News & Events

Paul Martin, former prime minister, and Phil Fontaine, past national chief of the Assembly of First Nations will be at Ryerson Jan. 25 as part of the fourth annual Ethics at Ryerson Speaker Series.

Students, faculty, staff and the public will hear the two former leaders in conversation, moderated by CBC News host Evan Solomon. The audience will have an opportunity to ask questions. Viewers can watch the event live at ryecast.ryerson.ca/8/live/462.aspx.

The free event is co-presented by the Faculty of Arts, Ryerson's Centre for Indigenous Governance, and is sponsored by RBC. The Chang School also provided support. It takes place at the Ted Rogers School of Management, room TRS-1067, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. and is one in a series of speaking events for the year that is focusing on Nationhood and Identity: Indigenous Governance in a New Century, featuring eight acclaimed Aboriginal speakers. The series also serves to highlight the university's Centre for Indigenous Governance, established in 2010 to help build capacity for Aboriginal governance in First Nations communities, support research in governance issues and enhance opportunities for Aboriginal students.

"This year's ethics lecture series has welcomed a rich array of speakers who have strong voices on issues important to First Nations. Paul Martin and Phil Fontaine are no exception. It's important to keep the dialogue on Indigenous issues to diverse perspectives so that creative solutions can be found to practical issues faced by community members," said Pam Palmater, interim chair of the Centre for Indigenous Governance.

Fontaine was national chief until 2009 and during his tenure the Canadian government reached a settlement with Aboriginal people on the issue of Indian Residential Schools, leading in part to the current Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which is documenting the story of the schools.

Martin, prime minister from 2003 to 2006, has a history of strong support for Aboriginal education. He founded the Martin Aboriginal Initiative, a charitable organization that among other goals aims to reduce the Aboriginal youth dropout rate and increase the number of Aboriginal students attending post-secondary institutions.

Ryerson has a host of academic programs and support services for Aboriginal students. Ryerson Aboriginal Student Services provides a culturally supportive environment that promotes academic excellence and serves as a place to balance academic learning with traditional teachings and culture. The university also has a long-standing partnership with the First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI). The joint Ryerson/FNTI programs in social work and in public administration and governance combine mainstream theory and practices with an Aboriginal worldview.