The Dominion - Wilma van der Veen

The Project of a New Canadian University Begins...

Wed, 16 Nov 2005 23:04:06 +0000

What would a university based on principles of ecology and social justice look like?

It is key that the university become a community onto itself but also be intimately interconnected with the community in which it will reside. photo: Philip McMaster info@cool.ca

What would a university based on principles of ecology and social justice look like, and one that was tuition free? This fall, individuals from across Canada converged on Arundel Nature Centre just outside Montreal, Quebec. Like the project itself, the community of Arundel is small and relatively unknown; by the time the weekend was over, however, the potential for the project began to gather energy and momentum.

Why a new university? Although a clear vision of what a new university should be did not yet exist at the start of the weekend, many arrived with strong opinions of what a new university should not be. "The current university system provides the necessary education to fill the jobs necessary in the capitalist system, while normalizing this system's destructive and dangerous operations providing a system of rewards for the participation in this destruction [e.g. labour and human rights' violations, environmental degradation, and a growing underclass]," said graduate student Steve Turpin. "It is clear that in order to contest these systems of domination and destruction, a new university will have to work towards a holistic learning environment based on mutual respect and reciprocity - both socially and environmentally". Laird Herbert, a student and prime initiator of the meetings, had similar frustrations with the choices available, "There aren't any post-secondary educational institutions in North America that are based on sustainable ecological principles and simultaneously are affordable."

The weekend focused on developing a vision with associated statements, an initial strategy for realizing such a project and next steps. "The time has come to at least imagine what an institution of higher learning would look like that was born in Canada, of Canada, and by young Canadians attuned to the spirit and rhythms of the twenty-first century," said Tony Hall, a University of Lethbridge professor and author of The American Empire and the Fourth World.

Ecological principles were to be the foundation upon which to base other principles, ecological considerations being incorporated into all dimensions: from the physical infrastructure using environmentally sustainable building materials, to the production and consumption of organic food, to research creations that would not be harmful to the planet. It was key that the university become a community onto itself but also be intimately interconnected with the community in which it would reside.

Practical matters that would realize this project were also explored. Discussions covered the use of active and inclusive decision-making processes drawing upon consensus models; mutual learning where educators and support staff would also be students, and students and support staff would also be educators; and innovative funding strategies, such as the "working college model" where students are also workers at the university. As was practiced at the meeting, the new university would exercise bilingualism to more accurately reflect the nature of Canadian society, incorporating more languages in the future. While an initial physical location would be sought, virtual and satellite campuses across the country would be pursued.

As for curriculum, the notion of a living curriculum was accepted where as needs of those involved changed, subjects taught would be modified. This would be inclusive of all subject matters for all students from the most basic of learning how to feed, shelter and clothe oneself, to more traditional intellectual pursuits.

"I was really impressed," reflected Herbert after the meeting ended. "Something has begun even though I was pessimistic about this whole idea coming to anything." A determined optimism seems to have now infected participants at the meetings who are now investigating the possibility of the first campus being situated in or around Arundel, the location of what will likely be considered the historic first meeting of a new Canadian university.

"The process of actually implementing our visions, as we are beginning to do after this magic convergence of energy and minds at the Arundel Nature Centre, can inspire a sense of hope," Hall commented as the meeting came to a close.

The next organizing meeting will be held the weekend of January 13-15th. Those who would like more information can check out New University

Wilma van der Veen attends a founding meeting for a new university in Canada.

Settler Acculturation

Tue, 01 Nov 2005 22:35:08 +0000

Confronting myths and misconceptions about Indigenous culture, spirituality, and worldview

gkisedtanamoogk and Margaret Tucz-King helped lead the workshop

Recent court rulings acknowledging native rights to natural resources, such as timber and fisheries, have fed existing tensions between corporate interests, resource industry workers and indigenous nations. These tensions have highlighted a lack of understanding, often fed by disinformation, about the history of relations between settlers and First Nations peoples and the agreements that continue to govern that relationship.

In mid-September, a group of people met in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, to attempt to address this lack of understanding. "The times, they are a-changing: A Treaty Education Workshop" event, was sponsored by Lnapskuk: The Neighbours Project and the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs. Margaret Tucz-King, staff at the Lnapskuk Project explained that the workshop "was designed to promote awareness about Indigenous culture and history among Maritimers; to promote positive, peaceful ways of working through the divisive issues; and encourage participation in new relationship-building initiatives in communities and neighbourhoods.

"To constructively address the deep concerns of all involved, spaces need to be created which allow everyone to engage in transformational discussions and activities where myths and misconceptions about our history and current issues can be corrected," said Tusz-King. This gathering was such a space where Wabanaki storytellers and other presenters shared their knowledge, helping non-Indigenous people to experientially learn about Indigenous culture, spirituality, and worldview.

Gwen Bear, a Wulustukiuk educator presented Medicine Wheel teachings to the group. She spoke passionately about the representation of the four peoples in the wheel: the Red, caretakers of earth, given the gift of vision and dreams; the Black, caretakers of water, given the gift of compassion; the Yellow, caretakers of air, given the gift of introspection; the White, caretakers of fire, given the gift of knowledge and action. Bear described the caretaker role as "a sacred contract -- each group needing to take care of their Creator-assigned element," adding, "As all elements are required for life, each people were also united and connected at a fundamental level."

Other wheel-based lessons included that of the four directions beginning in the East representing spirit, heart (South), body (West) and mind (North): respectively corresponding to cultural, social, economical and political realms."Many of us are in imbalance due to the nature of our current societies, where too much focus is placed on the realms of body and mind, and not enough on the heart and spirit," stressed Bear.

Donna Augustine, a Mi'kmaw cultural educator from Elsipogtog (Big Cove First Nation) aims to bring healing to the ancestors by having their remains repatriated. During her presentation, she noted how Original Peoples of this continent are the most studied group of people on the planet. She claimed that there are more remains of Original Peoples lying in museums than there are Original Peoples alive now. There is a great and disturbing hypocrisy regarding respect for European graveyards compared to the disrespect for the burial grounds of First Nations she said. This is exemplified by the invasive work of anthropologists and also by developers seeking to build on excavated areas. Currently her work is taking her to Europe to bring back the bones of those Original Peoples who fought and died in the world wars.

On the final day, Ed Bianchi, Program Coordinator of Aboriginal Rights KAIROS, provided some grounding in the legal aspects of treaties, Canadian court systems and international human rights law. Bianchi explained that under international law, the government of Canada is not upholding the various international treaties it has signed which impact upon Original Peoples. Bianchi also stressed, "In land rights and treaty negotiations across the country the objective of the federal government is to terminate or extinguish Aboriginal rights. This policy, which the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples concluded was discriminatory, paternalistic and wrong, persists despite the fact that the treaties signed hundreds of years ago recognized the sovereignty of Aboriginal nations, and despite sundry Supreme Court of Canada decisions confirming the ongoing the validity and legality of those treaties."

gkisedtanamoogk, a Wabanaki spiritual man, educator and a member of the Aboriginal Rights Coalition Atlantic, led the welcome of the first light early each morning in observance of traditional Mi'kmaw ceremony, and shared prophecies with the group. He stressed "The importance of the Wabanaki people in determining the future, as they are the first to see the light being on the easternmost edge of Turtle Island".

This event was unique. From the method of teaching, to the schedule and proceedings of each day, to the communication and interaction, this was a representation of an Indigenous way of walking the path. Participants found this path to be more in balance with the needs of the people, respecting the power of the Creator, Mother Earth, and the spirits of the ancestors. One participant, Selena Gitpu'Iskw noted afterwards, "Having recently returned home to Nova Scotia after an absence of more than 30 years, I found the talks given most informative. Particularly with regard to current issues surrounding Aboriginal Sovereignty. I learned a great deal about the historical context of the Treaties and their true meaning and purpose to Aboriginal Peoples". So that others may network and develop new insights and understandings into shared history and the current issues that challenge people today, the organizers and participants plan to make this an annual event.

Wilma van der Veen attends a workshop confronting myths and misconceptions of Indigenous culture and history.