U of L wrapping up week of reconciliation events

By Alexandra Noad - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on September 27, 2024.

Herald photo by Alexandra Noad Tia Marie Salisbury, owner of the painted antler company, sells her beadwork at the Indigenous Artisans Market this week at the University of Lethbridge.

The University of Lethbridge held several events this week to commemorate Truth and Reconciliation week.

On Tuesday the Agility program for entrepreneurs, along with the Iikaisskini Indigenous Services at the university, held button making along with beading for students and community members to enjoy Indigenous inspired crafts.

Colleen Klassen, innovation zone coordinator for Agility, says Iikaisskini invited them to bring button and sticker makers to help spread messages of Truth and Reconciliation such as the university’s Indigenous name, Iniskim, the Metis flag and the possibility to create your own design.

“We talked with Iikaisskini Indigenous services to see what events they had planned and they invited us to come and be part of this day (by) bringing our button and sticker markers and allowing students and community members to create buttons and stickers that had messages of Truth and Reconciliation,” said Klassen.

The Agility program at the university is a grant- and donor-funded program which helps members of the University of Lethbridge with their creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. They have different supports such as materials for prototyping, entrepreneurial support as well as workshops for both students and staff of the University to utilize.

Recently, Agility has been working to make their maker space a place where Indigenous crafting can be integrated with emerging technology.

Klassen says she hopes by having Indigenous staff join the Agility team, there will be a sense of community for Indigenous students.

“We really want to promote those values of respect, collaboration, kindness and learning from each other. So, that idea of two eyed seeing where we might see the world differently, but we can be open to learning from people’s perspectives and bringing it all together,” said Klassen.

All my Relations “Nikso’kowaisi,” the Indigenous student club at the university, put on an artisan’s market in University Hall’s atrium. There were 20 different vendors of Indigenous made clothing, beading and other beautiful creations.

Royal Adkin, Indigenous student advisor with Iikaisskini, says these activities are helping break down barriers to make a brighter future.

“(It’s) providing opportunities for insight int the community. It’s helping to break down barriers and maybe allow people to move forward together,” said Adkin.

Iikaisskini also held a reconciliation barbecue, which was formally their welcome back barbecue, an event that served around 200 students.

The university concluded Truth and Reconciliation week Thursday with a panel on Indigenization and Intercultural Collaboration in Municipal and Postsecondary contexts and an orange shirt day group photo.

The spirit of Truth and Recreation could be felt within the walls of the university, but Adkin hopes the spirit will continue throughout the year.

“We’d love if people were able to come out to the events, we put on throughout the year…if students are wanting to connect with an Elder and learn about Blackfoot specific ways, the ways of this land, we encourage students to come out,” said Adkin.

For more information on events Iikaisskini is hosting they can be found on social media with the username iikaisskini.indigenous as well as online at uleth.ca/indigenous.