Our Events
Learning Circles
Learning Circles are opportunities for students and community members to come together in an informal setting to grow their awareness and learn through collaboration. Learning Circle topics in previous years include a Six Nations Cultural Competency Orientation, a Traditional Health and Healing Roundtable, and Cooking Workshops with Elder Kathy Knott. This past Winter IHM held a Birch Bark Basket Making workshop with John Wager from Curve Lake First Nations. More information about this workshop can be found here.
Fundraisers
We aim to connect to the local community by collaborating with Indigenous health organizations in the Hamilton and Brantford area. We have previously partnered with the Native Women’s Centre to run a holiday makeup drive, and have run multiple donation drives for the Native Women's Centre.
Indigenous Health Conference
The Indigenous Health Conference is an interdisciplinary event held in Hamilton, Ontario. The conference is a partnership between students, Indigenous community members, and McMaster University. Every year, IHM brings together McMaster students, community members, Indigenous Elders, frontline workers and academic researchers to discuss a variety of topics that impact Indigenous Health.
The 2023 conference theme was: Indigenous Health Research & Community Healthcare by and for Indigenous Peoples. The conference included presentations about data collection, frontline experience, and current research projects in the field of Indigenous Health. Learn more about our 2024 conference: A Day of Conversations: Exploring Identity, Advocacy, and Interconnectedness, here.
IHM Art Show 2023
Art is Medicine was an art show run curated by IHM in the spring of 2024. It is a collection showcasing the work of five young Indigenous artists from around Ontario. The show was put on in collaboration with the Hamilton Artists Inc. Art is Medicine seeks to highlight the perspectives of Indigenous youth, as they are often at the forefront of Indigenous cultural revitalization. This collection of multidisciplinary works features paintings, photography and traditional beading practices to provide a visual representation of Indigenous Health and Wellbeing. Works showcased in Art is Medicine reflect modern perspectives of Indigenous Health while reinterpreting and redefining what Indigenous Health and ‘Medicine’ can be.
Medicine exists outside of the Western perceptions of health and healthcare, and the themes of Art is Medicine derive from the Anishinaabe teaching of Mino Bimaadziwin (“The Good Path”) and the Cayuga teaching of Ganikwiyo (“Good Mind”.) Bimaadziwin involves living in a way that upholds the 7 grandfather teachings of: love, wisdom, honesty, truth, bravery, humility, and respect. Ganikwiyo encompasses values and principles, such as strength and compassion, that are within us all.
The title Art is Medicine is inspired by the saying “good medicine,” a term often used to explain a multitude of Indigenous teachings and ways of beings. All these teachings instruct us to move though the world with good intentions, respect, and a balanced self. Art is Medicine highlights art as an act of creation, resistance, and ultimately revitalization of a healthy mind, body, and spirit.
Winterizing Strawberry Patch Workshop
IHM will be travelling on Saturday, November 26th to Six Nations to participate in a series of Winterizing Strawberry Patch Workshops organized by the Revitalizing Our Sustenance Project (ROSP)!
We will be participating in a series of workshops from 10-6pm. A bus to Six Nations will be leaving McMaster at 9:15am and will be returning at 6:40pm. Lunch and dinner will be provided during the day by ROSP. Students will be outside for most of the day and participating in workshops that involve labour and hand-on activities, so please dress accordingly (proper footwear and clothes).
There are limited spots available so be sure to register soon!
Halloween Beading Event
Hey everyone! Join us on Thursday, October 27 between 2-4 PM for a Halloween Beading Workshop. There is a 30 person capacity, so make sure to register as soon as possible!
Hoop Dancing with Notorious Cree
Join us for a hoop dance performance as well as talking about traditions, teachings, storytelling, living a healthy life through culture, personal journey, social media journey, reconciliation, Q&A sessions and much more.
The 2022 Indigenous Health Symposium
The McMaster Indigenous Health Movement is hosting our 2022 Indigenous Health Symposium in partnership with the Indigenous Health Learning Lodge.
This years theme will focus on Preparedness, Impact & Implications of COVID-19 on Indigenous Communities. The 2-day event will be online via Zoom and more information regarding speaker schedules & registration will be available soon on our Instagram page and our Facebook! Follow us for updates!
And don't forget to mark March 4th & 5th on your calendars to save the date!
Bone Bracelet Workshop
Attention Everyone! Next week on Wednesday, January 26th we will be hosting a bone bracelet workshop that will be run by Kathy Knott. The workshop will be virtually from 11:00am to 12:00pm and materials will be delivered. There is a limit of 15 people so be sure to sign up fast!
McMaster IHM X Native Women's Centre Charity Drive
In support of The Native Women’s Centre we have organized a charity drive! Donations are being accepted until Friday, December 17th and a donation bin is setup in LR Wilson at the Indigenous Student Services Office. We would love for anyone to drop off donations anytime this holiday season!
Holiday Beading Workshop
Hello everyone! We have an exciting event being hosted by McMaster IHM’s alumni, Maggie Powless-Lynes!
Join us on December 13th for a holiday beading workshop in LR Wilson room 1811 from 11:00am - 1:00pm.
There are only 20 spots available so be sure to sign up. We look forward to seeing you there!
IHM Movie Night
IHM is hosting a movie night next Tuesday, November 16th and we would love for you to join! The movie screened will be Smoke Signals. We have a limited capacity of 21 students so be sure to sign up fast!
Virtual Cooking Class with Kathy Knott
Get ready for out next virtual event, a cooking class with elder, Kathy Knott! On Monday, December 7th from 4:30-6pm, Kathy will be showing us how to make fry bread and chili!
Please sign up at the link in bio if you are interested in attending the event. There is also the option to request ingredient drop off/a grocery gift card.
Hope to see you soon! 😋
Virtual Nature Walk with Arnold Greene
Join McMaster IHM and our guest speaker Arnold Greene on a virtual Facebook live nature walk in Cootes Paradise on November 28th at 3:00pm! 🌱
Follow and “like” McMaster IHM on Facebook and join the livestream to learn about traditional Indigenous medicines from your own living room 🌿
No RSVP is necessary and we’ll see you on Saturday!
