Vancouver Community College celebrates National Aboriginal Day
Celebrate National Aboriginal Day on Friday, June 16 with specialty workshops and a meal.
Vancouver Community College celebrates National Aboriginal Day on June 16. The Indigenous Education and Community Engagement department will be sponsoring a keynote address by Drew Hayden Taylor, five interactive workshops throughout the day, and a meal at noon.
There are limited seats in each of the workshops and for lunch. Please register early to avoid disappointment!
Keynote presenter, Drew Hayden Taylor
An Ojibway from the Curve Lake First Nations in Ontario, Drew Hayden Taylor has worn many hats in his literary career, from performing stand-up comedy at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., to being Artistic Director of Canada’s premiere Native theatre company, Native Earth Performing Arts. He has been an award-winning playwright (with over 70 productions of his work), a journalist/columnist (appearing regularly in several Canadian newspapers and magazines), a short-story writer, a novelist, a television scriptwriter, and has worked on over 17 documentaries exploring the Native experience. Most notably, he wrote and directed REDSKINS, TRICKSTERS AND PUPPY STEW, a documentary on Native humour for the National Film Board of Canada.
Agenda
| 9 a.m. | Welcome reception | Event space |
| 9:30 a.m. | Opening remarks and welcome | Event space |
| 10 a.m. | Keynote address | Event space |
| 11:15 a.m. | Workshop 1A: The complex world of writing, Drew Hayden Taylor | B1215 |
| 11:15 a.m. | Workshop 1B: From the classroom to the workplace, Indigenous alumni panel | B1223 |
| 11:15 a.m. | Open session: 150 Thoughts and feelings about Canada's 150 | B1227 |
| 12:15 p.m. | Lunch | |
| 1:30 p.m. | Workshop 2A: Comic books - storytelling through graphic art, Cole Pauls | B1210 |
| 1:30 p.m. | Workshop 2B: Leading the way - Indigenizing programs at VCC | B1212 |
| 1:30 p.m. | Open session: 150 Thoughts and feelings about Canada's 150 | B1213 |
| 2:45 p.m. | Closing remarks and door prize |
Workshop 1A: The complex world of writing
Broadway B – Room 1215
Join author of numerous plays and books Drew Hayden Taylor as he discusses literary creation, and addresses everything we want to know about the complex world of writing and publishing. Short cuts and pit falls. What to do and what not to do. And, what the heck is a dangling modifier?
Workshop 1B: From the classroom to the workplace- Indigenous alumni panel
Broadway B – Room 1223
Five Indigenous VCC Alumni representing health sciences, culinary, hair design and automotive programs will return to discuss the VCC experience and the transition into the workforce. What did it take for them to be successful in the program and in the workforce and what suggestions do they have for new students and faculty?
Workshop 2A: Comic books - storytelling through graphic art
Broadway B – Room 1210
An introductory workshop with local artist and author Cole Pauls of the Tahltan Nation on how to write, draw, and design your own story. Cole has just published his second comic in Dakwakada Warriors that mixes traditional stories with science fiction with parts written in the Tahltan language.
Workshop 2B: Leading the way- Indigenizing programs at Vancouver Community College
Broadway B – Room 1212
Join Fionna Chong, Department Head & Instructor, Baking and Pastry Arts and Shari Laliberte, R.N., Ph.D., Bachelor of Science in Nursing, as they discuss their experiences working with urban and rural Indigenous communities, organizations, and individuals to develop respectful, relevant, and responsive Indigenous content and curriculum.
All day drop-in session: 150 Thoughts and feelings about Canada’s 150
Broadway B – 1227, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Broadway B – 1213, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
These classrooms will be open throughout the day and we encourage you to drop in and share your personal thoughts and feelings about what Canada 150 means to you in 150 written words or images. All voices are welcome. Be creative and have fun!