National symposium on FASD in Regina

By Dale Johnson Posted: February 22, 2017 1:00 p.m.

Dr. Michelle Stewart, associate professor in justice studies, helped to organize the FASD national symposium.
Dr. Michelle Stewart, associate professor in justice studies, helped to organize the FASD national symposium. Photo: External Relations

A national symposium on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is being held at the University of Regina on Wednesday, February 22 and Thursday, February 23, 2017.

The symposium is called FASD, Justice and Reconciliation: Tough Questions, New Collaborations.

Guest speakers from British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick are making presentations.

The symposium – organized by the Canada Northwest FASD Partnership and Michelle Stewart, associate professor in justice studies at the U of R – is in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action, two of which focused specifically on FASD.

One of them calls on governments to look at ways to develop, in collaboration with Aboriginal people, FASD preventative programs that can be delivered in a culturally-appropriate manner. The other calls on governments to reform the criminal justice system to better address the needs of offenders with FASD.

“The TRC is an invitation for all of us to think about reconciliation together, and calls on us to take action. So this event presents an opportunity for us to focus on those two recommendations regarding FASD,” explains Stewart.

"It's significant that this national symposium is being held here at the University of Regina because it’s a good match with the University’s priorities. Our University is committed to Indigenization and welcomes these kinds of conversations about reconciliation," she adds.

One roundtable discussion is examining holistic and culturally-safer approaches to programs and practices. Another roundtable is looking at legal and ethical considerations. And a third roundtable is considering practices that foster culturally-safe collaborations.
 
Through speakers and workshops, various policy workers, agencies, individuals and researchers are working together to respond to the TRC's Calls to Action.