Please join us as DFA recognizes the 2024 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

This is a hybrid event, live from the Ko’jua Okuom Indigenous Community Room at the Killam Memorial Library, Studley Campus. Please let us know if you plan to attend, and note whether you will join in person or via videoconference. Email Catherine.Wall@dal.ca for the MSTeams link.

Treaty Rights and Reconciliation

by Dr. Sherry Pictou, Associate Professor

Dalhousie Faculties of Law and Management

Tuesday, October 1, 2024 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm (Halifax time)

Dr. Sherry Pictou is a Mi’kmaw woman from L’sɨtkuk (water cuts through high rocks) known as Bear River First Nation, Nova Scotia. She is an Associate Professor in the Faculties of Law and Management at Dalhousie University and holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Governance. She currently serves as the Honorary District Chief for the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq.  Dr. Pictou served on the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Task Force on Indigenous and Local Knowledge. She is also a former Chief for her community and the former Co-Chair of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples. Her research interests include decolonizing treaty relations, Social Justice for Indigenous Women and 2SLBGTQ+ persons, Indigenous gender roles in food and lifeways, and Indigenous governance.

A smudging ceremony will be performed by Elder Ann LaBillois.

Elder Ann LaBillois is a Mi’kmaw woman, mother, and grandmother. Originally from Ugpi’ganjig (Eel River Bar), she returned to New Brunswick after growing up in Boston and worked as an addiction counsellor for 12 years. Her first major experience with the health care system was spending four years in a tuberculosis sanitorium starting before she was one year old. Elder Ann received a degree in Philosophy from Dalhousie University in May 2024. She is also a certified facilitator of Mindfulness from University of Massachusetts. Elder Ann is a Ceremonial Leader and the Elder in Residence at Dalhousie. She provides support and counsel to students, staff, faculty and volunteers, and provides openings and prayers for various events.

On April 10, the 2024 Dr. Robert S. Rodger Lecture featured speaker Dr. Geneviève Boulet, MSVU Faculty Association Lead Negotiator. In her presentation, What to do About Obstructive Negotiations in Our Sector?, Dr. Boulet shared the behind-the-scenes perspective of the recent bargaining with MSVU administration. After several months of little movement at the table, MSVUFA went on strike for just over three weeks before reaching a settlement.  To access the presentation, please email DFA Communications Officer Catherine.Wall@dal.ca.   It will be available until May 31, 2024.

Congratulations to DFA President Dave Westwood!  Earlier this month, Dave was presented with the CAUT Dedicated Service Award for his commitment to the DFA Membership.  In his fourth term as President, Dave has served the DFA Membership for many years in various different roles: President-Elect, President, Past-President, Grievance Chair and officer, DFA representative to the Pension Advisory Committee, appointee to the Association-Board Committee and as a member on various DFA committees.  He is a multi-term Senator at Dalhousie and also attends the Board of Governors meeting in his role as DFA President.  Thank you, Dave, for your leadership excellence.

For the latest issue of the CAUT Bulletin, visit here.