The Grand Erie District School Board is hosting a presentation called Lacrosse, Leadership and Climate Change featuring renowned Indigenous leaders Oren R. Lyons and Rick Hill in conversation.
The event, open to the public, is the final installment in Grand Erie’s Indigenous speaker series. It’s an opportunity to hear from Lyons, an honored lacrosse player, artist and environmentalist, in conversation with Hill, a Haudenosaunee educator and historian.
It will be held on Thursday at Pauline Johnson Collegiate. Doors open at 6 pm for a reception, followed by the presentation at 6:30 pm Space is limited. Registration can be done at https://granderie.ca/board/programsandlearning/indigenous-education/indigenous-speaker-series-lacrosse-leadership-climate-change-may-18
“This is the fifth in a series of speaker events this year themed around sustainability, learning from the land, Indigenous knowledge and relationships,” said Susan Gibson, chair of the school board. “We’re pleased to conclude this series with an interactive event inviting the public to share in this journey of learning with us.”
Lyons is an Onondaga Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan and has held a number of leadership roles, including as a member of the Indigenous Peoples of the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations, and is an advocate for the rights of Indigenous people. He is also an accomplished lacrosse player and founder of the Haudenosaunee Nationals lacrosse team.
Hill holds a master’s degree in American Studies and has held leadership roles at several educational institutions, as well as the Smithsonian Institution and the Institute of American Indian Arts. He is currently the Indigenous Innovation Specialist at Mohawk College in Hamilton.
“This is a rare opportunity to engage in conversation with two celebrated and accomplished leaders on timely topics and approaches,” said JoAnna Roberto, director of education. “As we work to deepen our commitment to reconciliation, we have been increasing opportunities to learn from Indigenous peoples and perspectives, and we’re thrilled to come together as a community.”