Skip to sidebar after main content

Willow River & Beyond

Start Date:

End Date:

Where:

Senate and Board Chamber

You're invited to attend a panel discussion on Indigenous sovereignty, land stewardship, and climate change. This event is part of Laurier Library’s Climate Action Week and is a collaboration between Laurier Students’ Public Interest Research Group (LSPIRG), EcoHawks (Students' Union), the WLUFA Climate Action Committee, and the Laurier Library.

We are thrilled to be bringing incredible Two-Spirit and IndigiQueer local leaders to campus. The panelists are:

Amy Smoke (they/them) is Mohawk Nation, Turtle Clan, of the Six Nations of the Grand River. They are an IndigiQueer parent, community organizer, and public speaker. Amy has won several awards in the fields of Social Justice and Community Leadership and they are one of the co-founders of Land Back Camp and are now one of the co-directors of Willow River Centre, the first and only 2S IndigiQueer led organization in Waterloo Region. Amy is a sessional instructor at the University of Waterloo, Renison University College, in the BSW program.

Bangishimo (they/them), is an IndigiQueer Anishinaabe originally from Couchiching First Nation. They are the co-founder of Ose:Kenhionhata (Land Back Camp) and Co-director of Willow River Centre. Recently, they served as the City of Kitchener’s inaugural Indigenous Artist-in-Residence (2022-23) and are currently the first Artist in Residence for Longhouse Labs at the University of Waterloo (2024-2025).

Benny Skinner (they/them) is a Two-Spirit thinker, educator, and creator living in the Great Lakes Regions (Waterloo, Haldimand Tract) of Turtle Island. On their father’s side, they come from the community of Harbour Round, Newfoundland that has mixed Ktaqmkuk Mi’kmaq, Inuit, Keltic, and French ancestry. On their mother’s side, they come from the Kapampangan people who are ancestrally Indigenous to the Southeast Asian archipelago and were stagnated by colonial activity on the island of Luzon, Philippines. Benny currently works as an independent consultant in decolonizing institutional spaces and Indigenous research. They are also a sessional lecturer at St. Jerome’s University in the Sexualities, Relationships, and Families Studies Department. Benny holds a Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies and a Master of Arts in Global Governance, both from University of Waterloo. They are a research fellow and PhD student at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, an ambassador for a number of human rights advocacy organizations, and queer public figure in Waterloo Region.
 
Join us for a powerful discussion that will deepen your understanding and spur you into action. All Laurier students, staff and faculty and the broader community are welcome.
 
No registration needed.
 

Accessibility Features

For accessibility needs or detailed directions, please contact info@lspirg.org.

Page Owner: Meredith Fischer

Page Feedback

Last Updated: