Centre For Urban Aboriginal Research
In recent months we have been networking with the local First Nations and Aboriginal communities in an effort to establish working relationships to enhance the University of Lethbridge's research capital within the local urban context.
Our goal is to determine whether local Aboriginal and First Nations agencies are interested in tapping this potential. To meet our goal of facilitating research with our Aboriginal communities, we propose developing an Urban Aboriginal Centre for collaborative research.
In March 2010 we held a successful symposium that was attended by several local First Nations and Aboriginal leaders, agency representatives, and community-based advocates. Dr. Carolyn Tait (University of Saskatchewan) and Professor David Newhouse (Trent University) spoke about their experiences working with urban Aboriginal communities and the strengths of our proposal. The discussion focused on our proposed Centre for Urban Aboriginal Research, and the response from the symposium attendees was most supportive. We were informed by our potential partners that such a Centre was important and of great value.
The second symposium will be held at the University of Lethbridge on Thursday, October 20, 2011 in an attempt to obtain a national perspective on urban aboriginal issues. Keynote speakers include Bev Jacobs, the past president of the Native Women's Association of Canada and Heather King-Andrews, the Research Officer for NAFC/UAKN. Representatives from Alberta Aboriginal Affairs (Edmonton) will also be in attendance. In addition to inviting speakers with national expertise, we are inviting the original attendees and members of the University and College communities.
Video presentations from the Symposium on October 20, 2011 are available - please click on our Resources tab.
Drs. Gregory, Fiske, and Belanger obtained a SSHRC grant (Grant in Aid to Small Universities) to explore the possibility of an Urban Aboriginal Research Center at the University of Lethbridge. The grant extends from 2009 to 2011.
The outcomes of this consultation process are found in the following document, available for download.
Dr. Yale Belanger, PhD
Associate Professor, Native American Studies
University of Lethbridge
4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4
Tel: (403) 382-7101
belayd@uleth.ca
Establish networking opportunities with the local First Nations and Aboriginal communities in an effort to establish working relationships to enhance the University of Lethbridge's research capital within the local urban context.