Indigenous community leaders, Christa Big Canoe, Jennifer LaFontaine, and Sylvia Maracle engaged in a lively conversation, sharing their lived experiences, and discussing their work supporting Indigenous people in Canada who live their lives mostly or entirely off-reserve.
The event was hosted by Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) on April 24th, and was moderated by Ruth Green, associate professor, social work and special advisor, LA&PS Indigenous issues.
The panel talked about struggles faced by off-reserve Indigenous people and explored what it takes to build strong communities and better the lives of Indigenous people.
Watch the 2024 Smyth Dialogues video.
LA&PS also announced its intention to begin fundraising to create permanent, endowed Chair for the Study of Off-Reserve Indigenous Life, a first of its kind faculty position. The Chair will focus on the experience of off-reserve Indigenous people, with the objective of creating a new body of stories and other data that will inform public conversations and policy. The Chair’s program will generate vibrant new streams of academic activity and community engagement.
The Smyth Dialogues is an annual signature public event series made possible through bequests from the late Wanita Smyth and Delmar Smyth and reflect the desire expressed by these two outstanding individuals to profile ideas and solutions that would promote peace, justice, and human security, and prevent violence.