Frybread Power: The Significance of Indigenous Empowerment, Pride & Resilience for Health

The program is intended to show and convey the value and goodness of doing this important work with the use of First Nations culture, ceremony and spirituality. We will be using our traditional songs, prayer chants and cultural processes to welcome our Ancestors, and to anchor ourselves in a spirit of purpose, dignity and healing. We have been intensely mindful and respectful of the speakers that have agreed to talk about and share their experiences and perspectives.

The program outlines the day’s sequence of proceedings, and is generally customary in many BC First Nation communities when doing important cultural and ceremonial work. The program is not set to a standard western academic schedule. The event will begin at 9:00 am and aim to conclude at 4:00 pm, and lunch will be provided at about 12:00 pm with refreshments provided throughout the day for all of those in attendance. There is no cost for this event, and the food will be provided for everyone because it is also important to nourish the body while nurturing our minds and hearts.

It is important to be aware of how you are feeling throughout the event and to be aware of the need to be mindful, respectful and dignified with the speakers and with each other. Listening and participating in these important conversations about the context of truth and reconciliation is both difficult and unfamiliar for many of us, and particularly for those in the audience who are Indigenous – First Nations, Inuit, Métis. Similar to the virtual Indigenous Speakers Series sessions, this event will not include a Q&A or open comment period for the audience.

8:00 am | Check-in & light breakfast

Kindly arrive early and check-in, and to be seated and ready to start promptly at 9:00 am.

8:45 am | Process & Housekeeping

The day is scheduled from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, and will follow a focused and orderly progression. The event is both in-person and live-stream. Refreshments and lunch are provided for those attending in-person. There are accessible washrooms onsite.

We will introduce the great good people who are volunteering to support the day’s work.

9:00 am | Begin

Open the Event in a Good Way

The day will begin with a traditional prayer chant to call upon and seat our Ancestors, and for them to dignify us with their presence and to dignify the important work of the day.

Derek will introduce Jack Thompson Jr. – Hiawatsiid  and Bobby Durocher – SipkʷanɁis.

Jack will introduce Elders, Dr. Larry Grant and Georgina Grant, to welcome us to Musqueam territory.

Musqueam | xʷməθkʷəy̓əm – A Living Culture

We are grateful to welcome Elders, Dr. Larry Grant and Georgina Grant, to welcome all of us to the majestic territories of the Musqueam Nation. Georgina – Auntie Gina is sister to my late uncle, Dr. Shane Pointe, and I have invited her to bear witness in honoring the memory of her late brother and my uncle.

Introductions & Warm Greetings

Derek Thompson Čaabať Bookwilla | Suhiltun and Madison Tardif will be facilitating the session and moving us along in a good way.

On behalf of his community, and on behalf of Indigenous – First Nations, Inuit, Métis – peoples, Čaabať Bookwilla | Suhiltun will welcome our esteemed Elders and speakers, and offer our sincere gratitude for their participation.

Warm Greetings from Madison Tardif, A/Associate Director
Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Madison Tardif will provide a welcoming address to the Elders and speakers, and to the audience.

She will introduce Dr. Evan Adams and Joe Gallagher.

Speakers Introductions

The esteemed speakers, Dr. Evan Adams and Joe Gallagher, will have an opportunity to introduce themselves in the afternoon to the in-person and live-stream audience.

We Do This Work With Purpose

Derek will talk about the purpose of the event and speak to the importance of doing cultural work, and he will also speak about the courage and resiliency of the speakers who have agreed to come together to share their personal experiences and perspectives.

Bearing Witness to Important Work

We will call on four witnesses from the audience and explain what their roles are throughout the day. Bearing witness to important cultural work serves as our memory and to uphold our oral traditions.

Honoring Ceremony

The act of acknowledging those in our presence who are grieving and hurting is intended to honor the balance between life and death, joy and grief and the fleeting moments of meaning and insignificance. Grief and grieving are as fundamental to living as life itself. Before we do anything of a serious matter we always surround those who are grieving with love, care and attention.

This ceremony will honor and acknowledge the great good memory and work of Dr. Shane Pointe, and his sister, Georgina (Gina) Grant, has been invited as an honored guest along with her daughter, Allison Brown, and her husband, Dr. Larry Grant. My Uncle Shane was always supportive of me and my work with the Indigenous Speakers Series, and he was my most significant mentor throughout my life.

Derek will be speaking about this important ceremonial work within the context of the Indigenous Speakers Series so that there is a better understanding of who we are and where we come from.

12:00 pm | Lunch

Lunch will be provided for everyone in attendance, and there is no cost.

12:45 pm | Getting Ready to Resume

Kindly get ready to start promptly at 1:00 pm.

1:00 pm | Meaningful Conversation with the Speakers

Derek and Madison will be supporting each other as moderators for this important conversation, and will be facilitating the session and moving us along in a good way.

A set of key questions has been developed and sent to the speakers ahead of today’s event. This is done so that the speakers, the people here today sharing their experiences and perspectives, feel safe and supported to participate in these meaningful conversations. There will be no unexpected or surprising questions, and the speakers do not have to answer any questions that they don’t feel comfortable answering.

It is important to be aware of how you are feeling throughout the event and to be aware of the need to be mindful, respectful and dignified with the speakers and with each other. Listening and participating in these important conversations about the context of truth and reconciliation is both difficult and unfamiliar for many of us, and particularly for those in the audience who are Indigenous – First Nations, Inuit, Métis. Much like the virtual Indigenous Speakers Series sessions there will not be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions or make any comments.

3:30 pm | Conclusion

Derek will provide a summary of the day and of the meaningful conversations, and reflect on the importance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Jack will call the four witnesses to reflect on the day’s event.

Madison will reflect on the session and thank the speakers, and also thank the in-person audience and the live-stream viewers for joining today. She will thank the helpers behind the scenes, the great good support of UBC MedIT, and Mary Kostandy, Digital Content and Engagement Strategist who is instrumental in creating the content for the webpage for the Indigenous Speakers Series. A special acknowledgment will be given to Brian Fukushima, Administrative Coordinator, who was tireless in his efforts to coordinate this important event.

Derek, Bobby and Jack will sing a traditional song to bring the event to a close.