From opportunities to enjoy beloved home foods to discovering the art of traditional stick and poke tattoos, a packed schedule of events at Brock University will honour the heritage, cultures and contributions of Indigenous Peoples next week.

Hosted by the Hadiya’dagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre  from Monday, June 16 to Thursday, June 19, Indigenous Peoples Awareness Week (IPAW) will feature a variety of free, hands-on workshops and events and is open to everyone in the Brock and wider communities.

IPAW takes place in the lead up to National Indigenous People’s Day, which recognizes the heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people across Canada.

“IPAW is our favourite time of year,” says Cindy Biancaniello, Director of Hadiya’dagénhahs. “It’s a time to celebrate as we invite Indigenous partners to the campus to facilitate cultural experiences to share the beauty of First Nations, Metis and Inuit culture.”

The week begins with a sunrise ceremony at 5 a.m. and flag raising at 9 a.m. on June 16. Biancaniello will then host a seal skin earring making workshop at 10 a.m. in the Hadiya’dagénhahs lounge (TH145). Student Advisor and Recruiter Kaitlyn Austin (BSc ’24) and Indigenous Plus Consultant Evelyn Dilworth (BEd ’24, BA ’24) will also lead a Land Acknowledgment Workshop at noon that day in Pond Inlet, where attendees will learn the importance of meaningfully acknowledging the traditional land Brock is situated on and get tips for writing an acknowledgement.

Delby Powless, a Mohawk lacrosse player from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation, will host a traditional lacrosse stick info session on Wednesday, June 18 at 2 p.m. He will explain the cultural significance of the game as well as how a traditional lacrosse stick is made. There will then be an opportunity to give lacrosse a shot on June 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Alumni Field, where coaches will be on hand to teach the basics of the game.

The University’s Indigenous Engagement Office and the Goodman School of Business will host the fifth installment of the annual Indigenous Leader Speaker Series on June 19 from noon to 4 p.m. This year’s honouree is Fallon Farinacci, who will join Robyn Bourgeois, Brock’s Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement, for the webinar. A proud Red River Métis, Farinacci is a well-known speaker, survivor and advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Bourgeois will also host a panel titled We Are All Treaty People on June 18, with more details to follow closer to the event.

Other highlights include:

• Caribou Hair Tufting on June 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Alphie’s Trough
• Drum making workshop on June 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Alphie’s Trough
• Traditional fire teaching workshop on June 17 from 10 a.m. to noon at Alphie’s Trough
• Talking Circle on June 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Alphie’s Trough
• Introduction to land-based learning on June 18 from 10 a.m. to noon at Alphie’s Trough
• Nature walk on June 18 from noon to 1 p.m. on the Bruce Trail behind main campus.
• Peyote stich rings workshop on June 19 from 10 a.m. to noon at Alphie’s Trough
• Métis Finger Weaving on June 19 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Alphie’s Trough

All events are free but some require registration in advance. Events listing and more information can be found on Eventbrite.