Workshops

Using Dadibaajim
By Helen Olsen Agger

Helen Olsen Agger was born in Northwest Ontario and grew up in the Namegosibiing Trout Lake homelands of her Anishinaabe mother. She credits her ability to speak Anishinaabemowin (as a second language) to her mother’s resolve to hold onto the ancestors’ cultural ways. In pursuit of a post-secondary education, Helen acquired her PhD in Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Agger traces the life history of her mother Dedibaayaanimanook in Following Nimishoomis: The Trout Lake history of Dedibaayaanimanook Sarah Keesick Olsen (Theytus Publications, 2008). In her second book, Dadibaajim: Returning Home Through Narrative (University of Manitoba Press, 2021), she describes the Namegosibii Anishinaabeg and their claim to the homelands by exploring the significance of narrative, language, and land. Her current work focuses on the teachings that her mother shared with her and her siblings, underscoring their increasing relevance in today's world.

This workshop will consider a research approach that reflects and demonstrates awareness of Indigenous sensibilities. It will include questions based on excerpts from Dadibaajim about objectives and rationale, expected outcomes, methodologies, and application to one’s own research.

Colonial Archives and Community Histories: Reading Records Together Across the Treaty Line
By Michele Solomon & Travis Hay

Michele Solomon is member and an elected Councillor for Fort William First Nation in her third term of office. She is a proud mother and grandmother. Michele earned a BA Indigenous Learning degree (Lakehead University) and Social Service Worker Diploma (Confederation College). One of her many roles as Councillor is to provide guidance and knowledge towards a substantial portfolio area for the First Nation, which includes Health and Community Services, Finance and Youth and Social Development. Michele currently works as a Community Development Manager for the Ontario Native Women’s Association. In her role as Community Development Manager, Michele leads programs focused on Indigenous Women’s Leadership. Michele also served on the ONWA Board of Directors from 1988-1993. Michele’s main area of expertise is Mental Health and Addictions stemming from her many years of employment as a Team Leader and Manager at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care and Health Centre Manager for White Cedar. From her background in these areas, it has allowed her to obtain a strong knowledge of opioid addiction and treatment.

Travis Hay is a Canadian historian of settler colonialism who teaches in the Department of Humanities at Mount Royal University. Travis was born and raised in Thunder Bay and has published several articles discussing past and present colonial realities that shape social relations in northwestern Ontario. His first book – Inventing the Thrifty Gene – was published with the University of Manitoba Press in 2021.

In this workshop, Michele Solomon of Fort William First Nation will be joined by historian Travis Hay. The pair will discuss their respective work in unpacking local histories of settler colonialism in Thunder Bay with a focus on specific archival records that speak to this troubled history of broken treaties, land-taking, and a larger pattern of disrespect shown by the leadership of Thunder Bay towards Indigenous peoples in general and FWFN in particular.

Indigenous Environment Knowledge & Successful Allyship By Elder Dorothy Taylor, Sacred Water Circle

Dorothy Taylor is a Mississauga Ojibwefrom Curve Lake First Nation. She is known for her work and traditional teachings about the sacredness of water. She is asked to share traditional knowledge and ceremony within her community and various organizations throughout Peterborough and surrounding area. She is a hand drummer and singer. Elder Dorothy Taylor is the founder of the Sacred Water Circle, inspired by traditional Indigenous teachings and leading with hope and spiritual courage, the Sacred Water Circle sees a restored relationship between human communities and water. She has served as a volunteer on the Petroglyph Advisory Council of Curve Lake for 12 years. Currently, Dorothy is the Co-Chair of the local United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation sponsored through the Kawartha World Issues Centre. Dorothy achieved an honours degree from Trent University in Economic Development and Administration.

She lives in Curve Lake with her husband Mark and two sons.

This workshop stems from Elder Dorothy Taylor's experience with the Sacred Water Circle. In 2011, inspired by the call of Indigenous spiritual leaders worldwide to protect and bring awareness to the water, Dorothy founded the Sacred Water Circle, which positions environmental issues as spiritually-based issues and utilizes a spirituality first approach to create dialogue around and motivate communities and governments to act to set policy that will protect the water.