U of S Indigenous researcher among those to receive awards at fall convocation
- Fraser Needham | October 26, 2015
Alex Wilson will be one of a number of
people receiving honourary degrees and awards at the University of Saskatchewan
fall convocation on October 24.
Wilson is an associate professor and academic director at the Aboriginal Education Research Centre at the U of S. She has done extensive research as well as being very active in building and sharing knowledge about two spirit identity, history and teachings, Indigenous research methodologies and the prevention of violence against Aboriginal people. Some of her current research projects include two spirited people and homelessness and an international study on education and Igbtq Indigenous peoples.
For her efforts, Wilson will receive the University of Saskatchewan’s 2015 Award for Distinction in Outreach and Public Service. Aside from these other accomplishments, the U of S professor is one of a number of organizers in the Idle No More movement. Idle No More is a grassroots movement that sprang to life in Saskatoon in early December 2012. It initially formed in opposition to the Harper government’s Bill C-45, which a number of activists feel will substantially alter First Nations’ land and water rights.
Idle No More grew quickly from a local, to a national and eventually an international movement attracting thousands of people at a time to non-violent events such as round dances, traditional drumming and singing. The movement remains active today participating in any number of environmental and social issues campaigns.
Wilson says Idle No More and associated groups were also active in the recent federal election campaign. She says the movement refused to endorse any particular political party while at the same time encouraging people to vote but reminding them elections are only one part of asserting their rights in the democratic process. “The way that Idle No More framed it was voting as a form of harm reduction,” Wilson says. “So just one tool in the big kit of many different things.”
The Conservative government under Stephen Harper had a very adversarial relationship with a number of social movements including Indigenous rights activists. Now that there is a newly elected Liberal majority government in Ottawa, there is some belief that an improved relationship is possible and Prime Minister-elect Justin Trudeau has said he wants to pursue a nation-to-nation approach when dealing with First Nations leaders.
However, Wilson says a new government in Ottawa won’t alter the activities of groups like Idle No More and their level of activism will remain as high, or higher, than before. “I think we just continue to do the work that we’ve been doing all along and be extra vigilant,” she says. “We’re not going to become complacent and expect that all these promises will be fulfilled but we’re going to just continue looking at the bills that have been passed and how those impact. And, looking at ones that are coming forward and may be being reopened such as the First Nations Education Act.”
Margaret Brown of the Native Law Centre will also receive the President’s Service Award.