National Indigenous Peoples Day

June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day — a time to recognize and celebrate the traditions, cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

To mark this day, McMaster is showcasing community members and the initiatives and work from recent months that enrich our community with diverse perspectives and Ways of Knowing.

Community

Campus Community

Hugs, tears, laughter and family: Scenes from the Indigenous Graduate Celebration 

‘Whatever the path looks like for you, we always believed in you and we knew that you would make it here.’

Convocation

A good life: Seth Cabezas on building community and finding your place

The new graduate spent his university years creating spaces of connection and care, supporting his peers with Indigenous Student Athletic Council and mentoring students in the Indigenous Transition Program.

Institutional News

McMaster unveils Indigenous Marauder logo created by Cayuga Woodland artist Kyle Joedicke

Joedicke's work blends Indigenous symbolism with McMaster tradition in a logo meant to foster belonging and reconciliation.

Impact & Service

McMaster Moose Hide Campaign event brings men together to end gender-based violence

The event held by the McMaster chapter of the nationwide Moose Hide Campaign highlighted rising violence against Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people in Canada.

Campus Community

A warm McMaster welcome for the new Vice-Provost Indigenous

At a community celebration that featured drumming, singing and laughter, Beverly Jacobs shared moving remarks about her life, her experiences as a Haudenosaunee woman studying law, and her vision for advancing Indigenous education and scholarship at McMaster.

Research and education

Experiential Learning

Clear language, big ideas: Communicating research in Nunavut

McMaster students are helping build a more community-centered approach to research – and research outputs – in the North.

Experiential Learning

Q&A with Tristan Bomberry, medical student and health researcher

Tristan Bomberry on Indigenous health, the importance of bringing community perspectives into the research process, and work that's rooted in relationships.

Impact & Service

'Placing Indigenous ways of knowing at the centre of learning'

The Indigenization Post Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) event brought together Indigenous leaders, scholars, and members of the academic and broader community to consider what has changed in higher education since the release of the TRC’s final report.

Entrepreneurship

Food, identity, sovereignty and health: Kendal Garlow connects the dots

The Indigenous Studies MA student is launching a business to support Indigenous communities, and the idea came from her research on Haudenosaunee food and identity.

Leadership, Culture & Society

Krystene Green is shaping new narratives

Her work on land defence and the criminal justice system is making space for and highlighting Indigenous experiences.

Leadership, Culture & Society

Meet the first graduate of the Master of Indigenous Studies program

Kelsy Chan reflects on her master’s experience, her research on the Haida Nation’s Rising Tide Agreement, and the powerful community in the Indigenous Studies Department.

Impact & Service

McMaster and Woodland Cultural Centre work together to uncover clues about ancient Indigenous diets

The year-long project is finding new stories in the Centre's archaeological collection.

Impact & Service

'Our voices do deserve to be heard' - Meet the narrator of the film Deskaheh

Third-year student Tekenikhon Doreen co-created the animated film about the Haudenosaunee leader. She's passionate about sharing Indigenous histories with students and communities.

Campus Community

Roots in Reconciliation event marks 10th anniversary of TRC’s Calls to Action

The Indigenous Health Learning Lodge at McMaster hosted community leaders and experts for a two-day event to recognize and reflect on the anniversary of release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report.

Health & Medicine

'The power of Indigenous scholarship' at Indigenous Research Day 2025

Now in its fourth year, MIRI’s annual event showcased the calibre, depth and breadth of Indigenous research at McMaster.