National Indigenous History Month: Sharing knowledge and resources

Feature Stories | 23 Jun 2023

June is National Indigenous History Month and June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, which gives us an opportunity to celebrate and learn about the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

Extend your learning beyond this month through some of the suggested resources highlighted here.

Indigenous Healthcare Education and Practice: Applying Digital Teaching & Learning Resources to the TRC’s Calls to Action

This educational resource, designed for healthcare learners, provides strategies for applying Indigenous health-related content in their educational study and future healthcare practice. It is an interactive digital collection of training modules, mixed media and other digital resources that draws upon themes of cultural safety, decolonization, equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigeneity.

The Canadian Nurses Association also has a number of Indigenous healthcare resources available.

Indigenous Initiatives at Queen’s

The Office of Indigenous Initiatives builds community, advances reconciliation/conciliation and integrates Indigenous ways of knowing and being into the fabric and life at Queen’s. Some selected resources on their website include a terminology guide, decolonizing and Indigenizing terminology, information on allyship, information about Indigenous art on campus as well as the Extending the Rafters Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) progress reports, training and workshops, and a directory of researchers working in various areas of Indigenous research at Queen’s. Other key resources for the Queen’s community include the Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre and Indigenous Council of Queen’s University

Whose Land

This website app uses GIS technology to help people identify Indigenous Nations, territories and communities across Canada. Explore the map to gain a greater appreciation for the peoples who have lived on it since time immemorial and the treaties that exist. If you’re taking a vacation to any part of Canada this summer, check out this site to learn more about the traditional territories you are visiting.

Watch: The Unforgotten

The Unforgotten is a five-part film anthology exploring the health and wellbeing of Inuit, Métis and First Nations people living in Canada across five stages of life. It uncovers the racism, the impacts of colonialism and ongoing trauma experienced by Indigenous peoples in the Canadian healthcare system. Created by BUILD. Films and Networked Health, with funding and support from the Canadian Medical Association.

Summer reads: Indigenous authors and topics

The Kingston Public library has an Indigenous Portal that showcases new additions to its Indigenous book collection and other local Indigenous resources and services, including StoryMe, a digital library of oral histories from the people who live in this area.

To learn more about topics related to Indigenous law, sovereignty and restorative justice, the Queen’s University Library has curated a collection of titles available to the Queen’s community.

Visit Emergence at Agnes Etherington Art Centre

The Agnes will reopen on July 1 with a new exhibition titled, “Emergence: A Recent Gift of Indigenous Art.” Running until November 12, 2023, this is your chance to experience important early and mid-career works of art by contemporary Indigenous artists from across Turtle Island. Emergence is drawn from a recent gift of Indigenous art by Guardian Capital Group Limited and by Hunger and Valerie Thompson in 2020. On September 21, don’t miss the Frances K. Smith Lectures on artist Norval Morrisseau with Dr. Carmen Robertson and Armand Ruffo.