2022

Through the Eyes of the North: Our Collective Responsibility

Mary Simon Governor General of Canada
The Governor General offers a parallel of her personal experience, and the disparities of Inuit people compared to the rest of Canada.
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2021

UNDRIP Is the Start, Not the Finishing Line

The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould
Jody Wilson-Raybould is Canada's first Indigenous Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and Canada's first elected female Independent Member of Parliament
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2019

Moving Forward: A Conversation on Education and Reconciliation

The Right Honourable Paul Martin
The Right Honourable Paul Martin demonstrated support for Indigenous causes during his tenure as Minister of Finance and Prime Minister, culminating in the Kelowna Accord of 2005.
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2019

The Spirit Bear Plan to End Inequalities in Public Services for First Nations Children, Youth and Families

Cindy Blackstock
First Nations children and families living on reserve and in the Territories receive public services funded by the federal government, and since confederation, these services have fallen significantly short of what other Canadians receive.
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2018

Considering Canada’s Renewed Relationship With Indigenous Peoples Through the Rights-based Lens of Inuit Self-determination

Natan Obed
The Canadian federal government seeks reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and has promised many different legislative, policy, and program reforms.
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2015

What do we do about the Legacy of Indian Residential Schools?

The Honourable Murray Sinclair
The Hon. Murray Sinclair served as Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba and as Chief Commissioner of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
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Tom Courchene Distinguished Speaker Series

The Margie and Tom Courchene Endowment Fund was established to create a permanent Speakers Series in the School of Policy Studies, to be known subsequently as the Tom Courchene Distinguished Speakers Series. It continues the tradition that Tom established, as the inaugural director for the School of Policy Studies, to serve as a bridge between the academic and professional policy communities, engaging faculty, students, policymakers, politicians and other opinion leaders, in discussion on major policy issues.

The Fund will support the costs associated with bringing eminent academics and public policy experts to Queen’s University campus, with a focus dedicated to a major public lecture and other events relating to Indigenous Policy and Governance, a policy field in which Tom has become increasingly engaged in recent years.


Upcoming Lecture:

Thursday April 4 2024 | 12:00 PM ET | Indigenous Gathering Space

Join us to welcome Margaret Kenequanash, CEO, Wataynikaneyap Power to campus to deliver the 2024 Tom Courchene Distinguished Lecture.  

Margaret Kenequanash has been CEO of Wataynikaneyap Power since August 2017: an Indigenous-led, licensed transmission entity bringing grid connection to remote First Nations in northern Ontario currently powered by diesel generators. Margaret has a vast wealth of knowledge gleaned from over 30 years in various high-level positions, including being on the Sioux Lookout Municipal Council from 1990-1994 and Executive Director of the Shibogama First Nations Council from 2005-2017. Margaret carries the distinction of being the first female Chief in her community at North Caribou Lake First Nation when she was elected in 1996. She is well known and respected throughout First Nation communities and government for her work in promoting opportunities and better quality of life for First Nation Peoples.

Margaret Kenequanash will be joined by Tim Lavoie, Vice President, Corporate Services and Indigenous Relations at FortisOntario Inc. for this lectureship.

To register

poster


Past lectures in this series:

2022: Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada
"Through the Eyes of the North: Our Collective Responsibility"

Her Excellency underlines the challenges faced in the North. The Governor General offers a parallel of her personal experience, and the disparities of Inuit people compared to the rest of Canada.The disparities vary from education, climate change, food insecurity and other social issues. The challenges faced in the North goes often unnoticed and cannot persist.The remark will also highlight that a collaborative approach is increasingly vital to bring awareness and address the challenges in the Arctic and as a nation.

 

2021: The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, P.C., Q.C, M.P.
"UNDRIP is the Start, Not the Finishing Line

2019: The Right Honourable Paul Martin, Founder, Martin Family Initiative; former Prime Minister of Canada
"Moving Forward: A Conversation on Education and Reconciliation"

2018: Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada
"The Spirit Bear Plan to End Inequalities in Public Services for First Nations Children, Youth and Families"

2018: Natan Obed, President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
"Considering Canada’s Renewed Relationship With Indigenous Peoples Through the Rights-based Lens of Inuit Self-determination"

2015: The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, Commissioner and Chair, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
"What do we do about the legacy of the Indian Residential Schools?"


Watch videos of all past lectures in this series on YouTube.