Upcoming Events

Event Planning and Scheduled Events

ABOUT our events

In general, we set up the Eventbrite registration links, etc., for our events. To date we have offered our events free, with most of the open to the public. For many of the events, the Invited scholars have also accepted to have recordings of their presentations be made and which are also made available publicly (please see the links for the individual events). We hope you take the opportuntiy to attend these events and/or watch videos that are made available.  

If you participate in/attend/watch videos in any of our events, in lieu of registration/usage fees please consider donating to Indigenous Organizations and/or Students. 
- the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, visit: https://www.irsss.ca/
- Indspire, visit: https://indspire.ca/ways-to-give/donate/
- the First Nations Children and Family Caring Society, visit: https://fncaringsociety.com/what-you-can-do/donate
- the maskihky wellness community, organized by Dr. Fellner, visit: https://www.maskihkiy.com/about-3 
We also recommend donations to SFU Awards/Bursary/Scholarships for Indigenous Students, e.g. the First Nations, Metis, Inuit Student Association Endowments. visit: https://secure.give.sfu.ca/donate, and search Indigenous.  

If you are interested in co-sponsoring any events, including an Indigenous Scholar Colloquium/Small Conversational Meeting Series with the Department IRC please contact us. Also, if you interested in being on a mailing list for announcements for these Colloquia/Events with Indigenous Scholars, you are also invited to contact us.

* UPCOMING Programming

We are continually working on colloquia, small group meetings, and workshops. 

Details on these and other events, including registration details/steps, will be forthcoming. 

To learn about other events that may be of interest, you are invited to look up events organized by or considered of interest by the Department's JEDAI work group.

February-April 2025

-Metis Dialogues Listening Series: Feb 25, March 11, March 25, April 8th, and possibly April 22nd

Through grant funding from FASS, Rachel Fouladi has been working with other members of the SFU community to hold a Metis Conversation Listening Series. 

The series is funded through the “Cultural Awareness” funding program through the SFU Faculty of Arts and Social Science Indigenous Reconciliation Grants Program. With the terms of the grants program in mind and given Rachel's background in psychology and questionnaire design/critique, she is organizing and hosting a cultural awareness listening series on Metis identity and the impact of filling out questionnaires/application forms. The initiative aims to raise awareness about the intersection of identity discourse, politics, and reconciliation. The series includes listening events with members of Metis organizations and Red River Metis familial histories, focusing on their experiences and reflections when filling out questionnaires/application forms. The series aims to increase awareness of historical, census, political, and legal contexts, appreciation of culturally appropriate questionnaires/application forms, and appreciation of diversity among Metis.

The first session was held on February 25th 2:30-3:30 PT, at which the co-organizers (Treena Chambers, Anik Chartrand, Evan Accettola, Troy Boucher, Tianne Jensen-Desjardins, Ashley Edwards) and Rachel Fouladi (who are all members of the SFU community either as faculty/staff/students) provided self-introductionstheir, sharing their family histories to increase awareness/appreciation of the diversity of Metis at SFU, and shared some of our experiences with forms (e.g., government/health/research/demographic).   Unkie Pixie Wells, SFU ISC Elder, offered opening, reflections, and closed the session. 

The second session was held on March 11th 2:30-3:30 PT,  with community member, Robyn Lawson, who will speak on about her journey from childhood through adulthood, through understandings of who she is from being part of the 60s scoop to being part of the Manitoba Metis Federation.

The third session was held on March 25th 2:30-3:30 PT, with guest speaker Dane Allard (History, UBC) who will share perspectives and reflections on Metis Common Sense and Metis identity from a historical perspective and in an "era of nascent recognition politics". (D. Allard, 2023, "Kitchen Table Politics: Bannock and Métis Common Sense in an Era of Nascent Recognition Politics").  

The fourth session was held on April 8th 2:30-3:30 PT, with guest speaker, Paul Gareau (Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) Faculty of Native Studies, UofA; https://apps.ualberta.ca/directory/person/pgareau)  who provided perspectives for the series from his varied scholarship on Metis Personhood, Relationality, Spirituality, Identity, Sovereignty/Self-Determination. The title of the talk was: Accounting for identity: Reflecting on Métis Experiences of Identity.  

The fifth guest speaker session will be with David Parent (April 22nd, 2:30-3:30pm PT). David Parent will be in-person for the hybrid event.  David Parent | Shekon Neechie  is faculty member in the Department of Indigenous Studies, cross-appointed in the Department of History, at University of Manitoba with scholarship in Metis governance/nationhood, with extensive work/interest in Metis relevant archives/databases.    The listening series is scheduled to be in person at the SFU-Burnaby* campus , with additional option to attend via Zoom.

Please note, based on decision-making with the co-organizers, these sessions will not be recorded. There will be photography at the sessions.

To pre-register for the April 22nd session or to get on an email list for upcoming sessions of the Metis Dialogues Listening Sereies, please indicate interest on the google form: https://forms.gle/jfzyxCJAuD5FoqTr6

Tea will be provided for in-person attendees.

The event is provided for free. In lieu of registration fees, we recommend donations to SFU Awards/Bursary/Scholarships for Indigenous Students, e.g. the First Nations, Metis, Inuit Student Association Endowments. visit: https://secure.give.sfu.ca/donate, and search Indigenous.  

SFU Faculty, Students, Staff, and Alumni are invited join the event in-person or in Zoom format. If you are not associated with SFU, you are also welcome to fill in the google fom and we will send you participation information space permitting.

March 2025

Workshop presentation on applying for FASS IRWG grants was given by Tim Michel and Rachel Fouladi March 11th.

May 2025

Meetings and presentations with speakers at the ICCSJ in Psychology will be held in Psychology, with Indigneous Scholars including leaders in SIP, Section 6 of Division 35, and Division 45: Royleen Ross, Timothy Michel, Vicky Lomay, Mark S.E. Baez, as well as members of the IRC. 

A Department-wide colloquium for the Department is planned with Mark S.E. Baez (President-Elect of Society of Indian Psychologists)  and Royleen Ross (President of Division 45), the morning of May 29th. 

June 2025

A FASS IRWG workshop sponsored on Educators' Reconciliation Journeys will be held mid-June. IRC Chair, Rachel Fouladi, is working with IRWG Co-Lead Tim Michel to organize this two day in-person workshop tentatively scheduled for June 18th and June 19th.  

July 2025

A FASS IRWG 1-day workshop is planned for Territorial Acknowledgements -- July 7th.  Hannah Dupuis, Rachel Fouladi, Michael Schmitt are part of a group working with Tim Michel in preparation and co-facilitation of this 1-day workshop.  

A FASS IRWG 1-day workshop is planned regarding Urban Indigenous -- July 28th.

 

* RECENT Programming

October 31: We were invited to and will be participating in the ISC/FNMISA lunch co-hosted by FASS and the FASS Indigenous Reconciliation Workgroup on October 31st, 2024. In addition to lunch, there are plans for costume prizes and open mic! This event is for students/faculty/staff at SFU who are Indigenous! Registration is recommended but not required -- preregistration is preferred as it helps with the food ordering! https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/halloween-monthly-lunch-tickets-1049203585167?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios

November 4: We worked with School of the Environment and Resource Management and Planning Program and others on upcoming events on November 4, 2024. There was a public event at the SFU-Burnaby campus that was also be livestreamed TRC Commissioner Marie Wilson on November 4th,  from 12-1:30 PT. We planned an accompanying small group conversation over tea in the afternoon following the event. Parameters for the small group conversation are under discussion with other members of the SFU community who are Indigenous.  
       Registration for the In-Person Public Event is at: Eventbrite for In-Person Public Event 
       Registration for the Livestream fo the Public Event is at: Eventbrite for Livestream of Public Event
       Staytuned for the information about the small group conversation following the event.
Regarding the Public Event (text taken from the Eventbrite page):
        "TRC Commissioner Dr. Marie Wilson will speak about her new memoir North of Nowhere: Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commisioner. This event will be moderated by associate professor and planner Dr. Tammara Soma MCIP RPP, and will include a moderated Question and Answer Session.
... The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established to record the previously hidden history of more than a century of forced residential schooling for Indigenous children. Marie Wilson helped lead that work as one of just three commissioners. With the skills of a journalist, the heart of a mother and grandmother, and the insights of a life as the spouse of a residential school survivor, Commissioner Wilson guides readers through her years witnessing survivor testimony across the country, providing her unique perspective on the personal toll and enduring public value of the commission. In her memoir, she honours the voices of survivors who have called Canada to attention, determined to heal, reclaim, and thrive"

November 14: We would also like to draw attention to free programming with APA Science Directorate with which some of our members are involved on  Indigenous Methodologies and Assessment.  https://www.apa.org/education-career/training/science-training-indigenous-methodologies-assessment

Are you interested in pursuing graduate studies in psychology? Are you working on your graduate school application right now and don't have anyone in your family or faculty member to offer guidance? With graduate school deadlines around the corner and occuring around this time every year, we invite students to an in-person gathering with faculty members from the SFU Psyc Dept JEDAI Workgroup, for a tea time conversation about graduate school pathways. We are excited to hold this event in-person event. 

Other Recent Activites of the IRC

-June 2024, One Psychology Department's Response to Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action. Presentation led by Rachel Fouladi and prepared collectively by the IRC was presented at the annual conference Society of Indian Psychology in Utah. (not recorded)

-June 2024, Leveling Up Land Acknowledgements. At the invitation of the Dept Chair, Michael Schmitt led the collective preparation of presentation materials to be offered to the Department of Psychology faculty, staff, and student representatives of the Psyc GS Caucus and Undergraduate PSU. This panel presentation with QA was given at the June Department meeting. IRC members available for the presentation and Q/A were Sherene Balanji, Troy Boucher, Tiara Cash, Michael Schmitt, and Rachel Fouladi. (not recorded)

- May 2024, Introducing the Psychology Department IRC, invited presentation by Rachel Fouladi and Michael Schmitt, introducing the formation/members/work of the IRC to Squamish students on a tour of SFU organized by the Indigenous Tutoring and Mentorship Program. (not recorded)  

 

Colloquia with Indigenous scholars

The Psychology Department IRC committee is commited to organzing various events including Colloquia with Indigenous Scholars, as well as small conversational meetings of Indigenous students with these scholars. Because of the pandemic, we have been able to hold these Colloquia and Small Conversational meeting over Zoom, and as such to date the Colloquia have been public events open to the international community, and the Small Conversational meetings have been attended by Indigenous students from across Turtle Island.

Some of these Colloquia are highlighted in the sidebar headings, with recordings of select Main Events made available.

* Recent IRC Colloquia/Workshops with Indigenous Scholars

-February 16, 2024, all-day event (10am-4pmPT) with Dr. Karlee Fellner.
We are thankful to the FASS Reconciling Curriculum Grant Program and Grant adjudication team of the FASS Reconciliation Working Group for awarding us funding for the equivalent of a 1-day workshop, which we prepared/offered in the academic year (2023/2024). We are in correspondence with Dr. Karlee Fellner for an offering based on her 1-day workshop "Indigenous Wisdoms for Psychology". The scheduled date for this all-day event was February 16th, 2024. Participation was restricted for this in-person event. It was well attended by 30+ members of department (faculty and graduate students).
(Not recorded)

- September 21st, 2023 , Mark Champley offered a Hybrid Public Colloquium (9-10:30am PT -- BLU 10011 for inperson attendees) and an additional followup Small Group Meeting (10:30-11:30am PT -- BLU 10021 for selected/invited Indigneous students and scholars). These events are being organized with Indigneous Tutoring and Mentorship Program. We thank Todd Nelson and the ITMP for working closely with Mark Champley in his two week visit to SFU during his Churchill Trust Fellowship, and for inviting the IRC to work with them in the organization these events which form part of his fellowhip visit.

Title: One Person’s Reconciliation Journey in Australia
Bio: Mark Champley is a Learning & Development Associate, People & Culture at Transport for New South Wales. Mark Champley was born on Wongal Country and has lived on Darkinjung land for over 20 years. His ancestors are Kamilaroi and Wiradjuri. Mark has had a long commitment to Aboriginal equality, reconciliation and cultural engagement. Having held board positions with Mingaletta Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and is currently a member of Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council, and Babana Aboriginal Men’s Group. Mark was appointed Uncle at the prestigious St Joseph College Hunters Hill 2014 – 2017 to support Indigenous students. 
            Mark is a leader with extensive experience driving customer service excellence in the transport, retail and hospitality industries both in Australia and internationally. He has worked in Transport for over 30 years and is currently the Associate Learning & Development People & Culture. Mark represents Transport for New South Wales on the Aboriginal Reference Group , Reconciliation Advisory Committee and the NSW Public Sector Commission Aboriginal Employment Advisory Committee. Mark is a current member of the University of New South Wales Adjunct Faculty and in 2019 his first short story was published in the inaugural Blak Unsweetened Journal. Mark believes his life's mission was passed down from his ancestors, through his mother, to himself, driving him to work tirelessly for true reconciliation in Australian society and equality for his people. Mark is currently a Winston Churchill Trust Fellow to continue learning, sharing knowledge & best practice in reverse mentoring to support reconciliation; his visit to Simon Fraser University is a component of this Fellowship.
Topic. In this talk, Mark Champley discusses his journey of reconciliation in the Australian context.  In his work with the iconic Sydney Ferries, he was able to increase Aboriginal Employment from 2% to 5% in a 3-year period. In 2013 he facilitated the first time the Aboriginal flag to fly on Sydney ferries during National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee Week celebrations. In his more recent work with Transport for New South Wales, he was a member of Transport Reconciliation Advisory Committee and later the steering committee; in this work the TRAC delivered the largest Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in the public service in August 2019.  Mark has also been managing the Aboriginal Career Development & Mentoring Program. In this program,  there is support, career development and extension of cultural knowledge of non-Aboriginal people. Mentees/Mentors come together through workshops, events and informal meetings in a unique reverse mentoring model; in the 2020 Cohort, 50% of the participating mentees have moved into more senior roles. He has also co-led the implementation of the Stolen Gen Memorials from the Unfinished Business Report (Recommendations 11, 12 &13); supported the repatriation of 7 Aboriginal skeletal remains to Awabakal Country where they were taken in 1837; supported the transfer of a retired ferry asset (Lady Northcott) to Aboriginal charity Tribal Warrior; and supported the development of the Aboriginal Cultural Learning Framework.
Recording of Main Event Available.   

- November 24th, 2023 (rescheduled from postponement from October 20, 2023), Dr. Kyle Mays offered an Online Public Colloquium (2:30-3:45/50pm PT on Zoom) and an additional followup Online Small Group Meeting with selected Black/African, Indigenous, & Afro-Indigenous students and scholars (3:45/50-4:30pm PT on Zoom). These events are being organized with the Social Area. We thank the Social Area for taking the lead in inviting Dr. Kyle Mays to speak inviting the IRC to work with them in the organization and sponsorship of these events. We also thank the Department Colloquium Committee for their assistance in funding.  

Title: Blackness, Indigeneity, and Kinship as Solidarity
Speaker Bio: Kyle T. Mays (he/him) is an Afro-Indigenous (Saginaw Chippewa) writer and scholar of Afro-Indigenous studies, urban studies, and contemporary popular culture. He is an Associate Professor in the Departments of African American Studies, American Indian Studies, and History at UCLA. He is the author of three books, including City of Dispossessions: Indigenous Peoples, African Americans, and the Creation of Modern Detroit (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2022) and An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States (Beacon Press, 2021).
Topic: This talk examines the importance of mino-bimaadiziwin, or the good life. An Anishinaabe philosophy rooted in better relations between human and non-human species, Dr. Mays argues that while solidarity might be fleeting, kinship might be the way forward for Black and Indigenous peoples to resist together, without sacrificing their respective histories and contemporary realities. Using historical examples and contemporary popular culture, he will examine the pitfalls and possibilities for a collective notion of reparatory justice.
Recording of Main Event Available.

*Past 2023 Colloquia with Indigenous Scholars 

Below are some details on the events in 2023. 

Invited Speaker: Dr. Amy Bombay

Intergenerational trauma and the protective effects of culture in relation to mental health among Indigenous populations
on Thursday March 2nd, 2023,
Event 1: 12:30-~1:45/50pm PT for the main public colloquium: Main event registration link (all welcome, Past)
Event 2: ~1:45/50-2:30pm PT for the small group conversation meeting of Dr. Bombay with Indigenous students: Small group participation request link (Past)
We are thankful to the Department area of Developmental Psychology which co-funded this pair of events with Dr. Amy Bombay. For more information about the work of Dr. Amy Bombay, please visit: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/health/nursing/faculty-staff/faculty/amy-bombay.html
Recording of Main Event Available.

Invited Speaker: Dr. Adam Murry

Going where the need is: Psychological research in the context of reconciliation
on March 9th, 2023,
Event 1: 12:30-~1:45/50pm PT for the main colloquium: Main event registration page link (all welcome, PAST)
Event 2: ~1:45/50-2:30pm PT for the small group conversation meeting of Dr. Murry with Indigenous students, Small group participation request registration link (Past)
This pair of events with Dr. Adam Murry was funded through the budgets of the IRC,  the area of Social Psychology, and the Department Colloquium Committee. We are thankful for this funding collaboration for the events with Dr. Adam Murry 
For more information about the work of Dr. Adam Murry, please visit. https://psyc.ucalgary.ca/profiles/adam-murry 
Recording of Main Event Available.

*2022 Programming

We held, as part of the 2022 programming, colloquia with Indigenous scholars:

Invited Speaker: Dr. JoLee Sasakmoose

Utilizing the Cultural Responsiveness Framework to Develop a Strength- Based, Trauma-Informed Practice: Understanding the Practitioner’s role in Indigenous Wellbeing
on Wednesday April 20th, 2022,
Event 1: 1-~2:15/20pm PT (for the main colloquium);  Main Event Registration (past)
Event 2: ~2:15/20-3:00pm PT (for the small group conversation  meeting of Dr. Sasakamoose with Indigenous students) Small group conversation participation REQUEST (past)
Recording of Main Event Available.

Invited Speaker: Dr. Karlee Fellner

iskotew & crow: (re)igniting narratives of Indigenous survivance & trauma wisdom in psychology
on May 17th, 2022,
Event 1: 12:30pm - ~1:50pm PT (for the main colloquium); Main Event Registration Page Link (past)
Event 2: ~1:50pm - 2:30pm PT (for the small group conversation  meeting of Dr. Fellner with Indigenous students) Small Group Participation Request Link  (past)    
We are pleased that the Clinical Science Area of the SFU Department of Psychology joined the SFU Psyc IRC as a co-sponsor for this set of events with Dr. Fellner. We are appreciative of the Clinical Science area's support in helping make the event possible.
Recording of Main Event Available.

 

We are are thankful and excited to offer this programming. Planning for future programming is continuing.

 

Special Event -- April 18th, 2023

The SFU Department of Psychology and the Department's IRC joined the ISC and FNMISA as co-sponsors for one of the 

Monthly Lunches - Indigenous Student Centre - Simon Fraser University (sfu.ca)

organized by the SFU Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) and the SFU First Nations, Métis & Inuit Student Association (FNMISA). If you are a student, staff, faculty member at SFU who is Indigneous. We are thankful to all who joined us in this event. We hope hope you will share information about these events with others, and that you will look into attending this and other community spaces for a shared meal in the future.