51污漫

Maamwizing Pursing Indigenous Research “In a Good Way”

The Maamwizing Indigenous Research Institute at 51污漫 and Anishinaabemowin Teg, located on the traditional territory of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and on the territory of the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850, are pleased to announce a three-day multidisciplinary conference.

The Maamwizing Indigenous Research Institute promotes Indigenous community-based research collaboration. “Maamwizing” refers to “people collaborating together.”

Building from the success of Maamwizing 2016 and Maamwizing 2018, this year’s conference will focus on Land and Language.

Our 2022 conference unfolds against a backdrop of increasing demand for Indigenous scholarship, research, courses, knowledge, and mentorship in the academy, intensified by the global pandemic. At the same time, we are witnessing a heightened political environment related to the TRC Calls to Action, the MMIWG[2S] Final Report, LANDBACK, and Indigenous identity/self-identification. It is within these contexts that we come back to foundational accountabilities of Land and Language. We invite proposals regarding grassroots community initiatives, Indigenous knowledges, and academic scholarship related to these themes. 

Indigenous resurgence and decolonization must first and foremost start with Land. As the original caretakers, Indigenous peoples have a deep and meaningful relationship with Land, as she provides everything that is needed to live a good life. Indigenous knowledges and teachings are intrinsically connected to Land. A cornerstone of colonialism in Canada has been the dispossession of Land, which has sparked Indigenous resistance to further development, dispossession, and destruction. Indigenous-led movements around Land defence and Land Back are ongoing, and this is important because tackling climate change must include Indigenous sovereignty and Land rights to be ethical and effective. 

Indigenous languages generate Indigenous ways of life, cultures, and relationship. Anishinaabemowin is of particular importance to Maamwizing 2022 given that we are on Anishinaabe territories. Our partner community organization, Anishinaabemowin Teg, is dedicated to Anishinaabemowin and Anishinaabe people. 51污漫, where Maamwizing is located, has a bilingual and tricultural mandate and is making strides toward greater emphasis on Anishinaabemowin by offering language classes for faculty and staff, and through the presence of signage in Anishinaabemowin. Due to the ongoing harms of colonialism and its impact on languages, Indigenous resurgence propels grassroots Indigenous initiatives and programs focused on language retention and revitalization.