Belleville, ON, Feb. 9, 2024 – This week, as part of its ongoing Speaker Series, Loyalist College hosted a sold-out evening with renowned Indigenous rights advocate and legal expert Dr. Pam Palmater.
The event, hosted at Alumni Hall on Loyalist College’s Belleville campus, drew a diverse audience of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members interested in exploring strategies to advance reconciliation efforts and undertake practical and meaningful actions.
Dr. Palmater not only focused on empowering attendees to move beyond awareness and engage in concrete actions but also took the opportunity to dispel myths surrounding Indigenous peoples, land claims, treaties, and other critical issues. She emphasized that reconciliation is a “lifelong commitment,” challenging everyone to contribute to this ongoing process with informed understanding and active participation.
Dr. Palmater extended a special greeting to individuals from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, highlighting the warmth and hospitality she has consistently experienced from this community.
During her remarks, Dr. Palmater noted that educational institutions have a unique ability to lead change, and many of them, including Loyalist College, are actively doing this. “Use your sphere of influence,” she recommended to listeners, explaining how individuals can act by raising conversations with family, friends and colleagues. “Follow calls to action from your local First Nations organizations, and like, follow and share what Indigenous people are saying on social media channels.”
At the beginning of the evening, the forum was declared a “safe space,” creating an atmosphere conducive to open and genuine dialogue. This set the stage for audience questions that were both insightful and vulnerable, reflecting engagement and thoughtfulness among participants.
Questions from the audience included an insightful inquiry about waiting for leaders, elders and older community members to signal readiness to act.
“We don’t need to wait until everyone is ready for change to work toward that change,” responded Dr. Palmater, underscoring the importance of proactive engagement in the reconciliation process.
Loyalist College President and CEO Mark Kirkpatrick expressed his gratitude, noting that although the college has come a long way, there is more work to be done.
“As I continue my journey of knowledge and understanding, and as leader of this institution, I will work with our Indigenous leaders to ensure the truth is told, to create space for Indigenous culture to be practised and shared, and to drive a welcoming culture where all people can learn and grow.
“I hope the insights gained tonight inspire all of us to integrate these lessons into our everyday lives and actions, both within the Loyalist College community and beyond.”
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, Communications and Events
613-921-0784
hbrown@loyalistcollege.com
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