"Tetpawtihkene | Ilsu’teka’tiqw — Conference
In the fall of 2017, St. Thomas University hosted a three-day conference called "Tetpawtihkene | Ilsu’teka’tiqw — A New Path, A Shared Vision, A New Direction." The event brought Mr. Eddy Robinson, Ms. Rebecca Thomas, and Dr. Marie Battiste to campus for public talks, panel discussions, and break out sessions.
"The Tetpawithkene Ilsu' teka 'tiqw Conference Towards Reconciliation was a very powerful and influential conference for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. It brought students, educators, and community members across Wolastoq, Mi'kmaq, and Passmaquoddy territories together to share knowledge and stories of Indigenous peoples, and how Indigenous people see genuine reconciliation actions." — Mandy Richard, BA '18
Keynote Speakers
Mr. Eddy Robinson
A New Path for Communities
"Working Together and Becoming Allies"
Ms. Rebecca Thomas
A Shared Vision for Students
"The Two-Eyed Seeing Approach"
"Reconcile Your State of Mind" by Rebecca Thompson
Instead of a budget and a timeline for reconciliation
How about an accurate portrayal of history in our nations education?
Bring back the National Aboriginal Health Organization?
Institute classes for language reclamation?
Question why there are so many Aboriginals in incarceration? Or at
least develop a strategy for suicide prevention because we kill
ourselves up to eleven times more often,
And if we have one, Dakota Kids wouldn't have to see their little brothers in
coffins...
Dr. Marie Battiste
A New Direction for Curriculum"
Incorporating Indigenous Content"
Excerpt from Conference Conference Welcome — President and Vice-Chancellor Dawn Russell
St. Thomas is responding to the declaration by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that universities be leaders in re-setting the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. This conference will be exploring how to incorporate Indigenous content, knowledge, and ways of knowing into academic and student programing.
We will delve into what “Indigenization of the Academy” means, and STU will eventually outline practical steps with specific timelines. It is our part in advancing reconciliation through education, dialogue, and collective action.
This gathering, on traditional unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik, is one of mutual respect. The territory on which we now stand is covered by treaties that recognized Mi’kmaq and Maliseet title and established rules for a relationship between nations.
We know that this relationship has been destructive, and the TRC has called on universities to lead the re-setting of that relationship. While STU has much to do in order to answer this challenge, we have a strong foundation on which to build.