Fantàstic! HISKWE Catalonia! JÁN U ÍY¸

Living Knowledge Network Delegation to Girona, Spain – June 26-29

Our 12-person team from the Living Lab Network and W̱SÁNEĆ youth/family members had an incredibly inspiring experience attending the bi-annual European-based Living Knowledge Network (LKN) community-campus conference in Girona, Spain, from June 26-29. This trip was made possible by a generous donation from UVic’s Centre for Indigenous Research and Community-Led Engagement (CIRCLE), the Vice President Indigenous and the President’s Office. 

We are deeply grateful to the LKN organizers, especially Alicia, and the Catalan Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (ICRPC) and CERCA – the Centre for Catalonian Research, particularly Antonio, for their warm hospitality. A highlight of our trip was the extra public screening of ĆELÁṈEN TŦE ṮEṮÁĆES, with Co-Directors SXEDŦELISIYE Tye and the film’s producer Alex Harris present. Check out ĆELÁṈEN TŦE ṮEṮÁĆES.

Catalan and European academics and NGOs we met, including those attending the film screening, were deeply moved. For many, it was their first time viewing an Indigenous-led and narrated production. 

The delegation’s goal was to strengthen long-term, community-driven research, program partnerships, and youth-community-campus exchanges with European and global partners. We made significant progress in these areas by presenting a community-based Indigenous worldview of “Canada,” led by community voices.