2002-2003

Aboriginal Studies Distinguished Lecture Series

September 23 Gary Farmer (from Toronto): actor, filmmaker, cultural arts worker.
University College. 7:30 p.m.

Gary Farmer, actor, producer and media innovator will open the University of Toronto's Aboriginal Lecture Series with his talk Breaking the Silence: Creating Aboriginal Media Institutions. The lecture takes place this Monday, September 23 at 7:30 pm in the West Hall of University College, located at 15 King's College Circle. A popular actor in Canada and the United States for the past 20 years, Farmer's latest film role was in Skins, a Chris Eyre film. He is perhaps best know for his work in Jim Jarmusch's Dead Man, winner of the European Academy Award in 1997 for Best Foreign Film, the first American film to win the honour. Farmer also co-starred in the 1989 film Pow Wow Highway directed by Jonathan Wacks. Farmer is currently the executive producer of Buffalo Tracks, an Aboriginal People's Television variety show.

October 7 Jeannette Armstrong (from Penticton): writer, professor, activist
Bahen Centre 1130, 7 p.m.

Jeannette Armstrong is the Director of the En'owkin International School of Writing and Arts, Penticton, BC, and she is an author and artist. She wrote the highly acclaimed novel Slash as well as a new novel called Whispering in Shadows, both with Theytus Books. She is also a poet, and her poetry collection is Breath Tracks. Recently Ms. Armstrong collaborated with renowned Native architect Douglas Cardinal on the book Native Creative Process, and she has been anthologized many times as a writer and poet. She has also been associated with video and CD production including "Till the Bars Break" that was nominated for a Canadian Juno award.

Most importantly Ms. Armstrong is an advocate of Indigenous rights. As such she was appointed to the Council of Listeners in the International Testimonials On Violations to Indigenous Sovereignty, appointed one of seven Indigenous Judges to the First Nations Court of Justice called by the Chiefs of Ontario, and serves as an international observer to the Continental Coordinating Commission of Indigenous People and Organizations. Jeannette Armstrong has addressed conferences and assemblies on a wide range of topics at universities in Japan, Russia, Switzerland, Germany, New Zealand, USA, and Canada. She has given addresses at the World Conference on Indigenous Education and the World Council of Churches on Racism, and she is currently serving on the Canadian Commission for UNESCO.

October 28 Basil Johnston (from Wiarton): writer, storyteller
Bahen Centre 1130, 7 p.m.
November 18 Maria Campbell (from Saskatoon): writer, dramatist, cultural arts worker
Bahen Centre 1130, 7 p.m.
January 13 Robert Allen Warrior (Oklahoma): English professor, writer
Koffler Institute 108, 7 p.m.
February 3 Tantoo Cardinal (Calgary): actor, cultural arts spokesperson
Koffler Institute 108, 7 p.m.
February 24 Ofelia Zepeda (Arizona): linguist, professor, writer
Bahen Centre 1170, 7 p.m.
March 17 Gerald McMaster (Washington DC/Ottawa): administrator, artist, cultural arts worker
Bahen Centre 1130, 7 p.m.

Sponsored by the Ethno-Cultural Initiatives Fund, the Aboriginal Studies and First Nations House

Contact Eileen Antone at Eileen Antone for more information.