Language in the Era of Reconciliation
Canada is actively building collective knowledge about our true shared history with indigenous peoples, language, identity and nationhood. With national movements under way, have you found yourself tongue-tied trying to find the right language to engage indigenous peoples and start meaningful conversations? Learn how to become a better ally by exploring how language can strengthen relationships with First Nations, Metis and Indigenous peoples. Featuring guest speakers Victor Grant and Bruce Lawson.
Date and time: October 15, 10:30 am
Location: Shq'apthut, Gathering Place, Building 170
Gender and Sexual Orientation Workshop
Featuring guest speaker Kerri Isham, a sexual education specialist from PowerUp. This event is hosted by the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Date and time: October 17, 1:00-2:30 pm
Location: Building 356, Room 109
How Immigration Policies on International Students Impact Educational Institutions
Featuring guest speaker Mak Ergasheva. This is part of a Lunch and Learn series hosted by the Scholarship, Research and Creative Activities office.
Date and time: October 29, 12 noon -1:00 pm
Location: Building 305, Room 440 (lounge).
World VIU Days
At Vancouver Island University, WorldVIU Days is a week-long annual event where we explore how culture influences the way we make sense of the world – our worldview. This year we will focus on creating a connected community through showcasing efforts that students, staff and faculty are making to increase social connections between people from different cultural backgrounds.
Date and time: November 4-8, 2019
For more information, please visit: https://international.viu.ca/worldviu-days
Popcorn and a Movie - Shameless: The Art of Disability
This is a documentary film about persons living with a disability, and explores culture and the transformational power of art for these persons. Hosted by Disability Access Services.
Date and time: December 3, 2019, 1:30-3.30 pm
Location: Building 200, Room 203
WEEKLY AND MONTHLY EVENTS
The Na’tsa’ maht Shqwaluwun: One Heart, One Mind learning series
The Na’tsa’ maht Shqwaluwun: One Heart, One Mind learning series includes a range of half-day, full-day and multiple-day education sessions taking place throughout the school year that are free and open to all interested faculty, staff, students and community members. Such learning series offer a variety of ways to learn more about Indigenous Perspectives and engage with others.
For more information, please visit https://aboriginal.viu.ca/natsa-maht-shqwaluwun
There are four events in the series, including:
Smudging with Auntie Stella
Smudging is traditionally a ceremony for purifying or cleansing the soul of negative thoughts of a person or place.
Date and time: Mondays, 9:00-10.30 am
Location: Shq'apthut - Gathering Place, Building 170
For more information, please visit https://aboriginal.viu.ca/smudging-auntie-stella-0
Soup & Bannock
This speaker’s series is held by Office of Aboriginal Education & Engagement at Vancouver Island University and sponsored by various VIU departments. These talks are Tuesday over the lunch hour once a month in Shq’apthut – A Gathering Place and provide the opportunity for students, staff, faculty and community to expand their experience and awareness in current Indigenous topics and various aspects of Aboriginal Ways of being and Knowing.
Date and time: Tuesday, monthly, 11.30 am-1:00 pm
Location: Shq'apthut - Gathering Place, Building 170
For more information, please visit https://aboriginal.viu.ca/professional-development
Indigenous Book Circles
The Indigenous Book Circles offer an opportunity to those interested in discussing the prominent and contemporary themes present in Indigenous literature of all genres. The Office of Aboriginal Education and Engagement at Vancouver Island University has generously offered to purchase books for up to 20 participants for each circle.
Dates and locations:
November 6, 2019 at Strong Nations Gifts & Books
January 22, 2020 at VIU Library, Building 305, Room 509
To register, please visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/indigenous-book-circle-the-marrow-thieves-facilitated-by-dawn-thompson-tickets-71393197977
Kairos Blanket Exercise sessions
The KAIROS Blanket Exercise is a facilitated two-hour interactive exercise. The exercise is facilitated by a Narrator who walks the participants through the history of treaty-making, colonization and resistance that resulted in the nation we today call Canada.
Dates, times and locations:
November 22, 9:00-11:00 am, Building 355, Room 211
March 13, 2020, 9:00-11:00 am, Building 305, Room 507
For more information, please visit https://aboriginal.viu.ca/professional-development
Disability Access Services
The Disability Access Services Office provides information, support services and reasonable accommodation in all programs to students with documented permanent and temporary disabilities ranging from mental health, ADHD, learning disabilities, chronic health issues, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities and temporary impairments due to accident, illness or injury.
Date and time: Thursdays, 1:00-2:00 pm
Location: Shq’apthut – A Gathering Place, Building 170
For more information, please visit https://aboriginal.viu.ca/disability-access-services
Culture Couch
The Culture Couch Series is a place to engage in cross-cultural understanding. Each session is uniquely crafted by student volunteers who take on the role of hosts and share aspects of their culture with their peers. The evening often consists of sampling traditional foods, sharing music, and engaging in conversation.
Date and time: Every Tuesday, 5:00-6:00 pm
Location: First floor, Building 255
For more information, please visit https://international.viu.ca/culture-couch
https://www.facebook.com/VIUCulturalConnections/
Local Hike
Every Friday, the Cultural Connections Team will lead a hike around Nanaimo. This is the great occasion for you to explore some of the most scenic trails and make friends.
Date and time: Fridays, 1:30-4:00 pm.
Location: meeting at Building 255
Upcoming hikes: Oct 4 - Jack point
Oct 18 - Westwood Lake
Nov 15 – Englishman
For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/VIUCulturalConnections/
https://international.viu.ca/cclocalhikes
Cultural Connections Road Trip
Every semester, the Cultural Connections Road Trips team prepare a schedule of seasonal weekly Road Trips activities available to all registered VIU students.
Date: Saturdays.
Location: meeting at Building 255
For more information, please visit https://international.viu.ca/ccroadtrips
https://www.facebook.com/VIUCulturalConnections/
No Worries Wednesday
No Worries Wednesday is a series where blog contributors speak to a topic which they were worried about before they participated in an education abroad experience.
Men’s Group
This is a male community with 8 weeks of group meetings, during in the fall and spring semesters.
-Build skills
-Receive empathy
-Be heard and understood
-Experience a safe place to talk
-Talk about what your needs are as a male
Date and time: Fridays, 10:30 am-12 noon
For more information, please call 250.740.6416, or email Albert.Seinen@viu.ca or drop in at the Health and Wellness Centre (B200 R308) to arrange a meeting.
Or visit https://services.viu.ca/counselling/mens-group
Community Peace Garden
The Community Peace Garden hosts a weekly work party at the Peace Garden Educational Ecosystem on VIU campus, every Saturday from 1-3 pm. This is the great occasion for you to learn about pollinators, permaculture, urban farming, biodiversity, sustainable gardening practices, and engage with others.
Date and time: Saturdays, 1:00-3:00 pm
For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/123895207634629
VIU Residence/ The ResLife
The VIU Residence Team will host exciting events either weekly or monthly, for example: Good Food Box cooking night on the second Wednesday of each month. Check out their Facebook page for upcoming events.
For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/viuresidence/
The Indigenous Perspectives Learning Circle Group
The group made up of 10 Indigenous, five international, and five non-Indigenous students meet monthly over the school year to discuss how to better incorporate Indigenous perspectives into their work, studies and personal lives.
For more information, please visit https://news.viu.ca/student-group-discusses-truth-and-reconciliation
https://adm.viu.ca/reconciliation-road
Positive Space Alliance
Positive Space promotes the creation of a space defined by equality, free from discrimination and hate. It is a public proclamation of support and affirmation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning (LGBTQ+) members of our community, making the campus a more welcoming place for all. Positive Space often host some events or training sessions to promote inclusion at VIU. Checking for upcoming events through the Facebook page.
For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/ViuPositiveSpaceAlliance
https://adm.viu.ca/positive-space/calendar-events
Queer and Allies Meeting - Let's Have a Kiki
Positive Space Alliance is hosting a meeting every Wednesday at the VIU Residence.
Date and time: Wednesdays, 5:00-600 pm
Location: VIU Residences, Building 4 - Cedar Center.
Global Groove
Global Groove is a FREE monthly concert series produced just for VIU students! Each month features a different musical genre from around the world. Concerts are the first Thursday of every month, September-April.
Date and time: First Thursday of every month, 9:00 pm - midnight.
Location: Campus pub.
For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/VIUCulturalConnections/
https://international.viu.ca/global-groove