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'It's a powerful time to be Indigenous': How an entire university discipline got its roots right here in Sudbury

Indigenous Studies, now an internationally renowned course of study, was born 45 years ago at the University of Sudbury
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University of Sudbury indigenous studies faculty member Tasha Beeds. (Heidi Ulrichsen/Sudbury.com)

There was a time in this country when university courses on Indigenous people were generally taught by anthropologists or linguists, not Indigenous people themselves.

But in 1975, a number of Indigenous and non-Indigenous academics and community members came together to found what's now known as the Indigenous Studies program at the University of Sudbury.

That program, along with one developed around the same time at Trent University, pioneered the discipline of Indigenous Studies.

Its founding coincided with Indigenous people across North America (or Turtle Island, as Indigenous peoples call the continent) asserting their rights in the face of oppression.

“So it's quite phenomenal when you realize the depth of the gifts that they gave, not just to the Sudbury community, but internationally,” said Tasha Beeds, an Indigenous Studies faculty member at the University of Sudbury.

“The discipline of Indigenous Studies has its roots here … People don't realize that. The discipline is internationally renowned now.”

Among the program's founders were Jim Dumont, Edna Manitowabi, Art Solomon, Ed Newbery, Thom Alcoze and Nahum Kanhi.

Those that came later on include Mary Ann Corbiere, Emily Faries, Anthony Hall, Joyce Pitawanikwat, Lena Odjig, Nicholas Deleary, Margaret Young, Maureen Manitowabi and Mary Recollet.

“That's what has been really central to defining the department ever since its inception, was the importance of getting knowledge from community members, from Native people,” said Mary Ann Corbiere, who has been a professor in the University of Sudbury's Indigenous Studies program since 1989.

The program celebrates its 45th anniversary and the contributions of founders in an event called “Anishinaabe Maanjidowin: The Continued Spirit of Indigenous Studies,” taking place at the University of Sudbury from March 5-7.

Events include a professor emeritus granting ceremony for Jim Dumont and Emily Faries on March 5, a round-table discussion and drop-in event with former and current faculty members March 6 and a gala dinner catered by Indigenous caterer Hiawatha's on March 7. (Head to the University of Sudbury's website to register and for more information on these events).

The University of Sudbury's Indigenous Studies program, which now has four full-time faculty members, started out with tradition and culture and Ojibwe language courses, and has expanded from there.

Corbiere said the discipline is “vitally important,” especially right now with coverage of issues such as Indigenous blockades related to the Coastal GasLink dispute with the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs.

“People can have a deep understanding of that and not just assume the usual unfortunate assumptions they seem to make, which is based on a deplorable lack of knowledge about the history of the country,” she said.

Corbiere, who teaches Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) language courses, said Indigenous Studies is also important in that it helps to keep Indigenous languages alive.

The children and grandchildren of residential school survivors were often never taught their languages by family members.

“People are recognizing a growing sense of urgency about the languages being lost, which motivates a lot of the students to take the language courses,” she said.

As for who takes Indigenous Studies courses, Corbiere said it's definitely not just Indigenous people.

She tells a story about an international student from Japan who, after taking a course in the program, decided to take the train from Sudbury to the community of Moosonee on the James Bay coast to see an Indigenous community for himself. That's 532 km as the crow flies, and a quite a bit farther by train.

“He had no idea about our geography,” Corbiere said. “He just got on the train and showed up there, not realizing that this place doesn't have hotel.”

The man's professor, who was from Moosonee, ended up using her community connections to make sure he was cared for during his visit.

Asked for her thoughts on the program's anniversary, Corbiere's colleague Tasha Beeds said Indigenous Studies may have been around for 45 years, but “the heart of the program has been here since time immemorial.

“That's a droplet in the knowledge that is being carried by our people,” she said.

“It's a powerful time to be Indigenous. I think that we've got these gifts to share with people. There's going to come a time when others might need them.”


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Heidi Ulrichsen

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