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Treaties Recognition Week

Five wampum belts

24 Nations Wampum Belt; Two Row Wampum Belt; Dish With One Spoon Belt; 1794 Canandaigua Treaty Belt (George Washington Belt) and the 1764 Niagara Treaty Belt.

The first week of November is Treaties Recognition Week

Treaties Recognition Week honours the importance of treaties. It aims to empower students, faculty and staff with a greater awareness and understanding of treaty rights, treaty relationships and their relevance today. In 2016, Ontario was the first Canadian province to pass legislation (external link)  declaring the first week of November as Treaties Recognition Week.

Thank you for joining this year’s events

From November 7 to 9, 2023, the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) community participated in events to honour Treaties Recognition Week. Events included talks, a read-in for educators, film screenings and the unveiling of Justine Wood’s beaded Saagajiwe Totem.

November 7 | International Inuit Day

Monica Ittusardjuat, an Inuktitut language expert and Inuktitut editor, in traditional regalia, playing a drum

International Inuit Day (November 7) opened with a performance by Monica Ittusardjuat. Monica Ittusardjuat is an Inuktitut language expert and Inuktitut editor at Inhabit Education, a Nunavut-based educational resource development company. (Photo: Carrie Davis)

Student Katherine Minich presenting on Zoom about Nunavut

Katherine Minich, PhD student in Policy Studies at TMU, led an engaging talk on Inuit treaties and their importance. She presented online from Ottawa, where she is a lecturer at Carleton University with a focus on the practices of Indigenous self-determination in the community, particularly Inuit self-determination practices in Nunavut. (Photo: Carrie Davis)

Colourful post-it notes with handwritten messages and drawings on a map

Led by TMU’s Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), TMU educators and staff gathered for a community read-in to learn about the treaties covering TMU's territory. Participants collectively read excerpts from several treaties​ to understand them better​. At the event's start, participants were invited to draw a representation of home and place it on the map​, showcasing our relationship to the land and obligations to treaties.

November 9 | A Celebration of Indigenous Remembrance and Treaties

The artist Justine Woods, speaking at microphone

Following the film screening of Forgotten Warriors, Justine Woods unveiled her beaded Saagajiwe Totem. (Photo: Carrie Davis)

Community members posting next to the Saagajiwe Totem and Saagajiwe mural

Community members, including (from left to right) T’hohahoken Michael Doxtater, Gabby McMann, Derek Sands, Joginder Singh, Justine Woods, Carrie Davis, Brian Norton andAmy Desjarlais, gathered in front of the Saagajiwe Totem and Saagajiwe mural. (Photo: Carrie Davis)

November 9 | Film screening of Trick or Treaty? with Alanis Obomsawin

Cher Trudeau, administrative coordinator for the Indigenous Education Council and Indigenous Initiatives, speaking a microphone

Lead organizer for Treaties Recognition Week events, Cher Trudeau, administrative coordinator, Indigenous Education Council and Indigenous Initiatives, greeted the audience at the film screening. (Photo: Carrie Davis)

Provost Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano speaking at microphone

Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, provost and vice-president, Academic, provided opening remarks to welcome the audience. (Photo: Carrie Davis)

Bulletin board with a treaties map

Community members were invited to explore the treaty map and place a pin where they live, work, study or play. (Photo: Carrie Davis)

Alanis Obomsawin, film director, and Karina Brant, student and member of the Indigenous Education council, in conversation in front of an audience

Following the film screening of Trick or Treaty?, director Alanis Obomsawin participated in an interactive Q&A session led by Karina Brant, a student in the School of Social Work and member of the Indigenous Education Council. (Photo: Carrie Davis)

Participants were invited to engage with five wampum belts

During this week's events, participants were invited to engage with five wampum belts cared for by the Archives and Special Collections at TMU Libraries.  

Kimberly Boissiere and Jeremie Caribou said, "Wampums are visual memory keepers, recording history and communicating ideas. Beaded patterns represent a person, nation, event, invitation, shared values, and understandings/agreements between two or more parties. Traditional wampum belts were used as covenants and petitions for understanding." 

For more information about the wampum belts, please contact the Archives and Special Collections at asc@torontomu.ca.

Acknowledgements

Treaties Recognition Week committee

This year’s event is organized by a collective of Indigenous and non-Indigenous colleagues, led by Cher Trudeau, administrative coordinator, Indigenous Education Council and Indigenous Initiatives.

The committee includes staff from Gdoo-maawnjidimi Mompii Indigenous Student Services and Indigenous Initiatives in the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion; Indigenous Education Council in the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic; the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching; the Ceremonials Office; the Indigenous Law School Students Association (ILSSA); Saagajiwe in The Creative School; TMU Libraries, Archives and Special Collections; Toronto Metropolitan Association of Part-Time Students (TMAPS); Toronto Met Students Union (TMSU); and Treaty Relations in Business Education (TRIBE).

Questions?

If you have any questions, please email Cher Trudeau, administrative coordinator, Indigenous Education Council and Indigenous Initiatives, at cktrudeau@torontomu.ca.