Transforming Simon Fraser University: Bringing Back the Canoe to Undertake Our Collective Responsibilities to Walk Together on Lhukw’lhukw’ayten (where bark gets peeled in the spring)
SFU – March 10, 2020 from 4:30 – 6:30 pm
In her eloquent oratory style, Stó:lō matriarch Shoysqwelwhet (Dr. Gwendolyn Point) will weave together stories of x̱ex̱á:ls (the transformer) in order to share the personal, pedagogical, and leadership protocols and practices that we can undertake to support the sovereignty of Coast Salish Nations at Simon Fraser University.
She will also bring to light un-settling stories of Simon Fraser’s interactions with Coast Salish communities on the Stó:lô river. In doing so, she will powerfully “talk back” (Smith, 1999) to the historical and ongoing forms of settler colonial violence, racism, and power structures in the university by calling upon each of us to have ey te mot, ey te thále te sqwálewel (a good mind and a good heart and good feelings). Ey te mot, ey te thále te (a good mind and a good heart and good feelings) will not only disrupt the hegemonic neoliberal orientation of the university but ultimately ensure that we can begin walking together to enact our reciprocal responsibilities for the wellbeing of Mother Earth and future generations yet to come.
Her presentation will be followed by a dialogue with respected knowledge holders and political leaders who participated in the Critical Understandings of Land & Water: Unsettling Place at SFUvideo series, produced in collaboration with Dr. Amy Parent (Nox̱s Ts’aawit).
This event serves as the official launch of the 13 collective stories in the video series with Coast Salish knowledge holders, political leaders and Simon Fraser University faculty members.
Speaker Bio
Shoysqwelwhet (Dr. Gwendolyn Point)
Shoysqwelwhet (Dr. Gwendolyn Point) is from the Stó:lō Nation. She is a distinguished educator, scholar, mentor, visionary, cultural advisor, and leader. At various points in her career, Shoysqwelwhet has taught at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels, and held positions in leadership and administration with the Stó:lō Nation and the provincial government. She is former Chancellor for the University of the Fraser Valley and is currently serving as the Elder for the B.C. Assembly of First Nations Chiefs.
Dr. Point holds a Doctorate in Education from SFU and is a board member for PAVCOand the Provincial First Nations Education Steering Committee. Her work in Indigenous education and Stó:lō language revitalization, as well as her contributions to Indigenous sovereignty, healing and self-determining community-based research have been recognized with numerous distinctions and awards. Among them are an honourary Doctorate in Education from the University of Victoria, a University of British Columbia Alumni Volunteer Leadership award, the Order of Chilliwack, and the Rotary Harris Fellow Award.
This is a free event. However, due to limited space RSVP is requested.
The lecture will be followed by light refreshments and an opportunity to mingle.
This lecture is supported by Graduate Studies in Education, Faculty of Education; Equity Studies in Education; Centre for Education, Law, and Society; Faculty of Education, Dean’s Office; Centre for Educational Excellence; and the Indigenous Education and Reconciliation Council.