Taanshi, Tansi, Boozhoo, Hello, Bonjour!
Special marsii to Michif Elder Verna Demontigny for gifting us the name Mawachihitotaak in the spirit of bringing us all together to share our knowledge and to become family.
Over the past year, visioning and planning have been underway for the Mawachihitotaak (Let’s Get Together) Métis Studies Symposium to bring together a diverse community of Métis thinkers. This gathering will occur virtually from May 3rd to 6th, 2022, in partnership with the Winnipeg Art Gallery in partnership with Kwaata-nihtaawakihk – A Hard Birth running March 18th—September 3rd, 2022.
We intend to create a space for Métis scholars, art makers, knowledge holders, students, language speakers, organizers, writers, and other community leaders to share knowledge and engage in conversation together. Through our visiting, we will discuss a range of Métis priorities and scholarship areas while nourishing our relationships and celebrating the different forms that we are carrying and building Métis
Mawachihitotaak (Let’s Get Together) Métis Studies Symposium was conceived on the premise of bringing students, the grassroots community, and academics together by a collective of 32 Métis thinkers from across the country. It is a free event and welcomes everybody.
Topics that will be woven throughout the conference include:
Academic Research
Community Observations
Traditional Knowledge
Arts-Based Explorations
Sessions will take the form of presentations, panels, round table discussions, workshops, artist talks, art interventions, film screenings, poetry/spoken word/literature readings, and musical performances all virtually.
After speaking with the grandmothers who cautioned us from getting together with Metis from across the country during the uncertainty of Covid-19 we moved our gathering online to keep our elders, language keepers, and children safe.
Program outline
Tuesday, May 3: Opening ceremony, presentations, workshops, and special evening panel
Wednesday, May 4: Presentations, workshops, graduate event, and special evening partnership event with Kwaata-nihtaawakihk – A Hard Birth.
Thursday, May 5: Presentations, workshops, networking event, and virtual Fiddle Jam
Friday, May 6: Presentations, workshops, closing Keynote and Ceremony
For more information & registration click HERE
Please direct inquiries about the 2022 program to mawachihitotaak@gmail.com