EDID Awareness Week 2023

Wampum Learning Lodge, Western University, 1137 Western Rd, London, ON N6G 1G7

Please join us to welcome the day and give thanks with Ojibway and Oneida Cultural Knowledge Keeper Liz Akiwenzie. Registration is required as capacity is limited.

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Wampum Learning Lodge, Western University, 1137 Western Rd, London, ON N6G 1G7

Wampum Learning Lodge guests are welcome to join us for breakfast following the Sunrise Ceremony. Speeches by executive members from Western, Kings, Brescia, and Huron. Registration is required as capacity is limited. 

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Wampum Learning Lodge, Western University, 1137 Western Rd, London, ON N6G 1G7

Indigenous leadership roles in Canadian universities are increasingly held by Indigenous women who, despite their increasing numbers, often find themselves working in tricky academic administrative contexts. This talk will explore some of the deeper and ongoing structural and ideological challenges that limit institutional-Indigenization work in Canadian universities with a particular focus on the lived experiences of Indigenous women administrators striving to advance institutional change.

Space is limited. Registration is required.

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Wampum Learning Lodge, Western University, 1137 Western Rd, London, ON N6G 1G7

Join Shayla Oulette Stonechild (she/her) for an intention setting medication focused on "Choice is Power", followed by a keynote that weaves in her personal story and how that relates to Canada's ongoing history and current relationship with Indigenous people. She will discuss her journey of intergenerational healing, life promotion (suicide prevention) and how she utilizes her voice within mainstream conversations, content creating, campaigns and creating a community driven platform (@matriarch.movement)

Shayla aims to ignite a collective understanding of the resilience and knowledge embedded within the Nehiyaw (Cree) culture and language, while challenging the dominant narratives that have attempted to erase Indigenous voices, culture and communities. Shayla will share insights into the importance of reclaiming Indigenous values, which emphasize balance and harmony with nature, interconnectedness , and the holistic well-being of individuals and communities.

Through this exploration, we will gain a deeper understanding of the urgent need to dismantle oppressive systems, restore Indigenous sovereignty, and create spaced for genuine reconciliation.

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Joanne and Peter Kenny Theatre, Darryl J. King Student Life Centre, King’s University College. 266 Epworth Ave, London, ON

Panelists: Moses Latigo, Tanya Hansler, Dan Twist

Join us as we look at how we can raise awareness and reduce the stigma of raising children who have been diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome. In this short documentary film, the journey is not easy. This pilot film explores the intersectional challenges that exist for Black Caregivers in Canada who face the challenges of institutional barriers, systemic discrimination and daily microaggressions while parenting a child that does not fit into the norm. A panel discussion with parents with lived experience of navigating the world of parenting a child with a disability will follow. Registration is required. ASL interpreter and closed captions will be available. 

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Joanne and Peter Kenny Theatre, Darryl J. King Student Life Centre, King’s University College. 266 Epworth Ave, London, ON 

In-Person Panelists - Tom Cull, Clint Jacobs, Skylar Franke, Sarah Welch, plus four students’ council presidents (Sunday Ajak, Laura Crowe, Aaryan Lakhan Paul, Maathangi Rudranantha)

Virtual Panelist - David Suzuki

This event is part of a King’s Author Series hosted by the Cardinal Carter Library, The Write Place at King's, the King's University College Students' Council, and King’s Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization.

Internationally known and revered advocate, activist and author David Suzuki will speak to our community about environmental equity issues as well as the challenge of systemic racism. He will speak to the connectedness that we all share with the Earth and how we can use that connection to support well-being in one another. This talk will be followed by a panel discussion with London’s leaders in Environmental Advocacy. Registration is required. ASL interpreter and closed captions will be available.

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Virtual (Zoom)

Rising to prominence in the late 20^th century, the term “special needs” animates early efforts to integrate disability within education, be it the IDEA Act (1990) in the US or the “Special Education” system in Ontario. While the term itself has slowly fallen out of favour, it’s ideological rot has left current accessibility efforts on shaky ground. Rooted in personal and professional experience, this presentation considers how our accessibility efforts built on a hegemonic binary of mainstream versus “special” students will almost assuredly fail to result in genuine inclusion and asks: What if Western conceived of disabled people not as having “special needs” but human rights? Registration is required.

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Zoom (Virtual)

In recent years, organizations have committed to increasing opportunities for diverse employees to be successful in the workplace. It is imperative that employers consider neurodiverse people among the other equity-deserving groups. Population studies tell us that 1 in 5 people are neurodiverse! These folks have unique ways of interpreting and interacting with the environment and people around them with impacts on thinking, learning, emotional regulation, and behaviour. Now is the time to identify how organizations, leaders, and colleagues alike can support neurodiverse people in the workplace with departmental policies, routine practices, and person-specific strategies. This presentation and the accompanying toolkit offer concrete ideas to put into practice in YOUR workplace. Registration is required. 

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Zoom (Virtual)

This presentation will offer academic and real-world experience concerning how to navigate the accommodations process of graduate education. I will explore the differences in accommodations between undergraduate and graduate education, and the importance of individualized and flexible accommodations for graduate students. Access challenges for outside-the-classroom learning opportunities (leadership, conferences, publication) will be problematized with solutions offered to make these spaces more equitable. Timelines land milestones, a cornerstone of graduate education will be discussed with an offering to consider these approaches using a crip time lens. Registration is required. 

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The Mercato at Brescia University College

Event Sponsored by Centre for Women's Leadership at Brescia

Join us for a presentation and talk that will amplify dialogue on gender, 2SLGBTQ+ Advocacy/Support and race equity in leadership! Join student alum and leaders as they welcome Dr. ABC on this important talk during EDID awareness week! Registration is required. 

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Great Hall, Huron, 1349 Western Rd, London, ON N6G 1H3

Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Day of Action guest speaker Cultural Knowledge Keeper Liz Akiwenzie. Teachings about Women and the sacredness they hold. Please join us for lunch in Huron’s Great Hall following Liz Akawanzie's teachings. Registration is required.  

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Theatre, Huron, 1349 Western Rd, London, ON N6G 1H3

Periphery is an evocative photographic and film project that bears witness to ethnic diversity in the Jewish community. Sharing narratives from individuals of multiracial and multiethnic backgrounds, Periphery creates space to look, listen, and learn from participants as they share their experiences and explore ideas of representation, intersectionality, ethnicity, race, and sexuality.
Following the short film, join Akilah Allen-Silverstein, co-creator of the project in a discussion about intersecting identities and inclusion.

This event is in collaboration with Western Hillel.

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Theatre, Huron, 1349 Western Rd, London, ON N6G 1H3

Panelist: Dr. Robert Ventresca, Hannah Alper, Judith Dworkin, Jacqueline Dressler

Antisemitism - hate and discrimination towards Jews - has been on the rise in recent years. According to Statistics Canada’s latest report on police-reported hate crime, Jewish Canadians remain the country’s most frequently targeted religious minority. Jews are approximately 1% of Canada’s population but were victimized by 67% of religiously motivated hate crimes.

Join experts including faculty, community members and students, in a moderated discussion about the history of antisemitism, how it manifests today, and hopes for the future.

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The Mercato at Brescia University College

Event Sponsored by Centre for Women's Leadership at Brescia

Panelists: Siham Elkassem, Ahmer Khan, Nusaiba Al-Azem. Moderators: Shahin Pardhan, Hooriya Ansari, Tala Nairoukh

Join Western, Brescia, King’s, and Huron as we host experts from the City of London on Islamophobia and Xenophobia. Join us as we welcome Siham Elkassem (PhD) (C), Ahmer Khan (Muslim Community Liaison Advisor), and Nusaiba Al-Azem (Holds a Juris Doctor from Western Law and is Director of Legal Affairs at the National Council of Canadian Muslims/Canada’s foremost anti-islamophobia advocacy organization) to discuss ways to disrupt Islamophobia and Xenophobia in our systems and city while we come together in unity and strength with community! Registration is required. 

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Joanne and Peter Kenny Theatre, King Student Life Centre, King’s University College. 266 Epworth Ave, London, ON N6A 3X9

This film is an examination of over 400 troubled years of the British monarchy as it relates to colonialism and the crimes of the slave trade, slavery, and genocide of indigenous people, with calls today for restorative justice and reparation.  The film will be followed with a Q&A with the Director and Producer of the film, Shelley Jarrett, and Writer and Co-Producer, Andrew Paseika. Registration is required. ASL interpreter and closed captions will be available.

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Vitali Student Lounge, Wemple Hall, King’s University College

Panelists: Dr. Jane Sanders. Panelists: Moses Latigo, Leroy Osbourne, Colette Chapman, Michelle Young

Join us for a thought-provoking presentation by Dr. Jane Sanders that delves into the critical issue of disproportionate school discipline. In this session, we will explore the disparities in disciplinary actions faced disproportionately by Black, Indigenous, male identified students, students requiring educational support, and those residing in lower resourced communities. We will articulate macro factors, including educational policy, which contribute to these disparities and their far-reaching consequences on academic achievement, mental health, and future opportunities. We will further discuss the implications of disproportionate and unacknowledged exposure to expanded forms of adversity (including systemic racism, inequity, and violence) for students who are over-surveilled and under-supported. Important experiences are not conventionally acknowledged as adversity, and certain students are not viewed as traumatized by their experiences. This work invites students, educators, parents, and policymakers to engage in a crucial dialogue aimed at creating positive change and ensuring every student's right to an equitable education. Registration is required.

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Joanne and Peter Kenny Theatre, King Student Life Centre, King’s University College. 266 Epworth Ave, London, ON N6A 3X9

The “school-to-prison pipeline” is a disturbing national trend wherein children are funnelled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems.  The Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) led a province-wide research and advocacy initiative on anti-Black racism and oppression in our educational and justice systems, and produced Links to Justice — a documentary on the school-to-prison pipeline in Ontario, produced by Moses Latigo Odida. Registration is required. ASL interpreter and closed captions will be available.

Register for this event (in-person). 

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Joanne and Peter Kenny Theatre, King Student Life Centre, King’s University College. 266 Epworth Ave, London, ON N6A 3X9

Join us as we celebrate the closing of EDID Awareness Week 2023. Registration is not required.