GDI is a Saskatchewan-based educational, employment and cultural institute serving Métis across the province
Dec 10, 2021
On October 4, 2021, the Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI), Indigenous Literary Studies Association (ILSA), and Saskatchewan Aboriginal Writer’s Circle Inc. (SAWCI) entered into a partnership that will see GDI host the 2022 ILSA Conference.
ILSA was created in 2013 to address the need for a scholarly body based in lands claimed by Canada that focuses specifically on the study and teaching of Indigenous Peoples’ literature. Their mission is to honour the history and promote the ongoing production of Indigenous literature in all forms; advance the ethical and vigorous study and teaching of those literatures; to reaffirm the value of Indigenous knowledges and methodologies within literary expression and study; to foster respectful relationships within and between academic and non-academic communities; to facilitate mentorship and professional development; and to advocate for responsible institutional transformation.
Since 2013, ILSA has brought established and new scholars and writers together to provide resources for teaching, studying, research, conferences, and publishing in a diverse range of Indigenous literary activities. The upcoming conference will mark the Association’s eighth annual gathering.
The gathering will be both an academic conference and a community-based celebration of Métis literature. “GDI looks forward to sharing knowledge, promoting Métis literature, and encouraging community-building among all participants at the 2022 ILSA Conference. We are honoured to host the vibrant intellectual community that will be attending this gathering,” said Lisa Bird-Wilson, GDI Executive Director.
The 2022 ILSA Annual Gathering will be held from June 16-June 18, 2022. The gathering will have a focus on Métis literature, which aligns well with GDI’s mission to promote the renewal and development of Métis culture. With SAWCI’s mandate to share Indigenous literature and art, the three organizations will commit to working together to plan a gathering that will advance the missions of each of the three organizations while also being respectful of their differences. All three organizations have shared purposes, including fostering and honouring Indigenous cultural expression and development; advancing the publishing, study, and teaching of Indigenous stories; developing respectful relationships; and being responsive to communities.
GDI is a Saskatchewan-based educational, employment and cultural institute serving Métis across the province
