Indigenous Communities in Canada: Building Awareness, Connections, and Education

Indigenous Communities in Canada:
Building Awareness, Connections, and Education

We are honoured to present two guest speakers – Robert Scow, Senior Associate at Indigenext, and Dr. Wanda Wuttunee, internationally renowned scholar in Indigenous economic development. They will share insights on community development and impact, education, and language within Indigenous communities in Canada.

Robert Scow will discuss language revitalization efforts on the West Coast of Canada, impacts for Indigenous youth being raised in an urban environment and Indigenous communities, and Indigenous youth education. Dr. Wuttunee will discuss Canadian Indigenous community impact and economic development, and how Indigenous Peoples have come to where they are today.

About the Speakers

Dr. Wanda Wuttunee is an internationally known professor and researcher in the field of Canadian Indigenous economic development. For the last 37 years Dr. Wuttunee has devoted her research agenda to understanding how Indigenous values interact with capitalist values. She considers gender issues as well as the role of culture and tradition in mainstream business, and through social enterprises and co-operatives. The term “community capitalism” reflects her emphasis on the need for economic development to be in sync with Indigenous communities. Her work brings to the forefront the many different ways in which Indigenous peoples are contributing to the Canadian economy.

Robert Scow is a Senior Associate at Indigenext, and comes from the villages of Kwikwasutaineuxw (Gilford Island) and Haxwamis (Wakeman Sound) people, from his father and mother’s sides. Robert is the youngest of six children, and his four older siblings grew up in Gilford Island, therefore had a different upbringing, amidst the language and culture. Robert was the only child to grow up Urban and attend school and post secondary in an urban setting. Robert feels the loss of traditional teaching and language is paramount to our youth today. In his role through elected governance and more vitally in traditionally governance in his communities, he feels language and traditional teachings are vital in paving the way for our youth to be more confident in knowing who they are and where they come from. Many first nations education and teaching revolves around our youth and carrying on our traditions and teachings. Investing in our youth will pay dividends down the road, to empower them, so they can share the knowledge and wisdom of their communities who have thrived on their own traditional lands for millennia.