Yellowhead Fire
Yellowhead Fire brings together established and emerging scholars, activists, and artists to discuss pressing concerns and issues, exchange ideas, and offer critical Indigenous perspectives on settler colonialism and the reclamation of Indigenous land and “the good life”.
The theme for Yellowhead Fire 2023/2024 is “A Different Kind of Education” with a focus on Indigenous knowledge and education.
Yellowhead Fire hosts four lecture events annually that are free of charge and open to the public. The series is offered in person at Toronto Metropolitan University. It is also available online.
A Different Kind of Education: 2023 / 2024 Schedule

SHADY HAFEZ
Algonquin Anishinabe &
Syrian member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg
OCTOBER 18, 2023, 7-9pm | Toronto Metropolitan University, CUI 317, 55 Gerrard St. & Online
Experiences in Community-based Indigenous Education
This fireside chat by Shady Hafez will explore the issues associated with the exclusivity of western knowledge institutions and the successes and challenges of bringing higher learning directly to Indigenous students within their home communities.
Shady is currently a PhD student in Sociology at the University of Toronto, a Yellowhead Institute Research Fellow and is also the Projects Manager to the National Association of Friendship Centres.
Post-secondary institutions are not the most accessible spaces for Indigenous students, particularly students from rural and remote communities.
To attend, students often have to leave their home communities, cultures and families with the intent of pursuing their academic dreams and goals. This fireside chat will explore the issues associated with the exclusivity of western knowledge institutions and the successes and challenges of bringing higher learning directly to Indigenous students within their home communities. Shady Hafez, will share his insights and experiences in developing and teaching post-secondary content for on-reserve students with the hopes of better informing a structural breakdown of the exclusivity of academic knowledge and systems.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Shady Hafez (he/him) is an Algonquin Anishinabe and Syrian member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg. Shady is currently a PhD student in Sociology at the University of Toronto, a Yellowhead Institute Research Fellow and is also the Projects Manager to the National Association of Friendship Centres. With over 15 years’ experience working directly with and for Indigenous communities, Shady has supported communities in the development of programs and services related to health and social well-being to cultural resurgence and political and economic autonomy. Additionally, Shady has worked extensively in Indigenous specific education, having taught in the Indigenous Wellness and Addictions Program through Canadore College, the First Nations Technical Institute and worked in developing on-line Indigenous focused curriculums. These experiences have given Shady insights into the successes and challenges related to the development and delivery of higher learning for Indigenous communities.
Upcoming Lectures (details TBA)
NOVEMBER 16, 2023 | Location TBA
Reclaiming Indigenous Economics Under Settler Capitalism
featuring Dr. Shalene Jobin,
Cree and Métis, Red Pheasant Cree First Nation (Treaty Six)
FEBRUARY 29, 2024 | Location TBA
Indigenous Knowledge Transfer – A Dene Perspective
featuring Deneze Nakeh’ko
Dene, Liidlii Kue First Nation
MARCH 2024 | Date & Location TBA
Stay Tuned!
Yellowhead Sparks
Yellowhead Sparks are small-scale events responsive to community interests, topical in nature, and often generated by the themes, topics, and issues explored in the Yellowhead Fire series.
PAST EVENT | Bad Cree X The Big Melt Book Launch
In March 2023, Yellowhead School teamed up with Another Story Bookshop to celebrate the highly-anticipated works of two Nehiyaw writers. Jessica Johns’ debut novel, Bad Cree (2023 Amazon Canada First Novel Finalist), and Emily Riddle’s debut poetry collection, The Big Melt (2023 Winner of Griffin Poetry Prize’s Canadian First Book Prize). This Yellowhead Spark event featured readings, moderated discussion, and a friendly round of bingo.
