The Indian Act 101 is an introductory seminar designed to broaden your understanding of the Indian Act and help you to build healthier relationships and more innovative programs.

This presentation will look at the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and settlers over the last 500 years, and will focus on the history and philosophies which informed - and continue to inform - the Indian Act today.

We will consider the “Myth of Canada the Good” through the lens of historical and contemporary philosophies which informed the Indian Act in the 1800s, and continues to impact Indigenous and and settler populations today.

Additionally we will examine key documents, such as the 1763 Royal Proclamation, the 1867 BNA Act and the 1876 Indian Act to understand the philosophies that built the systemic structural systems of power which deeply impact Indigenous Peoples - and our relationships with Settlers - historically and right through to the present.

This one hour session will build your understanding of the history and lasting impacts of this important legislation, and how it can affect your organizing relationships.

Don’t forget to check back in November for our next free ICL Lunch and Learn.

About Dawn Maracle

A Mohawk woman and single mother from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory living with invisible disabilities, Dawn has nearly three decades of award-winning experience working with and for Indigenous communities, organizations, initiatives and campaigns. At Trent she was nominated for the Excellence in Teaching Award for “Indigenous Women”, and she won the International day to End Racism and Discrimination Award (IDERD) in 2017 at the University of Toronto for her campaign to fill the halls and media of the Faculty of Medicine with Black, and Indigenous graduates’ faces. Dawn has multiple Education and Native Studies degrees. She has experience in Indigenous education, corporate training & community organizing, health/medicine/tobacco, governance, women and the arts.

Dawn has Emceed at the Parliament of World Religions and has sat as an esteemed member of the UNESCO arts and education roundtable. She is a Facilitator and Master Trainer for the KAIROS Blanket Exercise, while also fulfilling roles of the CEO & Founder of SKYroots Indigenous Education, Training & Consulting, as well as the Executive Director for HOPES (Healing Our Peoples through Education and Social Justice) Indigenous Training Network, a national not-for-profit.