As part of ISSofBC (50 years since incorporation) and the Ismaili Community of BC 50th anniversary (Fall 1972 exodus from Uganda), we’re launching 3 moderated discussions over the Fall and Winter related to new perspectives on Immigration to Canada. Our first event, Indigenous views on immigration to Turtle Island, will be held online on 13th September 2022, and will feature a panel of Indigenous leaders from across Canada, moderated by ISSofBC’s Indigenous Advisor, Kory Wilson.

The event will run from 4.30-6.00pm Pacific Time (6.30-8.00pm Central Standard Time, or 7.30pm – 9.00pm Eastern Time).

How have Indigenous communities historically viewed immigration to Canada? And how can greater inclusion of Indigenous communities improve immigration policies today and in the future?

The panelists below will seek to address these questions during the event:

Celeste Haldane: is in her second term as Chief Commissioner of the BC Treaty Commission. She is Musqueam (Coast Salish) and Metlakatla (Tsimshian) from the Sparrow and Haldane families and has European ancestry. She is a practicing lawyer specializing in Indigenous law and corporate governance.

Brenda Gunn is a professor at the University of Manitoba, having completed her LL.M. in Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy at the University of Arizona. As a Metis woman, she provided technical assistance to the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. She is also the Academic & Research Director for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

Norm Leech: Norm has been the Executive Director for the Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre (VACPC) since May 2016. He is trained in facilitation with the Canadian Human Rights Foundation (now Equitas) and with St’at’imc Restorative Justice in Lillooet and worked with the National Centre for First Nations Governance to develop Indigenous governance models.

Shady Hafez: (he/him) is an Algonquin Anishinabe and Syrian member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg. Shady is currently a PhD student in Sociology at the University of Toronto, a Yellowhead Institute Research Fellow and is also the Special Projects Advisor to the National Association of Friendship Centres. With over 15 years’ experience working directly with and for Indigenous communities, Shady has supported communities in the development of programs and services related to health and social well-being to cultural resurgence and political and economic autonomy.

If you’re interested in attending this webinar, you can find the registration link below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_345Hg5oDQQ-a5U4rRxd57g