Aboriginal Student Association at York University Seeks Submissions for March Conference

January 24th, 2012

PLAN NORD: Perspectives, Challenges and Promises for Northern Indigenous Communities

January 24th, 2012

From our friends over at the ALA:

The Aboriginal Law Students Association, Environmental Law McGill and the International Journal on Sustainable Development Law and Policy are pleased to welcome the public to attend a cross-disciplinary panel discussion bringing together indigenous leaders and community members, researchers, legal practitioners and representatives of civil society organizations to discuss some of the issues arising from the implementation of Plan Nord.

Plan Nord, the Government of Quebec’s ambitious development strategy covering some two thirds of the province’s territory north of the 49th parallel, contemplates the development of the energy, mining, forestry, biofood and transportation sectors across the area. The sought-after land is inhabited by some 33,000 members of the Cree, Inuit, and Innu communities, most of which remain geographically isolated and have been historically marginalized. Advertised as a new model of sustainable development which will reconcile economic, environmental and social aspirations, Plan Nord promises to open an economic space for aboriginal participants and to build a partnership with Aboriginal communities based on respect of indigenous cultures and identities. Yet, many questions remain with regards to the measures which will be taken to flesh out the government’s commitments and achieve its stated goals.

Panelists will aim to provide an analysis of the issues affecting Northern indigenous communities with regards to consultation processes and the eventual implementation of the Government of Quebec’s commitments and constitutional obligations towards Aboriginal communities. The potential impacts of large-scale development projects on indigenous cultures, governance and livelihoods, the promises and pitfalls of sustainable development as a framework for the implementation of Plan Nord and issues of participation in decision-making, governance and self-determination, will be addressed.

PANELISTS:

*   Chief Ghislain Picard, Regional Chief of Quebec and Labrador, Assembly of First Nations

*   Me John Paul Murdoch, attorney

*   Ugo Lapointe, spokesperson for La Coalition Pour que le Québec ait Meilleure Mine!

*   Aurélie Arnaud, Native Women of Quebec Inc.

*   Harry Tulugak, Makivik Corporation (to be confirmed)

*   Professor Colin Scott, Associate Professor, Faculty of Anthropology, McGill University

*   Professor Jaye Ellis, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law and McGill School of Environment

Presentation will be in French or in English

Saturday February 11, 2012, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Room 100, New Chancellor-Day Hall Building

Faculty of Law, McGill University; 3644 Peel Street

To register, please email Nelly Marcoux before February 6th, at nelly.marcoux@mail.mcgill.ca

This event has been co-sponsored by the Hydro Quebec Fund for Sustainable Development Law and McGill’s Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism.

http://www.facebook.com/events/356911370986386/

KANATA’s Journal Seeks Submissions!

January 21st, 2012

KANATA- Undergraduate Journal of the Indigenous Studies Community of McGill is calling for submissions for its fifth volume.

KANATA is an interdisciplinary journal with content that focuses on topics relating to Indigenous Peoples of North America.

Open Submissions: writing from any academic discipline (non-academic work of high quality accepted) and art submissions including paintings, photography, poetry, and short stories.

Submissions policy: KANATA prioritizes publishing undergraduate work. As well, in respect to academic submissions, priority is given to McGill students while submissions from outside of McGill are accepted.

Deadline for Submissions: February 14th, 2012

Send submissions to: mcgillnativestudiesjournal@gmail.com

For questions and/or more information please contact: mcgillnativestudiesjournal@gmail.com

SEDE’s 2012-2013 “Rethinking Community” Calendar Project Needs Submissions!

January 18th, 2012

Call for submissions!

The McGill Social Equity and Diversity Education (SEDE) Office is now accepting submissions from McGill researchers, community groups and artists for the 2012-13 SEDE Calendar.

This year’s calendar will feature research by faculty and students at McGill, paired with community-building efforts of groups and organizations at McGill and beyond. In keeping with SEDE calendar projects over the past five years, the calendar will be illustrated with artwork from emerging and established McGill-affiliated artists.

The SEDE calendar is one way in which the McGill community celebrates and values social equity and diversity and contributes towards the development of strong collegial bonds and mutual respect among its members. This will mark the fifth year the SEDE calendar is published and distributed on the McGill campus, and they look forward to hearing from all those interested in being a part of the SEDE calendar in 2012-13.

Wondering if you’re eligible? How to send in art work? Visit http://www.mcgill.ca/equity_diversity/2012-2013/ for more information or email Jorge Espinosa at jorge.espinosa@mcgill.ca

Deadline for submissions in 27th January 2012

U de M to Screen: “Overburden: Aboriginal Voices in Alberta’s Oilsands” with Director Warren Cariou PhD

January 10th, 2012