The Tecumseh Centre for Aboriginal Research and Education hosted a Dinner and Drum Social recently to share research with the Aboriginal community.

The social was held at the Niagara Regional Native Centre. It began with an address from Michael Manley-Casimir, professor of Education, who spoke about the importance of supporting Aboriginal women in education. He was followed by the keynote speaker, Kim Anderson, a Cree/Metis scholar, educator and author of A Recognition of Being: Reconstructing Native Womanhood and the co-edited anthology Strong Women Stories: Native Vision and Community Survival.

Jennifer Brant, program developer at the Tecumseh Centre, presented her research on the development of an Aboriginal Women’s Certificate program.

There were also performances by Keysa Parker (jingle dress dancer), Adrienne Smoke (fancy shawl dancer) and Nicole Shawana (hoop dancer). Champion powwow drum group Whitefish Jrs. facilitated a Round Dance Social and offered teachings on both the Cree Round Dance and the Haudenosaunee Social Dances. More than 150 people attended.

For more information on the development of the Aboriginal Women’s Certificate Program, contact Jennifer Brant at jbrant@brocku.ca