Trent University Professors Are Leaders in the First National Conference on the Urban Aboriginal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Drs. David Newhouse and Chris McCaskill take Indigenous Studies to the city

Friday, February 18, 2011, Peterborough

Thanks to the initiative of two Trent University professors, a substantial meeting of the minds will occur at a new national conference with a research focus on the urban Aboriginal at the Delta Chelsea Hotel in Toronto, Ontario on Wednesday, February 23 and Thursday, February 24, 2011.

Dr. David Newhouse, chair of Trent's Indigenous Studies Department, with his colleagues Dr. Kevin Fitzmaurice of the Native Studies Department at the University of Sudbury and Dr. Don McCaskill, professor of Indigenous studies at Trent, initially planned a small conference of less than 30 participants at Trent University. Overwhelming interest however, resulted in the growth of the event to include over 250 academic and community participants spanning the country.

The National Research Conference on Urban Aboriginal Peoples will bring together a network of Canadian researchers and academics, policy-makers and community members to engage in forward looking approaches to research and dialogue that explores Biimaadiziwin (meaning 'the good life' in the Nishnaabemowin) in urban environments. The good life is premised on a balance of four elements: body, mind, emotion and spirit.

Keynote speakers at the conference will be Chief Shawn A-in-chut, national chief to the Assembly of First Nations and Dr. Malcolm King, scientific director of the Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Papers being presented at the National Research Conference on Urban Aboriginal Peoples will be edited into a volume under the working title "Fostering Biimaadiziwin (The Good Life) in urban environments." For a full agenda and list of presenters, visit www.nrcuap.net.

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For more information, please contact: Dr. David Newhouse, chair, Indigenous Studies, Trent University, 705-748-1011 ext. 7497, dnewhouse@trentu.ca