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Stories Have
Always Been
Our Governance
A Speaker Series
UNDRIP in Cities Conference session recordings are now available to watch.
Re-watch all the sessions and hear our guest speakers discuss topics important to our urban Indigenous communities. Watch all five videos below. Scroll down to see the Series playlist.
Speaker Series Playlist:
Day 2 - UNDRIP in Cities Conference, at the annual National Gathering of Urban indigenous coalitions, 2024
"Forms of Urban Indigenous Governance and Relationships" with Leilani Shaw
Leilani Shaw is the Executive Director at Montreal Indigenous Community Network.
This session took place on Day 2 of the UNDRIP in Cities Conference that took place during NUICC’s annual National Gathering of Urban Indigenous Coalitions, Feb 28-29th, 2024.
- February 29, 2024
Day 2 - UNDRIP in Cities Conference, at the annual National Gathering of Urban indigenous coalitions, 2024
"Urban Rights: from Misquadis to UNDRIP" with Nancy Martin and Yale Belanger
Opening remarks by Nancy Martin is the Executive Director of Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment & Training.
Dr. Yale D. Belanger (Ph.D.) is professor of Political Science at the University of Lethbridge (Alberta), and a Member, Royal Society of Canada, College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists (2017-2024). A core member of the Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network, his PhD work at Trent University focused on the emergence and evolution of Indigenous political organizations in Canada.
This session took place on Day 2 of the UNDRIP in Cities Conference that took place during NUICC’s annual National Gathering of Urban Indigenous Coalitions, Feb 28-29th, 2024.
- February 29, 2024
Day 2 - UNDRIP in Cities Conference, at the annual National Gathering of Urban indigenous coalitions, 2024
"Activating Our Rights to Self-Determination" with Scott Clark
Opening Remarks by NUICC co-chairs Damon Johnston and Becky Sasakamoose Kuffner.
Scott Clark is the President of the Northwest Indigenous Council (NWIC).
This session took place on Day 2 of the UNDRIP in Cities Conference that took place during NUICC’s annual National Gathering of Urban Indigenous Coalitions, Feb 28-29th, 2024.
- February 29, 2024
Day 2 - UNDRIP in Cities Conference, at the annual National Gathering of Urban indigenous coalitions, 2024
"Implementing UNDRIP in B.C. and Vancouver" with Michelle Bryant-Gravelle
Michelle Bryant-Gravelle is the Senior Director, Indigenous Relations at the City of Vancouver. She is the Vice President of the Women’s Leadership Network, an elected Trustee for the Lax Kw’alaams Settlement Trust, and a Director for Skilled Trades BC. Michelle is from the Ts’msyen Nation, from the Nine Allied Tribes of Lax Kw’alaams and from the Gitwilgyoots (People of the Kelp) Tribe and Gispudwada (Killer Whale) Clan. Her traditional name is Bilha’am Nelx, which means “Pearl (inside of the abalone shell) on the fin of the killer whale”.
This session was part of the NUICC UNDRIP in Cities Conference, Day 2. The conference took place during NUICC’s annual National Gathering of Urban Indigenous Coalitions, Feb 28-29th, 2024.
- February 29, 2024
Day 1 - UNDRIP in Cities Conference, at the annual National Gathering of Urban indigenous coalitions, 2024
Banquet Night - Keynote Reflections on Being Indigenous in Canada, with Sylvia Maracle
Sylvia Maracle (Skonaganleh:ra) is a Wolf Clan member from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory who has resided in Toronto for 50 years. She is a passionate advocate for urban aboriginal peoples and women’s issues.
This Banquet Night session was part of the NUICC UNDRIP in Cities Conference, Day 1. The conference took place during NUICC’s annual National Gathering of Urban Indigenous Coalitions, Feb 28-29th, 2024.
- February 28, 2024
Day 1 - UNDRIP in Cities Conference, at the annual National Gathering of Urban indigenous coalitions, 2024
Banquet Night - Keynote Reflections on Being Indigenous in Canada, with Joseph Russell Diabo
Joseph Russell Diablo is a member of the Mohawk Nation at Kahnawake. He is a First Nations political and legal issues expert and educator with more than 45 years of community organizing experience.
This Banquet Night session was part of the NUICC UNDRIP in Cities Conference, Day 1. The conference took place during NUICC’s annual National Gathering of Urban Indigenous Coalitions, Feb 28-29th, 2024.
- February 28, 2024
Day 1 - UNDRIP in Cities Conference, at the annual National Gathering of Urban indigenous coalitions, 2024
Framing the conversation: UNDRIP as a Framework for change for urban Indigenous people, with the Department of Justice
Michelle Keller is an A/Senior Analyst on the Consultation and Cooperation Team of the UN Declaration Act Implementation Secretariat, at the Department of Justice.
Gabrielle Héroux is a Senior Analyst on the Consultation and Cooperation Team of the UN Declaration Act Implementation Secretariat, at the Department of Justice.
- February 28, 2024
Day 1 - UNDRIP in Cities Conference, at the annual National Gathering of Urban indigenous coalitions, 2024
Progress on Urban Indigenous Policy, with Ginger Gosnell-Myers
Ginger Gosnell is a Nisga’a and Kwakwak’awakw instructor with the Simon Fraser University Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, where she focuses on decolonization and urban Indigenous policy and planning.
This session was part of the conference that took place during NUICC’s annual National Gathering of Urban Indigenous Coalitions, Feb 28-29th, 2024.
- February 28, 2024
Day 1 - UNDRIP in Cities Conference, at the annual National Gathering of Urban indigenous coalitions, 2024
Urban Indigenous Unity for Growing Urban Indigenous Space in Our Cities, with Joan Phillip, BC Government MLA
Opening Cultural Protocol, by T’uy’t’tanat – Cease Wyss (Squamish educator, interdisciplinary artist and Indigenous ethnobotanist)
NUICC co-chair Welcoming Remarks, by Becky Sasakamoose Kuffner
“Urban Indigenous Unity for Growing Urban Indiegnous Space in Our Cities” session with Joan Phillip, BC Government MLA
This hybrid forum aims to discuss the ways we can rethink JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, inclusion) by re-centering municipal systems with a decolonial and UNDRIP (UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) focus. We consider how UNDRIP provides a framework for
urban Indigenous governance and how the rights of our urban
communities can be achieved through policy work for measurable
change.
- February 28, 2024
Speaker series #11
Hybrid Forum on JEDI & UNDRIP in Canadian Municipalities
Urban Indigenous coalitions are on the frontline of decolonizing municipal structures in Canadian cities that have for too long resisted real change. Equity, diversity, and inclusion policies have relied on incrementalism, but like trickle-down economics, they rarely deliver structural change. Speakers at the forum centered Indigenous Knowledge and the experience of urban Indigenous communities as we confront white supremacy and colonial structures in Canadian cities where we live.
This hybrid forum aims to discuss the ways we can rethink JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, inclusion) by re-centering municipal systems with a decolonial and UNDRIP (UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) focus. We consider how UNDRIP provides a framework for
urban Indigenous governance and how the rights of our urban
communities can be achieved through policy work for measurable
change.
- Wednesday, June 7, 2023
- 11 am - 1 pm PT | 2 - 4 pm ET
Session 11 - National gathering of urban indigenous coalitions, 2023
SPEAKER SERIES #10
Misquadis Decision Panel
- March 2, 2023
Session 9 - National gathering of urban indigenous coalitions, 2023
Parliamentary Secretary Vance Badawey
- March 2, 2023
Session 10 - National gathering of urban indigenous coalitions, 2023
UPIP Evaluation Activity (Methodology & data collection)
- March 2, 2023
Cinq à Sept - National gathering of urban indigenous coalitions, 2023
Reception Guests
- March 2, 2023
Session 5 - National gathering of urban indigenous coalitions, 2023
Urban Governance & UNDRIP Implementation Panel
- March 1, 2023
Speaker series #9
Stronger Together: The Power of Urban Indigenous Coalitions
NUICC Urban Indigenous Knowledge Mobilisation Hub will bring together leaders and organisers of coalitions to share about their organisations and their governance journey. We hope to bring together stories of what worked and also how different groups have overcome challenges.
Hear from NUICC Council and speakers from various Urban Indigenous Coalitions from coast to coast to coast.
- Friday, February 10, 2023
- 10 am - 12 pm PST | 1 - 3 pm EST
Speaker series #8
Intersecting Indigenous Rights as we activate UNDRIP in Canadian cities
This panel discussion was part of a larger event produced by St. John’s coalition, First Voice. We heard from practitioners on the front lines of understanding and implementing UNDRIP in cities and joined the discussion as the First Peoples Policy Forum opened up for the hybrid session welcoming urban Indigenous coalition representatives from coast to coast to coast.
- Monday, December 12, 2022
- 10 -11:30 am PST | 1 - 2:30 pm EST
Speaker series #7
Building an Indigenous City: Decolonizing Cultural Policy
This panel is in conjunction with the 8th Symposium on Reconciliation and Redress in the Arts. Co-produced by Vancouver Moving Theatre, Heart of the City Festival, Voor Urban Labs and NUICC.
- Friday, October 28, 2022
- 10 am -12 pm PST | 1 - 3 pm EST
Speaker series #6
Urban Indigenous Governance: Justice Panel
Live from Whitehorse as the NUIC National Council meets in the Yukon, Sept 29-30, 2022. Cohosted by Council of Yukon First Nations.
- Friday, September 30, 2022
- 9:30 - 11:30am PST | 12:30 - 2:30pm EST
Speaker series #5
Urban Indigenous Governance: Learning from our Past
With guest speakers from the NUICC Urban Indigenous Knowledge Mobilisation Hub: Kamala Todd (Vancouver), Becky Sasakamoose-Kuffner (Saskatoon), Damon Johnston (Winnipeg).
More information about the speakers in the registration link below. This event is supported by Simon Fraser University, Research Commons.
- Friday, August 26, 2022
- 11am-1pm PST | 2-4pm EST
- Recording available in French
Speaker series #4
Building Upon the Work of Our Ancestors: Kinship Practices in Urban Spaces
NUICC launched it’s Governance Series with SFU Vancouver Research Commons hosting keynote speaker Kanatase Horn (Mohawk) with a presentation “Building Upon the Work of Our Ancestors: Kinship Practices in Urban Spaces.” Kanatase is an Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa and a researcher on urban Indigenous justice issues. We also heard from Matthew Norris (Cree) who is the Board President of UNYA, pursuing his PhD from UBC, and an expert advisor to the BC government’s UNDRIP implementation work.
- Thursday, March 10, 2022
- 11am-1pm PST | 2-4pm EST
Speaker series #3
Building our Futures: Remembering the Power of Urban Indigenous Youth
We discussed ways that Indigenous youth and families living in cities can achieve healthier outcomes and connections to place. The presentations will be followed by a panel of Indigenous youth from Surrey, Edmonton and Calgary who will provide their perspectives on well-being in cities.nnNUICC members will be invited to discuss and share their experiences and suggestions on how to integrate lessons into their own work.
- Tuesday, February 11, 2022
- 11am-1pm PST
Speaker series #2
Research Ethics with Urban Indigenous Communities
We know that a significant part of community-engaged research starts before a project even begins with how we build consent for research, and the unique community ethics of each place. We discussed the practices we want to build or are already using to make sure that urban Indigenous Peoples are at the centre of research and projects. We are delighted to be joined by speakers who have experience in navigating consent and ethics including authors of Research 101: A Manifesto for Ethical Research in Vancouveru2019s Downtown Eastside.
- Friday, November 26, 2021
- 11am-1pm PST
Speaker Series #1
Carrying Indigenous Knowledge Into Policy
We shared our expertise, practices, and ethics of bringing Indigenous knowledge into policy. The talk was followed by a group discussion that provides space for questions and sharing.
Guest speaker: Jennifer King, MSW Reconciliation and Policy Coordinator, First Nations Child & Family Caring Society
- Friday, October 29, 2021
- 11am-1pm PST
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