Workshop space is limited.  Please RSVP at events@daniels.utoronto.ca

What does it mean to be an ally to Indigenous peoples? And is it even possible to call yourself an ally or is it more correct to say that one can only aspire to be an ally as allyship is a continuous process of self-reflexivity, learning and acting in a way that decenters whiteness. These are some of the questions and issues that will be explored in this hour and a half presentation, Reconciliation: Walking the Path of Indigenous Allyship.

Graphic by Mariah Meawasige (@Makoose)

John Croutch is Anishinaabe on his mother's side and settler German/Canadian on his father's side. John is a status Indian and a member of Wikwemikoong unceded First Nation on Manitoulin Island. John currently works as the tri-campus Indigenous Training Coordinator at the Office of Indigenous Initiatives at the University of Toronto.

In this capacity John has developed a 2-part workshop to educate non-indigenous students, staff, librariars and faculty about the hidden history of Indigenous-non-Indigenous relations since contact and how the legislation, policy and the derogation of Indigenous peoples lifeways has dispossessed Indigenous peoples of their lands, resources culture and languages.

John's other two workshops help non-Indigenous students, staff, librarians and faculty think about allyship and the crafting of transformative land acknowledgements. Despite the oppression and marginalization experienced by Indigenous peoples John is committed to opening the eyes of non-indigenous peoples to the resilience and pride of Indigenous peoples as they seek justice and restitution.