Inspiring action: Loyalist College welcomes Indigenous rights advocate Pam Palmater to Speaker Series

Belleville, ON, Jan. 17, 2024 – Loyalist College is proud to announce the fourth instalment of its Speaker Series, which will be an inspiring evening with distinguished Indigenous rights advocate and legal expert, Dr. Pam Palmater. On Wednesday, Feb. 7, at the college’s Belleville campus, Dr. Palmater will share expertise and insights with students, staff and community members, addressing common misconceptions about Indigenous sovereignty and the path to reconciliation. Attendees will experience a safe space to ask questions and learn how to turn their education into action.

Dr. Pam Palmater is an award-winning public speaker, author, and social justice activist. A key spokesperson and public educator for the Idle No More movement, she continues to advocate alongside social movements focusing on Indigenous rights, social justice and climate action. With a BA from St. Thomas University in Native Studies, an LLB from the University of New Brunswick, and a Master’s and Doctorate in Law from Dalhousie University specializing in Indigenous law, Dr. Palmater is frequently called on as a legal expert before Canadian Parliamentary and Senate committees, as well as United Nations treaty bodies dealing with human rights, and laws and policies impacting Indigenous peoples.

A member of Eel River Bar First Nation and a citizen of the Mi’kmaw Nation, Dr. Palmater has been volunteering and working with First Nations and grassroots organizations for over 30 years.

“Through her legal acumen and leadership in driving social and environmental change, Dr. Palmater has emerged as a critical voice in national conversations around Indigenous rights and land stewardship,” says Loyalist College President and CEO Mark Kirkpatrick. “We are thrilled to share this incredible opportunity with our community as we learn from a dynamic and influential speaker while deepening our collective understanding and commitment to Indigenous sovereignty and reconciliation.”

Tickets are available for $10. Visit loyalistcollege.com/speakerseries to learn more. All proceeds from this event will support awards, bursaries, and student scholarships.

About Loyalist College 

Loyalist College is built upon the lands governed by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement. We affirm and thank the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg and Huron-Wendat nations for their continued caretaking of the land. At Loyalist, we empower our students with wraparound support services and hands-on training to succeed on any path they choose. Our academic programs are responsive and innovative, designed to solve pressing social and economic challenges and meet the evolving needs of our regional industry and community partners. Our graduates enter the workforce equipped with the knowledge they need to be better global citizens, and with future-focused skills to lead change in their fields. With a presence in Belleville, Bancroft, Port Hope, Tyendinaga and Toronto, we believe our institutional responsibility extends beyond the classroom to seeing the big picture for the communities we serve. Our expertise in applied research and deep connections to local industry support economic development, to the benefit of businesses, entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators. Our commitment to decolonization, and the pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable world, means we hold ourselves accountable to the diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences that shape our communities.

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Contact:
Hannah Brown
Director of Marketing and Communications
613-921-0784
hbrown@loyalistcollege.com