Join us for the November 17th REDI Empower Hour.
Parts Known and Unknown: Derek Thompson – Thlaapkiituup Talks About the Bits and Pieces of a Meaningful Conversation
Um. Let’s see. I’m writing this bit of narrative as I’m devouring a Banh Mi sandwich. It’s delicious. As I am chomping, slurping and thoroughly enjoying my meal I’m struck by the absence and impact of Anthony Bourdain. For me, and right from the start, he was like a friend that was altogether strange and familiar. And since his passing, and as much as he did in life, the meals that I enjoy these days are the meals that I enjoyed as a child. My Gran’s homemade duck soup or my Great-Grandmother’s barbeque sockeye salmon, and she would make the cedar stick herself and fasten a whole fish on it and cook over an open fire. My Mom’s fresh bread enjoyed with a bowl of beef stew made from scratch, or the egg, bacon and cheese sandwich wrapped in foil that I would demolish on the way to school on the 3-hour return trek from Nitinaht Lake to Port Alberni. This makes me think about the spaces where we all feel welcome – the kitchen table that you grew up around, your Grandmother’s home, a favorite restaurant, a community picnic, a smorgasbord, holiday meals – and it is food. Tony said, “When someone cooks for you they are saying something. They are telling you about themselves – where they come from, who they are, what makes them happy.” So, bring your favorite meal, pull up a virtual chair, and we’ll talk about the bits and pieces of a meaningful conversation, and chew on the many and layered flavors of telling the truth and reconciling for the future.
Facilitator: Derek Thompson – Thlaapkiituup, Indigenous Advisor
Date: Thursday, November 17th, 2022
Time: 5:00 – 6:00 pm PDT
Please note that the event will not be recorded
What Will I Learn?
Anthony Bourdain said, “Perhaps wisdom is realizing how small I am, and unwise, and how far I have yet to go.” So, what we’ll strive to learn about is our potential for curiosity and compassion for and with each other.
What is the REDI Empower Hour
The Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion is proud to present a new REDI Empower Hour series featuring our team of advisors: Robyn Campol, Dr. Neila Miled and Derek Thompson. This fresh and informative series will be spontaneous and conversational in its approach to talk about issues that are timely and relevant. These sessions will also highlight the importance of showing up to these necessary conversations with presence and persona – so bring your very best of curiosity and energy!
Each session will also provide an opportunity for the participants to engage in a Q & A or to simply to reflect on the merits of the conversations. This exciting series will be offered monthly, with each advisor presenting their own one hour session.