2017 S’tenistolw Conference

Indigenous Adult Education Conference – August 23-25, 2017
“A gathering for educators, scholars, and knowledge keepers working in Indigenous adult education”

Hosted by Eyēʔ Sqȃ’lewen: The Centre for Indigenous Education & Community Connections | Camosun College | Victoria | British Columbia | Canada

The 2017 S’TEṈISTOLW̱ Conference is a gathering for instructors/educators in Indigenous programs as well as leaders and allies in the field of Indigenous adult education. The goal is to build relationship and networks of reciprocity – to share, learn and exchange with each other.

The “doing” and “being” of Indigenous education

S’TEṈISTOLW̱ is a SENĆOŦEN term referencing the concept of ‘moving forward’. This conference will focus on both the doing and being of Indigenous education. While they are inextricably intertwined, “doing” involves pedagogies and teaching practices. “Being” involves relationality, connections amongst educators, communities, students, cultures and lands and involves living our collective values: we proceed with the intent of Eyēʔ Sqâ’lewen (good heart, good mind, good spirit) and Na’tsa’maht (unity and collective vision). Previous S’TEṈISTOLW̱ conferences were held in 2007 in Victoria and 2010 in Burnaby in partnership with the Nicola Valley Institute for Technology.

We invite all Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit, Native American) and allied educators, scholars, administrators and community leaders involved in the field of Indigenous adult and post-secondary education in British Columbia, across Canada and Turtle Island to join us.

Conference structure

The conference structure will model principles of Indigenous education and community partnership, and will be grounded in relationship with place. Delegates will be offered a cultural pre-conference and welcome in collaboration with the Songhees Nation on August 23. Conference sessions will be held August 24 and 25 at Camosun College’s Lansdowne Campus and will include workshops and presentations from educators, scholars and knowledge keepers. We are honoured to welcome Gregory Cajete (Tewa educator and author, Look to the Mountain), Linda Tuhiwai Smith (Māori educator and author, Decolonizing Methodologies) and Graham Hingangaroa Smith (Māori educator and Indigenous education advocate) as keynote speakers for S’TEṈISTOLW̱ 2017. We are also pleased to host sessions with Elders, wellness providers and artists.

August 23rd, 2017 – Cultural Pre-Conference

The pre-conference will be held at the Songhees Wellness Centre in partnership with the Songhees Nation. Activities will include a community tour, canoeing, introduction to the language, plant identification and a sweatlodge ceremony. These will be followed in the evening by the welcome dinner with Keynote Dr. Gregory Cajete.

August 24th-25th, 2017 – Conference Program

The conference sessions will be held at Camosun College’s Lansdowne Campus in Victoria. There will be two blocks of concurrent sessions on each of the four conference themes each day. There will also be concurrent sessions with Elders, artists and wellness providers that conference participants can sign up for each morning. Refreshments and lunches are included with registration.

Registration

Online general registration with fee payment is now open.

A limited number of student and community member spaces will be available at a reduced registration fee. Please contact the Coordinator directly if you would like to request this reduced fee.

Travel and accommodation information will be made available on the conference webpage after registration opens, including reserved hotels offering conference rates.

Key dates and deadlines