Indigenous Icons of Canada: Reclaiming the Brilliance and Resistance of our Ancestors

Facilitator: Atreyu Lewis (they/he)

Learn about the achievements, struggles and contributions of First Nations historical figures (1900-1950), how they shaped, influenced and contributed to the city of Old Toronto and how their histories are relevant to the Toronto experience today. Examine 3–5 historical figures’ lives, contributions, and visions for future generations. Connect these stories to current climate and healing justice struggles. The workshop is lecture-based and interactive, emphasizing understanding Indigenous worldviews to learn how to practice authentic reconciliation as Torontonian residents.

What You’ll Learn:

• Understand the relevance and historical significance of early 20th-century First Nations figures, their lives and careers in Old Toronto and why it’s vital to bring their stories into public consciousness.
• Explore how language, stories, and culture survived through education, grassroots organizing, and politics linking to real historical examples of Toronto grassroots organizations, GTA based advocates and campaigns.
• Recognize ongoing patterns of colonial oppression across time through GTA Institutional treatment and how they persist today in different social fields.
• Reflect on the importance of sharing these histories within Indigenous urban Toronto community and what it means to strive for true reconciliation and justice as both urban Indigenous people and settler allies.
• Connect Indigenous Canadian history to the modern climate justice movement, understanding why we must learn from community leaders, Elders, and activists.

Date & Time: Saturday December 13th at 5:30pm EST via Zoom