Indigenous Achievement Week at the University of Saskatchewan

The week is open to the public and celebrates the successes and contributions of Métis, First Nations and Inuit students, staff and faculty.  

Monday, Feb. 1 – Friday, Feb. 5 
(All IAW events will take place online.) 

IAW events will focus on achievements in academics, research, education, community engagement, resiliency and leadership. Events are planned by groups from across campus. This year’s theme is nīkānihk itohtētān, walking together into the future.  

Media are welcome to cover all events. View list of IAW events.  

Highlights for the week include:  

Beadin' 2021: Drop-in online beading sessions 
Monday – Friday daily, 11:30 am – 1 pm, with a special presentation Monday at 11:30 am 
Experienced, aspiring, and brand-new beaders will be encouraged to share digital images of their works-in-progress, which will be added to a mosaic digitally quilted together over the course of the week and shared back as a reflection of community.  

Assiniskwew: Woman of the Rock, My Journey with Kidney Disease 
Tuesday, 10 – 11:30 am 
Monica Goulet, a member of the First Nations and Métis Organ Donation and Transplantation Network and a kidney donation recipient, shares her experience with kidney disease.  

Indigenous Scholar Series 
Tuesday, 12 – 1:30 pm 
Dr. Winona Wheeler (PhD) will present her talk: Indigenous Oral Histories Making Space In the Academy.  

Indigenous Student Achievement Awards 
Thursday, 2:30 – 4:30 pm  
A time to honour and celebrate the academic excellence, research endeavours, leadership, resiliency and community involvement of Indigenous students. Additionally, we will honour an international Indigenous student making significant contributions at USask. This year 41 students from across campus will be honoured.  

Ribbon Skirt Movement 
Friday, 12 – 1 pm 
Knowledge Keeper Judy Pelly will facilitate this online session, telling her story of the ribbon skirt movement that her granddaughter Isabella sparked. 

Cultural Celebration and closing remarks 
Friday, 4:30 – 5:30 pm 
The week will close with Indigenous performers from USask sharing their art forms.  

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For more information, contact: 

John Shelling  
Communications and Graphic Design Specialist  
University of Saskatchewan 
john.shelling@usask.ca