On the Friday before Spring Break students, staff and faculty from the First People’s Centre, Decolonization and Indigenization Studies Certificate and the Social Change and Solidarity profile inaugurated the fifth annual Wáhta Óshes: Dawson Maple Syrup Project. The project is an effort to engage in land-based pedagogy, indigenize curriculum, re-indigenize a small piece of occupied Tiohtià:ke…
Despite budget constraints, the Office of Sustainability at Dawson College advanced the vision of the Dawson community’s campus landscaping plan last fall by launching a micro forest initiative.
After Jennifer de Vera identified a funding opportunity from Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), she brought it to the team. Along with Eva Helms, Sophie La Font and Diana Rice, they applied for a grant to create a micro forest with guidance from the First Peoples’ Centre and Kanienʼkehá꞉ka staff.
Visit the link for the homepage news story.
Indigenous Perspectives: Jacques Cartier and the myth of the St Lawrence Iroquois
Who were the people Cartier met at Hochelaga and did they simply vanish by the time Champlain retraced his steps? Why is this issue controversial today?
Documentary series
Spudwrench: Kahnawake Man
This documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin introduces us to Randy Horne, a high steel worker from the Mohawk community of Kahnawake, near Montreal. As a defender of his people's culture and traditions, he was known as "Spudwrench" during the 1990 Oka crisis. Offering a unique look behind the barricades at one man's impassioned defense of sacred territory, the film is both a portrait of Horne and the generations of daring Mohawk construction workers that have preceded him.
Visit the link to register.
As part of Dawson’s Well-Being for All program, faculty in History and Coordinator of Decolonization and Indigenization Studies Certificate, Ben Lander volunteered his time to twice lead a group of students and staff/faculty on a walking tour that examined the colonial history of the land on which Dawson College and its nearby neighbours is situated….
Indigenous Perspectives: The Iroquois Great Law of Peace
Learn how five warring nations in ancient America came to become allies and developed the first true democracy in human history.
Sept. 16 10 AM-11:30 AM
Register
Sept. 17 2 PM-3:30 PM
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Indigenous Perspectives: Truth and Reconciliation from a Kahnawake Mohawk’s perspective
Sept. 30 10 AM-11:30 AM
Register
Oct. 1 2 PM-3:30 PM
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Indigenous Perspectives: Documentary series and discussion.
Native America: Explore the Americas before Columbus
Sept. 24 10 AM-12 PM
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Three Sisters Soup Makes 4-6 portions Ingredients: 1 can of white kidney beans (or navy beans or red kidney beans) 2 leeks 1 acorn squash 1 butternut squash 1 large can of pozole / hominy corn (substitute if needed with chickpeas, fresh or frozen corn kernels, or hulled barley) 1 bunch of dandelion greens (optional…
Join us from Monday, March 31 to Thursday, April 3 at various locations throughout Dawson College for Indigenous Peoples' Week.
All events are open to the entire Dawson community and the public. Visit the link for the schedule.
The Indigenous Perspectives Documentary series continues with a screening and discussion about Wilma Mankiller: Story of the first woman chief of the Cherokee Nation.
Tuesday, April 1, 10 AM to 12 PM, Room: 4C.1
Indigenous Perspectives Documentary series and discussion: Wilma Mankiller: First woman chief of the Cherokee Nation
Wednesday, March 12, 10 AM to 12 PM, Room: 4C.1
Register here: https://arlo.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/register?sgid=10ac530104954b6cbe1a10bb9104b4ed
Indigenous Perspectives: Basic Call to Consciousness: The Haudenosaunee message to the Western World
Tuesday, March 18, 10 AM to 11:30 AM, Room: 3F.43 (Co Lab)
Register here: https://arlo.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/register?sgid=4a699e0117a743d39f95d9876a1849d9
Wednesday, March 19, 2 PM to 3:30 PM, Room: 3F.43 (Co Lab)
Register here: https://arlo.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/register?sgid=d3e9ebe4f8254c3b9750fa673bca0e17
Ionkwatónhahere is a kanien’kéha word that means ‘we are celebrating’. Organizers of Indigenous Peoples' Week at Dawson College are putting the emphasis on all the incredible contributions that First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples make in all facets of life.
The dates for Ionkwatónhahere - IPW 2025 will be from Monday, March 31 to Thursday, April 3. Activities will be organized in two separate streams: cultural programming specifically for Indigenous students at Dawson, and broader educational activities for the entire Dawson Community. Stay tuned for more information. A complete schedule will be published at the beginning of March.
Last Modified: April 30, 2026
