This fireside chat by Shady Hafez will explore the issues associated with the exclusivity of western knowledge institutions and the successes and challenges of bringing higher learning directly to Indigenous students within their home communities.
Post-secondary institutions are not the most accessible spaces for Indigenous students, particularly students from rural and remote communities. To attend, students often have to leave their home communities, cultures, and families with the intent of pursuing their academic dreams and goals. This fireside chat will explore the issues associated with the exclusivity of western knowledge institutions and the successes and challenges of bringing higher learning directly to Indigenous students within their home communities. Shady Hafez, will share his insights and experiences in developing and teaching post-secondary content for on-reserve students with the hopes of better informing a structural breakdown of the exclusivity of academic knowledge and systems.
Shady is currently a PhD student in Sociology at the University of Toronto, a Yellowhead Institute Research Fellow and is also the Projects Manager to the National Association of Friendship Centres.
*This lecture is available in person and online.
Yellowhead Fire brings together established and emerging scholars, activists, and artists to discuss pressing concerns and issues, exchange ideas, and offer critical Indigenous perspectives on settler colonialism and the reclamation of Indigenous land and “the good life”.
Yellowhead Fire, one of three program streams within Yellowhead School, hosts four lecture events annually that are free of charge and open to the public. Our first lecture of this series begins with Shady Hafez.
The theme for Yellowhead Fire 2023/2024 is “A Different Kind of Education” with a focus on Indigenous knowledge and education.
Yellowhead School is supported by the Atkinson Foundation and is part of Yellowhead Institute.
We look forward to seeing you there!
