TORONTO, Monday, Nov. 6, 2017 – In line with calls for Indigenous initiatives within post-secondary education in Canada, 91��ɫ now has an Indigenous Framework that sets out 10 guiding principles to advance Indigeneity at the University.

The will help answer calls for action and reconciliation as outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada report, as well as other documents that came before.

The Indigenous Framework notes there are some 10,000 Indigenous students on waiting lists for post-secondary institutions across the country. In addition, the disparity in public school funding on First Nations reserves continues to limit the educational aspirations of Indigenous students. Less than 10 per cent of Indigenous people have a university education compared to the national rate of 27 per cent.

Led by 91��ɫ’s Indigenous Council, the work that went into creating the new Indigenous Framework, was the result of many cumulative efforts by Indigenous and non-Indigenous 91��ɫ community members.

Rhonda Lenton

“The Indigenous Framework is an exciting step forward in our shared commitment to reconciliation and to fostering stronger connections with and support for the Indigenous community at 91��ɫ and beyond,” said Rhonda Lenton, President and Vice-Chancellor of 91��ɫ. “It is an important milestone in a continuing process that will see the 10 principles put into action. This new Framework speaks to the vision of a connected University and, more broadly, to the four pillars I believe are foundational to 91��ɫ’s success in the years ahead – excellence, access, connectedness and impact.”

Ruth Koleszar-Green

Toward that end, the Framework will be shared through a series of Community Engagement sessions in 2018, where community members can provide input toward developing strategies and initiatives across the University that will support the principles. The sessions will be organized into three themes: Teaching and Learning; Research; and Arts, History and Language.

To further community engagement and implementation of the principles, Lenton has appointed Assistant Professor of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies as her Special Advisor on Indigenous Initiatives. Koleszar-Green is from the Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) nation, a member of the Turtle clan, and co-chair of the Indigenous Council at 91��ɫ.

“I am very honoured to accept this appointment as I see it as public declaration of commitment by President Lenton and senior administration in supporting and advancing Indigenous students, staff, and faculty," said Koleszar-Green. "The Indigenous Framework calls for an expansion of the Indigenous Council as it can play a pivotal role in helping to advance the University’s reconciliation and Indigeneity agenda and this appointment is in line to do just that.”

Integral to the Framework is the need to engage Indigenous communities inside and outside of 91��ɫ. Engaging Indigenous students, staff and faculty will help to enrich teaching and research, as well as all students’ learning experiences.

The Framework’s 10 principles are as follows:

1. Expand the role of the Indigenous Council
2. Increase the number of Indigenous faculty
3. Enhance the recruitment and academic success of Indigenous students
4. Expand Indigenous programming and curricular offerings which explore Indigenous life, cultures and traditions
5. Facilitate research that is relevant to Indigenous life, and respects Indigenous approaches to knowledge and learning
6. Engage with Indigenous communities to enrich the learning process
7. Establish spaces for Indigenous cultures and community within the University
8. Ensure that the perceptions and experiences of Indigenous community members are reflected in the classroom, on campus and in university life
9. Develop and expand educational opportunities for Indigenous communities
10. Ensure the process for developing, implementing and evaluating this Framework involves Indigenous community members both within and outside the University

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 is known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 26 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 295,000 alumni. 91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact:

Sandra McLean, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 416-736-2100 ext. 22097, sandramc@yorku.ca

The post 91��ɫ U develops Indigenous Framework, 10 principles to guide future actions appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

“Your actions affect us all
Those here and those who come after”

TORONTO, March 8, 2016 – The Birds by First Nations playwright is a powerful adaptation of one of western theatre’s earliest comedies: the classical Greek play by Aristophanes. directs the combined creative talent from four departments in 91��ɫ’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design in a compelling production of Nolan’s work, leading 21st century audiences inside colonization from an Indigenous point of view.

Theatre @ 91��ɫ’s interdisciplinary production of The Birds, featuring new writing, choreography, music and interactive digital audio visuals, opens March 21 and runs to March 26 at the Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre on 91��ɫ’s Keele campus.

The Birds masks, designed by Mike Dangeli and created in collaboration with 91��ɫ students

Greyeyes, a 91��ɫ theatre professor and critically acclaimed artist, envisions The Birds as a story of women and transformation, and an opportunity to communicate the realities underlying Indigenous and settler relationships.

“Subjectivity is a gift we can give each other,” said Greyeyes. “Subjectivity allows you to step into someone else’s shoes. And as the saying goes, 'if you’ve walked a mile in another’s shoes, it’s impossible to see them with old eyes'. With our production of The Birds, we want to give our audience new eyes: the opportunity to see things from the perspective of the Aboriginal community.”

Nolan re-situates the play to Turtle Island (North America), recasting the two humans who visit the land of the birds as colonizers-come-lately, intent on remaking this Indigenous paradise in their own image. Interweaving the Roman poet Ovid’s tale of the abused princess Philomela and her sister Procne as the backstory to the Nightingale in the play, Nolan places a tragic past at the heart of this comic fable.

“...we cannot forget our history
It is a part of us”

The Birds is presented in two acts, linked with collectively devised original content. Independent dance artist , who teaches in the Department of Dance, choreographed an original concert work with the department’s resident company, the 91��ɫ Dance Ensemble, that anchors the first act and give shape to the historical backstory hinted at in Nolan’s text.

Serving as assistant directors, eight BFA and MFA students from the Department of Theatre augment further responses to the text with a series of interstitial performance and media works that connect Lee’s choreography with Greyeyes’ staging that is the focus of the production’s second act.

First Nations guest artist, master carver led workshops for students and members of the Indigenous community to create six original large-scale masks for the show. Set, costume, lighting, sound and projection design are by undergrad theatre students. Artists from the Digital Media Program and Department of Music round out the creative team. The cast features performers from the 4th Year Acting Conservatory.

“The structure for this collaborative production is modelled after Indigenous creation protocols and governance,” said Greyeyes. “In particular, we’re exploring the ‘one-eighths’ principle, which emphasizes consensus. The idea is that each person only knows one-eighth of the story, and needs seven others to get the full picture. Working together on The Birds as creators, designers, performers and producers, we’re weaving a story where everyone’s voice has similar weight. A woven story is stronger than a single strand.”

... it is possible to carry our past
And move forward – Transformed”

The Birds is the final main stage performance within Performing Indigeneity, the Department of Theatre’s 2015-16 thematic focus. 91��ɫ’s theatre program joins the national conversation being undertaken by the country’s most influential theatre organizations and leads the nation in addressing how post-secondary theatre training intersects with Canada’s Indigenous peoples and the diversity of their artistic practices.

_________________________________________

The School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, 91��ɫ, presents
The Birds
A Theatre @ 91��ɫ production
Written by Yvette Nolan and directed by Michael Greyeyes

The Birds website:  

When: March 20 to 26, opening Monday, March 21
Schedule: Previews March 20 at 7:30pm, opens March 21 and runs to March 24 at 7:30pm nightly, plus matinees March 23 at 1pm and March 26 at 2pm. *No show on March 25 (Good Friday)

Where: Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre, Accolade East Building, 91��ɫ, 4700 Keele St. Toronto

Admission: $20 | students & seniors $12 | preview $7
Group rate: $10 (for groups of 10 or more; not available through online purchase — please call the box office)
Box Office: or tel. 416-736-5888

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is known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our 52,000 students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 24 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide.

 Media Contact:
Amy Stewart  416-650-8469 | amy.stewart@yorku.ca

The post Performing Indigeneity: Michael Greyeyes directs interdisciplinary Theatre @ 91��ɫ production of THE BIRDS appeared first on News@91��ɫ.