Africentric Literacies

January 20, 7:00 p.m.
Seton Academic Centre, Auditorium A, Mount Saint Vincent University 

Featuring keynote speaker/performer:  Shauntay Grant (spoken word artist, singer, radio host, author) followed by various expressions/performances which will demonstrate various understandings of what Africentric Literacies are. This event includes a reception with light refreshments in Seton Room 404-405.

The evening event will be lively, interesting and thought provoking.It will address the questions: What are Africentric Literacies?

This event will be appropriate for educators (including parents, community leaders, and teachers) as well as youth and children.

January 21, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Seton Academic Centre, 404-405, Mount Saint Vincent University 

The morning will begin with a panel discussion followed by workshops. Workshops will be interactive and involve creative hands-on activities. All ages are welcome. The panel and workshops will explore the role each of the following play in developing and supporting Africentric literacies:spoken word/poetry, storytelling, song, music (including drumming), Black literature, quilting, churches, and schools, etc. Panelists and workshop leaders are teachers, musicians, story-tellers, quilters, singers, graduate students, and community activists from African Canadian communities.

The session will address the questions: What are Africentric Literacies? What is the value of Africentric Literacies in our communities? How can we honour, support and build on Africentric Literacies in different contexts? In what ways can educators engage adults, youth and children in Africentric Literacies and to what end?            

This event will be appropriate for B.Ed students, school teachers, post secondary teachers, parents, community leaders including elders, as well as youth and children.

RSVP msvu.ca by 19 January 2012.

Women's Contemporary Aboriginal Issues and Resistance Series   

January 26, 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Seton Academic Centre, 404-405, Mount Saint Vincent University
Presenter: Cathy Martin, film-maker and "The Story of Annie Mae"

February 2, 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery
Presenter: Shirley Bear, C.M., visual artist, writer, and Tobique First Nations Women's Group, and Ursula Johnson, Mi'kmaw basket maker and activist, MSVU Art Gallery's Artist-in-Residence

February 9, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Seton Academic Centre, 404-405, Mount Saint Vincent University
Presenters: Joan Glode, C.M., founder and former director of Mi'kmaw Family and Youth Services
Ruth Cuthand: BACK TALK exhibition, MSVU Art Gallery

February 15, 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Seton Academic Centre, 404-405, Mount Saint Vincent University
Presenter: Dorothy Christian, media critic, doctoral student, First Nations House, UBC

Teaching Our Children to Read: Strategies for Public Schools

March 6, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 
Seton Academic Centre, Auditorium A, and Rm 404-405, Mount Saint Vincent University

Come learn about the Nova Scotia Department of Education’s  Early Literacy Support Framework and about approaches for children who continue to have difficulties with reading acquisition beyond the initial school years.  The session will be hosted by Dr. Jamie Metsala, Gail and Stephen Jarislowsky Chair in Learning Disabilities, MSVU Faculty of Education.     

Presenters include Janet Porter  & Annie Baert, Nova Scotia Department of Education.

The Mi'kmaq and Kat (American Eel) Project - Researching with Respect and Mi'kmaq Knowledge Assessment 

March 22, 5:00 p.m.
Seton Academic Centre, Rm 404-405, Mount Saint Vincent University

Paq'tnkek Fish and Wildlife Society (PFWS) has researched its own community's knowledge regarding the relationships between the Paq'tnkek First Nation Mi'kmaq and Kat (American eel - Anguilla rostrata).  Our presentation entitled:  “The Mi'kmaq and Kat (American Eel) Project  - Researching with Respect” will describe our research process and highlight results which will help our community to preserve and keep the  cultural and spiritual connections with Kat alive. 

 The Mi’kmaq Knowledge Assessment examines the questions:  “Do assessment tests really determine one’s ability to learn and should one’s culture first be considered?”   Through this workshop, you will learn how important one’s culture can be to determining one’s ability to learn and how they demonstrate that knowledge.  Stories and knowledge will be shared and in conclusion a “talking circle” will be used to give you an opportunity to share thoughts in regards to the overall workshop.     

Presenters include Aboriginal researchers, Kerry Prosper and Mary Jane Paulette as well as award winning Mi'kmaq singer Derrick Paulette.