Open events

Jeannette Armstrong’s keynote will explore Indigenous literatures, relationality with land, and community, offering an Indigenous perspective on how storytelling and literary practices play a vital role in reshaping relationships with land, culture, and identity. Focusing on the role of Indigenous knowledge systems in navigating and resisting colonial structures, Armstrong will illuminate the power of Indigenous storytelling in fostering community resilience, environmental sustainability, and cultural resurgence. Her presentation will tie together the themes of "Reframing Togetherness" by emphasizing the relationality between people, place, and the environment, demonstrating how Indigenous literature fosters inclusive dialogues across divergent knowledge systems. Having given a keynote at our inaugural gathering a decade ago, Armstrong will animate our conference theme of “Revisiting,” bringing land-based sensibilities to this urban gathering. Armstrong’s work contributes to contemporary discussions on global issues like climate change, land rights, and decolonization, offering valuable insights to engage academic scholars and broader audiences.