On November 4, students Julia Cimino, Mili Patel, Chelsea Chamberland, Isabelle Mallette, and Savannah Beauchamp will start off the week with information booths in the Atrium of the Parker Building from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Their goal is to help educate the Laurentian community about the Treaty, its implications, and its historical and present-day relevance.
The week will also feature multiple events at the Laurentian University campus on November 5 and 6 being organized jointly by Laurentian’s Office of Academic and Indigenous Programs and the Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin. Among the events, notable keynote speakers will present, including Clayton Samuel King on Treaties and Wampum Belts, Dr. Alan Corbiere on Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850 History: Leadership Roles and Responsibilities, and Dr. Brian McInnes, among others.
For the students in Social Work, this initiative is a culmination of a unique final project for Dr. Carlson-Manathara’s course, Strategies for Social Change, which empowers students to engage in real-world social justice work. Rather than a traditional exam, students are required to participate in a social change initiative, write a comprehensive paper analyzing their experiences, and share their insights in a discussion with classmates.
"I chose to support Treaty Week because it aligns with my personal values as a non-Indigenous person to understand Indigenous culture and history,” said Julia Cimino, a concurrent education and social work student. “I live on Indigenous land and it’s my obligation to respect the peoples and fully understand the impact of colonization.”
Mili Patel echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of spreading awareness about Treaties Recognition Week. “Many people don’t understand its significance and that’s a huge motivation for us to set up these information tables. We are doing a lot of research to fully understand the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850 and our class prepared us for this kind of community engagement. I’m proud to support this and be an ally to Indigenous Peoples.”
The awareness booths will feature educational resources, pamphlets, and interactive elements such as QR codes linking to further information. Students will also distribute candies with the message, "We are all treaty people," inviting community members to reflect on their relationship with Indigenous rights.
“This hands-on approach allows students to apply what they’ve learned in class directly to impactful social change,” Dr. Carlson-Manathara explained. “A key goal of the course is to get students out into the community and involved with social change work so they can envision it as a way of life for themselves as social workers. Sometimes students are afraid of getting involved in this type of work, and I hope that by getting out there they can overcome these fears and integrate social justice work into their lives. These students are showing a deep commitment to understanding the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850 and its broad impact. ”
The students’ sentiments around the assignment are proof-positive that Dr. Carlson-Manathara is achieving the desired outcome she described. “As a student we’re not just talking about advocacy and social change we’re applying those lessons and pushing ourselves to take part in something meaningful and hopefully have an impact,” Julia said.
Mili added that the lessons learned through this experience will remain with them for long after the course is over. “This is more valuable than an exam. We have the chance to actually make a difference instead of just writing about it. We’ll always remember this experience and the importance of Treaties Recognition Week.”
The group encourages all Laurentian University community members to visit their booths on November 4 and participate in Treaties Recognition Week events organized by Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin and the Office of Academic and Indigenous Programs.