National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) - Film screening and special guest lecture

On June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day, the McGill University Health Centre, in collaboration with School of Population and Global Health at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of McGill University, will host a film screening and special guest lecture by Katsi'tsakwas Ellen Gabriel. The English documentary is entitledIe'nikonrashátste - Strong spirits: Surviving Canada's Indian residential school system.

This event is an ideal way to participate in this important day, and is part of the hospital’s efforts to raise awareness about the historical, social, and political realities of Indigenous Peoples. By highlighting the importance of supporting the autonomy, sovereignty and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples, this event will in turn help improve the care provided to these patients and their families.

Live event

The event will take place at the Glen site in room DS1.1427 (Cedars Cancer Centre)

Group Zoom viewing rooms across MUHC sites

  • Montreal Children’s Hospital – 3019
  • Cedars Cancer Centre – 1312
  • Montreal General Hospital – 112
  • Lachine Hospital – Salle Charles-Gallant
  • The Neuro – Jeanne Timmins Amphitheatre

Doors will open at 11:45 and seating is on a first-come first served basis.

The MUHC Partnership Office and MUHC Food Services are happy to announce that they will provide bannock bread with jam at the MUHC locations. 

For our colleagues from the McGill community, there will be a group Zoom viewing at the School of Population and Global Health (2001 McGill College Avenue, room 1140).

Zoom registration

For those who can’t attend in person, please register using the Zoom link: https://ca01web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uJzcrM1BQw6Q3DQN5h3dhQ

 

AGENDA

12:00 Introduction of Katsi'tsakwas Ellen Gabriel by Dr. Samir Shaheen-Hussain

12:05 Introduction of documentary by Katsi'tsakwas Ellen Gabriel

12:10 Documentary screening

12:45-13:00 Question and answer session with Katsi'tsakwas Ellen Gabriel

Strong spirits - image

Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel, from Kanehsatà:ke Kanien’kehá:ka Territory, is a documentarian, visual artist and Indigenous human and environmental rights activist.

In 1990, Gabriel graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She believes that education controlled by Indigenous peoples, based upon languages, culture and traditional forms of governance, are paramount to the recovery and reconciliation.

Gabriel was well-known to the public when she was chosen by her community of Kanehsatà:ke to be their spokesperson during the 1990 “Oka” Crisis. Since 1990, she has advocated for the rights to self-determination of Indigenous peoples and has worked diligently to sensitize the public on the issues and realities of Indigenous peoples. She participated in the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Gabriel is a steering committee member of Indigenous Climate Action, addressing the needs and solutions to the violations of Indigenous peoples’ rights, the climate crisis and environmental rights issues.

In 2004, Ellen Gabriel was elected president of the Quebec Native Women’s Association, a position which she held for more than six years. She received the Golden Eagle Award from the Native Women’s Association of Canada in 2005 and the International Women’s Day Award from the Barreau du Québec in 2008. In August 2008, Gabriel was the recipient of the Indigenous Women’s Initiatives “Jigonsaseh Women of Peace Award” for her advocacy work