In partnership with the Pôle des entreprises d’économie sociale de la Capitale-Nationale, the First Nations Social Economy Regional Table (FNSERT) is pleased to present this national conference as part of Social Economy Month 2020.

The death of Joyce Echaquan on September 28, 2020 and its media coverage on social networks raised a wave of outrage that is increasing awareness of the impacts of systemic racism on the living conditions of the First Nations in Quebec. Other events such as the railway blockades in support of the Wetʼsuwetʼen community in British Columbia and the movement to support Mi’kmaq fishermen in Nova Scotia have emphasized the will of the First Nations to reclaim their territory everywhere across Canada. What lessons can we learn from these social movements in order to revamp our economic system?

The First Nations cultures are characterized by their connection to the territory as well as their knowledge and know-how that are passed on from generation to generation. They have long favoured modes of economic organization based on cooperation. In South America, the concept of “Buen Vivir” is the foundation of the way of life of many Indigenous peoples. It is both a way of relating to others and a way of relating to the environment. What can we learn from Indigenous peoples in terms of territorial development and relationship to the environment?

Presentation by Karine Awashish:
Socioeconomic development of the First Nations in Quebec: Issues and perspectives

Presentation by Dan Furukawa Marques:
Cosmovision of the Indigenous peoples of the South: “Buen Vivir” as a way of relating to the world

Speaker biographies

Originally from the Atikamekw community of Obedjiwan, Karine Awashish set personal and professional goals for herself related to the cultural and identity-based affirmation of Indigenous communities. Holder of a master’s degree in recreation, culture and tourism from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) and a bachelor’s degree in business administration (from the UQAM), she is currently pursuing doctoral studies in sociology at the Université Laval. Her research interests include cooperation, social transformation and contributions of Indigenous knowledge. With her accumulated professional experience related to the socio-economic development of the First Nations in Quebec, she co-founded Coop Nitaskinan, a solidarity cooperative that allows for the realization of collective social and cultural projects. While contributing to the cultural standing of the Atikamekw, she is actively involved in youth development and the dissemination of Indigenous culture and arts.

Dan Furukawa Marques is an Assistant Professor for the Department of Sociology at the Université Laval and holder of the Chaire de leadership en enseignement Alban D’Amours en sociologie de la cooperation (Teaching Chair Alban-D’Amours in sociology of cooperation). He is also an affiliate professor to the Centre d’études des mouvements sociaux (CEMS) of the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris. His work focuses on the analysis of cooperative communities and social movements, notably the Landless Workers’ Movement in Brazil. His new research projects reflect on the connection between solidarity economy and the commons in Montreal, Quebec City and Barcelona.