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EDI Scholars-in-Residence with Corrina Sparrow: Land as Teacher: Decolonial Practices in EDI

At this opening event of this year's EDI Scholars-in-Residence program, we will explore opportunities and wise-practice models for EDI and university library departments, to engage Land-based decolonial community programming and professional development activities, which are aligned with the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan.

Policies regarding decolonial EDI initiatives, and distinct implementation experiences of Indigenous strategic planning within diverse departments at the university remain under-developed. Decolonial, Land-based EDI initiatives for university library departments are also extremely rare. Local Indigenous knowledge systems, relationship building, and Land-based pedagogical frameworks can strengthen EDI initiatives, scholarship, curriculum development and teaching practices.

We know that the process of decolonizing academic policy and procedures benefits greatly from local Indigenous worldviews, relationality to the Land and Water, as well as ancestral knowledge, protocols, and teachings. The principles of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are already intrinsically woven throughout local Indigenous epistemologies, ontologies, and methodologies. This wisdom is drawn from Indigenous relationality to the Land and Water in our ancestral territories. Gathering and synthesizing knowledge about traditional Indigenous approaches within EDI will contribute to informing and advancing initiatives which are supportive of Indigenous students, scholars, and university practice alike.

Objectives:

  • Engage university students, staff, and scholars through Land-based activities and local Indigenous cultural protocols;
  • Explore ideas around decolonization, reciprocity, and Land-based teachings in practice;
  • Strengthen relationality and decolonial approaches within university library departments, policies and procedures;
  • Examine linkages between EDI initiatives, the Indigenous Strategic Plan, and local Indigenous cultural knowledge and teachings.

Session Learning:

  • How do you perceive decolonial policy and practice in university settings?
  • What role does Land-based education and programming have within university library departments?
  • What are Indigenous students/staff/scholars experiences of EDI at UBC?
  • How can EDI be rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing and being?
Date:
Thursday, November 7, 2024
Time:
11:30am - 4:00pm
Room:
Irving K Barber Learning Centre
Location:
Irving K. Barber Learning Centre
Audience:
  All     All UBC Students     Community     Faculty     Staff  
Categories:
  Peña Scholars  
Presenter(s):
Corrina Sparrow

Registration is required. There are 47 seats available.

Session Breakdown:

At 11:30am, session participants will gather at IKBLC's Peña Room for Opening Remarks and presentation, before heading down to Flag Circle to be shuttled to UBC Farm. From the main gate, guests will walk down to the Yurt building, for a traditional xʷməθkʷəy̓əm food sampling, and to pick up a boxed lunch - before heading to the Ceremonial Fire site at xʷc̓ic̓əsəm, for a themed Talking Circle. Shuttles will be waiting at Farm main gate to bring participants back to UBC Flag Circle upon conclusion.

This session is predominantly outdoors, so guests must dress accordingly, and be able to walk/wheel on uneven Farm grounds. Please notify event organizers of any extreme food allergies ahead of time. Participants will also be asked to complete a post-session survey, to be entered into a draw for door prizes after the session.


Corrina Sparrow

From the Musqueam and Qualicum/Pentlatch Nations, Corrina Sparrow is a 2Spirit/Indigequeer (2SIQ) helper and published writer. They have worked in Indigenous social work with Coastal Indigenous communities for over twenty years, mainly focusing on child and family safety, wellness, and community planning. They hold the position of social development manager with Musqueam. Corrina is a current UBC PhD student with the Social Justice Institute, exploring Coastal Land-based, 2Spirit/Indigequeer (2SIQ) identities, resurgence, and community development. They are an SSHRC doctoral fellow for 2SIQ research and a sessional instructor of Indigenous Social Work. Corrina served as elected Chair of the national 2 Spirits in Motion Society. They were co-contributors to the final MMIWG2S National Action Plan and a member of the federal 2SLGBTQQIA+ sub-working group advisory. Corrina is also co-founder and elected Speaker of the Transforming Embers Society – the only Coast Salish, Land-based 2SIQ organization on the west coast.

 

Get rid of it

Presenter(s)

Corrina Sparrow

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