The Smyth Dialogues is a signature public event series made possible through bequests from the late Wanita Smyth and Delmar Smyth. Del Smyth was a York political scientist and life-long scholar remembered for his great mind and generous spirit. He served in many leadership roles at York, including as founding dean of York University’s Atkinson Faculty when it was created in 1963. The Atkinson Faculty merged with the Faculty of Arts in 2009 to create the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS), which is the home of the Dialogues today.
The Smyth Dialogues reflect the desire expressed by Wanita Smyth and Del Smyth to profile ideas and solutions that would promote peace, justice and human security, and prevent violence. The full name of the event is “The Del & Wanita Smyth Lecture on Peace, Justice and Human Security”. The Dialogues are a fitting tribute to the lives and memories of two outstanding individuals, Wanita and Delmar Smyth.
Reflections on Off-Reserve Indigenous Life
Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2024
For the third Del & Wanita Smyth Lecture on Peace, Justice and Human Security, we brought together three prominent Indigenous leaders, Christa Big Canoe, Jennifer LaFontaine, and Sylvia Maracle who engaged in a lively conversation on the theme: “Reflections on Off-Reserve Indigenous Life”. The panel shared their lived experiences and discussed their work supporting Indigenous people in Canada who live their lives mostly or entirely off-reserve.
Panelist Bios
Christa Big Canoe
Christa Big Canoe, is an Anishinabek woman, mother and lawyer. She is from Georgina Island First Nation. She has been a D/Clerk of the court and an administrative Justice of the Peace in and for the Northwest Territories. Christa was policy counsel and lead for Legal Aid Ontario’s Aboriginal Justice Strategy prior to becoming Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS) Legal Director in 2011.
Jennifer LaFontaine
Jennifer LaFontaine is Ukrainian and Métis from Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. For the last two years she has worked in the Indigenous Affairs office and is currently the manager of placekeeping. In this role, she works to increase the visible landscape of Indigenous people in the city including the street names, public art, murals, storefronts and restaurants, and land for Indigenous community to gather for ceremony and culture.
Sylvia Maracle
Sylvia Maracle is a Mohawk from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territories, Wolf Clan. She came to Toronto to attend post secondary. In her professional life, she has been involved in Urban indigenous development, Indigenous Women’s rights, developing various government initiatives such as ending violence against Indigenous Women PhD and the 2SLGBTQQIA, education, post secondary, healing and wellness and the recovery of traditional ways.