Imagining and creating Indigenous futures

PETERBOROUGH— Well over one hundred Indigenous community leaders, experts, and decision makers are expected to gather at Trent University February 18 to 21, 2020 for CINSA 2020, a conference co-hosted by the Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network (UAKN), the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies at Trent University, and the Canadian Indigenous/Native Studies Association (CINSA).

This year’s conference will feature presentations, discussions, film screenings, and performances that highlight community-driven research on the theme of Imagining and Creating Indigenous Futures, particularly in urban spaces.

“CINSA 2020 is in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of Indigenous Studies at Trent University and the twentieth anniversary of the Indigenous Studies PhD program at Trent,” said David Newhouse, Chair of the conference. “The Conference will also be a showcase for the work of the Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network, the largest urban Indigenous research initiative in Canadian history. Truly, it’s a time of reflection upon where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going as Indigenous peoples.”

Keynote speakers include Drew Hayden Taylor, one of Canada’s leading Native playwrights and humourists, and Sylvia Maracle, journalist, noted speaker, and world-changer.

“We’re extremely excited to hear from Drew and Sylvia,” said Newhouse, “Sylvia has been a prominent leader in the Friendship Centre movement for more than 40 years and there really isn’t a topic she is not familiar with. And in Drew, we have an award-winning writer who has managed to bridge the gap between cultures by tickling the funny bone. These will be great keynotes.”

The conference will open with an evening reception at the Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront on Tuesday, February 18. All other events will take place at the Enwayaang Building at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, February 19 to 21, 2020.

Indigenous and non-Indigenous community leaders and administrators, program managers, policy makers, researchers, and students will benefit from attending and the public is welcome. Advance registration is required. Further information and online registration are at www.uakn.org/CINSA.

For more information, media can contact:

indigenousstudies@trentu.ca