity with Wet’suwet’en (see description below) and the Indigenous Education Network at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto and supported by funding from the Department for Social Justice Education, Ontario Institute for Education, University of Toronto.

IEN :: Indigenous Education Network

The Indigenous Education Network (IEN) is a group of students, faculty and community members who share a common commitment to and passion for Indigenous Education and Research. Founded in 1989 by Indigenous students, the IEN provides an Indigenous presence at OISE and seeks to establish a forum for ongoing and dynamic discussion, action and change

https://www.oise.utoronto.ca/ien/

About SJE Solidarity with Wet’suwet’en

SJE Solidarity with Wet’suwet’en formed in February 2020 to answer the call for support from the Unist’ot’en Camp. The Wet’suwet’en Land defenders are mobilizing against the invasion of their land by the Coastal GasLink Pipeline, which is supported by the Canadian and British Columbia governments and enforced by the RCMP. Our solidarity is heavily guided and influenced by the Calls to Action expressed in the Wet’suwet’en Supporter Toolkit 2020 that is circulated by the Land Defenders (https://unistoten.camp/supportertoolkit2020/). Our solidarity is also guided by our responsibilities as folks who inhabit the territory of the Huron Wendat and Petun first nations, the Seneca, and most recently Mississaugas of the Credit River, and territory that is subject to the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, a treaty between the Iroquois Confederacy and the Ojibwe and allied nations to peaceably share the resources around the Great Lakes.

Instagram: @sjesolidaritywetsuweten

Twitter: @SJE_SUIS

https://www.facebook.com/SJE-Solidarity-with-Wetsuweten-100771388200476/

https://thevarsity.ca/2020/05/21/u-of-t-solidarity-group-moves-support-for-wetsuweten-online-during-covid-19/

Support of the event courtesy of:

Department of Social Justice Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education: https://www.oise.utoronto.ca/sje/

Indigenous Education Network, Ontario Institute for Studies In Education: https://www.oise.utoronto.ca/ien/

the Eighth Fire, Centennial College: https://www.centennialcollege.ca/news/centennial-s-first-director-the-eighth-fire-se%C3%A1n-kinsella/

U of T Department of Caribbean Studies: http://www.newcollege.utoronto.ca/academics/new-college-academic-programs/caribbean-studies/

The Department of Curriculum Teaching and Learning, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education: https://www.oise.utoronto.ca/ctl/Contact_Us.html

U of T Department of Equity Studies: http://www.newcollege.utoronto.ca/academics/new-college-academic-programs/equity-studies/

U of T Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s Office of Inclusion and Diversity: https://medicine.utoronto.ca/office-inclusion-and-diversity

U of T Women and Gender Studies Institute: https://wgsi.utoronto.ca/graduate/collaborative-program/

Collaborative Specialization In Comparative, International, & Development Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education: https://www.oise.utoronto.ca/cidec/

U of T Department of Spanish and Portuguese: https://www.spanport.utoronto.ca/about-us/department-spanish-portuguese/about-our-department

U of T Latin American Studies Program: https://www.spanport.utoronto.ca/undergraduate/programs/latin-american-studies

Accessibility Information:

• This webinar will be presented in English
• Live captioning will be provided