“Our immigrant plant teachers offer a lot of different models for how not to make themselves welcome on a new continent […] But Plantain is not like that. Its strategy was to be useful, to fit into small places, to coexist with others around the dooryard, to heal wounds […] White Man’s Footstep [Plantain], generous and healing, grows with is leaves so close to the ground that each step is a greeting to Mother Earth.” – Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass
English
With Fran Beauvais, Catherine Richardson and Mélissa-Anne Ménard
We invite you to a moment of connection and deep reflection as we work together to write a land recognition that vibrates with COHDS’ essence and intention of reciprocity, respect and care. A time to explore the relationship we have to the land that kisses our feet every day and to honor it, this Reflection Moment will approach the collective writing moment as an ongoing process to be reflected on in the years to come. It is meant as an opportunity to connect to love and commit to the land that houses us, shapes us and offer deep gratitude to its guardians; it is a commitment to self.
As members of the COHDS community, you will be invited to meditate on your own relationship to the land and the relationship that COHDS, as the sum of its parts, also has to it. In small groups, you will be asked to come up with a land recognition which we will then “braid” together as a whole to act as a heartfelt ode to the land for COHDS to use moving forward.
Why are doing this?
Members of our team and community have felt the need to write a deeply personalized land recognition and acknowledgement, gratitude for the Kanien’kehá:ka nation, people and lands upon which we live and work.
Our aim is that this process would also allow us to reflect on COHDS’ positionality and involvement in decolonization.
Please note that participating members will ask to read and listen to excerpts beforehand so as to arrive with a common mindset. We will communicate with participants 1 week prior to the event to do so.
We look forward to sharing this moment with you.
REGISTRATION
Please note that registration for this event will close on April 4. If you wish to attend after this date, please write to cohdscoordinator@concordia.ca.
Please note that all our events are free and open to all, but registration is mandatory. For any questions please contact cohds.chorn@concordia.ca
LOCATION
In-person in LB-1019 (Sunroom, Computer Research Lab, Moonroom), COHDS
COHDS/ALLAB is located on unceded Kanien’kehá:ka territory, in Tiohtiá:ke/Montreal.
