Lakehead University hosting Canada-Mexico roundtable on Indigenous Higher Education

Photo of Dr. Brian Stevenson, Lakehead University's President and Vice-Chancellor.

Dr. Brian Stevenson, Lakehead University's President and Vice-Chancellor, greeted participants at the sixth annual Canada-Mexico Roundtable on Intercultural/Indigenous Higher Education on Monday, June 26.

June 26, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University is hosting representatives from eight Mexican universities and 11 Canadian universities for the sixth Canada-Mexico Roundtable on Intercultural/Indigenous Higher Education.

Representatives are in Thunder Bay from Sunday, June 25 to Tuesday, June 27.

Dr. Brian Stevenson, Lakehead’s President and Vice-Chancellor, explained that the roundtable’s theme is Indigenous entrepreneurship, and that the event brings participants together to share best practices and learn from each other.

“All of these universities hope to remove unnecessary barriers and increase pathways for Indigenous students in Canada and in Mexico,” Dr. Stevenson said. “In addition to developing strategies to foster Indigenous students’ entrepreneurial skills and opportunities across borders, this Roundtable will open doors for research and other partnerships.”

Federal, provincial, municipal and Indigenous representatives and students have been invited to participate in the roundtable discussion. Their goal is to sign a consortium agreement to promote mobility, joint research and Indigenous community activities that explore ways to improve access and programming for Indigenous communities in both countries, as well as promote joint research and institutional collaboration. 

For decades, Canadian universities have worked to increase access for Indigenous students and to improve outreach to Indigenous communities.

Federal and state governments in Mexico have partnered to create a number of regional universities, called Intercultural Universities, to improve post-secondary access for Indigenous peoples.

Over the three days, participants will enjoy tours, meetings, and events hosted by several local and regional Indigenous communities, including the Red Rock Indian Band, Fort William First Nation, and the Métis Nation of Ontario.

For the complete schedule of events for the sixth Canada-Mexico Roundtable on Intercultural/Indigenous Higher Education, please visit:

https://www.lakeheadu.ca/presidents-office/6th-canada-mexico-roundtable/conference-details/agenda.

 

 

 

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

 

 

 

Lakehead University has about 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.