COMMUNITY DIALOGUE TO EXAMINE MEDIA’S ROLE IN INDIGENOUS RECONCILIATION

Vancouver Island University (VIU) will host a distinguished panel of guest speakers in what promises to be a stimulating night of lively discussion on the role the media plays in shaping the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

The event will take place on Wednesday, January 29, 2014, at 6:30 pm in the Shaw Auditorium at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, and is part of VIU’s commitment to Nanaimo’s “Racism to Reconciliation” process, which began last spring.

The topic for the evening is: “Seeing Each Other: The role of media and Indigenous voices in reshaping relationships”. The event is part of the Ka Na Ta Dialogues series – an initiative of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the Gathering Voices Society.

AFN National Chief and VIU Chancellor Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, will moderate the event and will be joined by a distinguished panel of guest speakers including Wab Kinew, musician, broadcaster and educator; Judith Lavoie, freelance journalist; and Duncan McCue, CBC National reporter and professor at UBC's School of Journalism.

“The Ka Na Ta Dialogues bring diverse peoples together to forge new understandings through respect and recognition,” says Chief Atleo. “The media plays a key role in forming and building our understanding of each other. This dialogue will be an opportunity to discuss and debate the role the media has played in shaping our relationships and the role it could play in helping us to move forward and free us from old thinking that is holding us all back."

The dialogue will be live-streamed so people from across Canada can participate. The guest speakers will start the conversation sharing their expert views and personal perspectives. The audience – both live and online – will then be invited to ask questions of the panel and share their own perspectives either in person or through social media.

“The goal of the Ka Na Ta Dialogues is to help all of us identify opportunities for innovation and true transformation in our shared relationship for a brighter future and I look forward to taking part in this important discussion,” says Chief Atleo.

“Education plays a key role in the reconciliation process and is leading to a new understanding. That is why VIU is committed to taking a leadership role in this area,” says Ralph Nilson, VIU’s President and Vice-Chancellor. “It’s through dialogues such as these that we continue to learn about each other and discover ways in which we can rebuild relationships between Canada’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.”

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Media Contact:


Shari Bishop Bowes, Communications Officer, Vancouver Island University


P:250.740.6443 C: 250.618.1535 E: Communications@viu.ca T: @viunews