Challenging status quo for IWW at Nipissing

Nipissing University is celebrating International Women’s Week (IWW) with a series of events March 4 -17 centred on the theme Justice Across Boundaries.
“The theme refers to the ways in which oppression and injustice occur at the intersection of gender, colonization, race and sexuality. This year’s IWW calls out the unacceptable levels of sexual violence in our society, the murder and disappearance of Indigenous women, and the appropriation of indigenous land and knowledge. These are not separate phenomena, but interrelated,” said Dr. Rosemary Nagy, associate professor and chair of the Gender Equality and Social Justice program at Nipissing.  “It is vital that universities discuss difficult and sometimes unpopular ideas and Justice Across Boundaries speaks to the importance of challenging the status quo through art, song, story, presence and voice.”

Events begin on Friday March 4 at noon, for the fourth annualJoin me on the Bridge to demonstrate support for gender equality in North Bay and across the world.

IWW event highlights include:A Candlelight Vigil for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women on March 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the NU campus pondA keynote address from Dr. Rachel Griffin on March 11 from noon – 2 p.m. in the Nipissing Theatre.  Dr. Griffin will be speaking about gender-based violence. Actively involved in the movement against gender violence for almost a decade, Dr. Griffin’s passion for gender violence advocacy is derived from her personal experience as a survivor. She regards gender violence as tragic, unnecessary, and systemic, and holds generating social consciousness close to her heart as a personal and social responsibilityA keynote address featuring Tracy Lindberg on March 17 at 11:30 a.m. in the Harris Learning Library, titled Reading Birdie as the Letter of the Law: Canadian Fictions and Indigenous Truths.  Lindberg’s book Birdie has been on bestseller and best of lists since its release in 2015.  A professor and doctor of law, Lindberg writes about impossible people and possible happiness.Other events includea screening of indigenous short films,singing action workshops and aseries of beading workshops with Bev Koski.

For a full listing of events,please click here to go to the IWW event website.
IWW 2016 is co-presented by the Department of Gender Equality and Social Justice, the Office of Aboriginal Initiatives, the NU Perspectives Campaign, and Fine Arts in partnership with Near North Mobile Media Lab, North Bay Film, and Whitewater Gallery.