AWOL 2022 : A Week Of Liberation
A Week of Liberation (September 12th – 17th, 2022) is an annual event series organized by APIRG at the beginning of the school year centered around building community, knowledge and power for social change. This year we’ve partnered with the Campus Food Bank, The Landing, the University of Alberta Sexual Assault Centre, Prairie Sage Protectors, the Edmonton Organic Growers Guild to bring you a week packed full of workshops, tours and events to suit every schedule and every appetite for change!
Covid Safety Recommendations
We recommend wearing a mask while attending events in-person. It is also recommended that attendees are vaccinated and boosted if attending in-person events.
Monday, September 12th
APIRG Anti-O 101 Workshop
12:00pm – 1:30pm
Virtual (via Zoom)
The Alberta Public Interest Research Group (APIRG) is a student-run, student-funded non-profit based at the University of Alberta that upholds an anti-oppressive mandate, meaning that we analyze the structures that underlie inequity in our communities and seek grassroots solutions to build a better world. APIRG’s Anti-O 101 Workshop is an introductory workshop focused on introducing anti-oppressive theory, understanding power and privilege, and exploring how we can apply these concepts in our day-to-day lives!
UASAC Consent in Practice Workshop
2:00pm – 4:00pm
SUB 4-02
As there has been an increased focus on teaching and learning about consent in many communities in recent years, including in post-secondary settings, this workshop is meant for those who are looking to expand their understanding of consent beyond definitions. In this workshop, participants will discuss what we know about consent already, talk about where that understanding comes from, explore how we experience consent in our day to day lives, and unpack how a fear of rejection shapes how we practice consent.
Tuesday, September 13th
APIRG Open House
12:00pm – 4:00pm
9111 HUB Mall
Drop-in event.
The Alberta Public Interest Research Group (APIRG) is a student-run, student-funded non-profit based at the University of Alberta that upholds an anti-oppressive mandate, meaning that we analyze the structures that underlie inequity in our communities and seek grassroots solutions to build a better world. Stop by our office to learn more about what we do, check out our free alternative resource library, have a coffee and a chat, and pick up some APIRG swag!
Screen Printing 101 with Veronica Fuentes
4:00pm – 5:30pm
APIRG Office
Join Veronica Fuentes on Tuesday September 13th for an introductory workshop on screen printing! Screen-printing has historically been a way for social and political movements to gain visibility. It’s a low-tech tool with powerful impacts and a long history in political movements. During this workshop you’ll have a chance to try your hand at screen printing and create a one-of-a-kind patch!
Poundmaker’s Lodge: A Healing Place Film Screening & Panel with Prairie Sage Protectors
6:00pm – 8:00pm
ECHA 1-490
Prairie Sage Protectors is an APIRG Working Group and a collective of Diaspora, Black & Indigenous peoples organizing towards a Liberated, Anti Colonial world.
Join members of Prairie Sage Protectors for a screening of Poundmaker’s Lodge: A Healing Place followed by a panel to discuss the film.
About the film: Just north of the City of Edmonton lies Poundmaker’s Lodge, an addiction and mental-health facility specializing in treatment for Indigenous people. Founded in 1973 and still operational today, the Lodge’s programs and services are Indigenous-run and based in culturally appropriate recovery and healing techniques. Framing the short documentary with the words of the great Plains Cree Chief Pîhtokahanapiwiyin (Poundmaker), Alanis Obomsawin presents a frank examination of the root causes of substance abuse in Indigenous communities and how the absence of love and support – exacerbated by the impacts of colonialism and racism – created a legacy of alcoholism for some individuals.
Pizza will be provided!
Wednesday, September 14th
Anti-O DnD
7:00pm – 9:00pm
HC 2-30
Dungeons & Dragons is a semi-structured, open-ended co-operative role-playing game (RPG). Anti-O DnD will dive into a Dungeons and Dragons session rooted in an anti-oppressive perspective. Folks are encouraged to bring level 3 characters or select from a list of premade characters made available to them at the event, and new players are encouraged! Bring your dice bag (if you have one!) and join us for a DnD journey with APIRG Office Coordinator, Tristan Turner!
Thursday, September 15th
T-Time
10:30am – 11:30am
Orion Room in SUB
Drop-in Event. Coffee and snacks provided.
In partnership with The Landing and the University Health Centre, we are hosting T-Time: a meet and greet for queer and trans students with the UHC’s two gender affirming physicians. Come meet the doctors, ask any questions you might have regarding gender affirming care, and have some coffee and snacks! This is a drop-in style program but of course folks are welcome to stay for the whole thing.
APIRG Volunteer Orientation
12:00pm – 1:30pm
APIRG Office – 9111 HUB Mall
The Alberta Public Interest Research Group (APIRG) is a student-run, student-funded non-profit based at the University of Alberta that upholds an anti-oppressive mandate, meaning that we analyze the structures that underlie inequity in our communities and seek grassroots solutions to build a better world.
Interested in gaining hands-on experience with outreach, running a community library, and creating political memes? Want to learn more about what we do and how we do it? Register to join our volunteer orientation on Thursday, September 15th!
APIRG’s 20th Birthday Fair
2:00pm – 5:00pm
Main Quad
Drop-in event.
In 1999 students on campus at the University of Alberta started organizing to establish a PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) at UAlberta. After a few years of dedicated planning and campaigning APIRG (Alberta Public Interest Research Group) was officially established on campus in 2002. We’re about to enter our 20th year on campus as a student-led, student-funded non-profit organization dedicated to providing students with the resources and tools needed to become active citizens!
Join us on Thursday, September 15th for our 20th Birthday Community Fair and celebrate our 20 years (and counting) on campus with us! Meet current and past Working Groups and learn about student-led projects and initiatives tackling social justice issues in the community!
Come on out, make a button, enjoy free cupcakes, and put your APIRG knowledge to the test for a chance to win an APIRG water bottle or tote bag!
UASAC Supporting Survivors of Sexual Violence Workshop
5:30pm – 7:30pm
Virtual
Intended for anyone looking to dive deeper into what it means to support the survivors in our lives, participants will discuss how people are impacted by sexual violence, explore ways we can tap into our empathetic selves, and get the opportunity to practice having supportive conversations.
APIRG presents: an evening with Nora Loreto
7:00pm – 9:00pm
ECHA 1-498
Nora Loreto is a writer and activist based in Quebec City. Nora is the author of three books, two related to social movement organizing, specifically related to feminism and the labour movement. Nora is the editor of the Canadian Association of Labour Movement and along with Sandy Hudson hosts the popular podcast Sandy and Nora Talk Politics.
Social movement organizing in Canada has been at an all-time low in Canadian history for decades, but new pressures and new organizing opportunities are emerging across North America. Nora will talk about the feminism movement, it’s state and strength and how we can (and must) rebuild its power to fight back against right-wing policies and expressions.
Friday, September 16th
APIRG Granting Info Session
12:00pm – 1:30pm
APIRG Office – 9111 HUB Mall
The APIRG Granting Info Session is designed to provide information about the two funding streams and share advice to best prepare to apply for APIRG’s Granting streams. APIRG offers funding for student and community groups working on projects, events, or towards a shared collective goal that is rooted in the public interest. Up to $2000 in funding is available to groups each semester. We offer two granting streams – the Working Group grant and the Event/Project grant.
The Landing Open House
12:00pm – 4:00pm
0-68A Lower Level
Students’ Union Building
Drop-in event.
The Landing is a Students’ Union service at the University of Alberta main campus that offers support for gender and sexual diversity. The Landing strives to promote gender equity on a broad scale, and advocate for the safety and acceptance of individuals of all genders and sexualities in campus life. As part of this mandate, The Landing supports LGBTQ2S+ communities and individuals as well as their supporters, friends, family and loved ones.
Check out the Landing Open House to learn more about The Landing and explore their space in SUB!
Zine Making Workshop with Kyla Pascal & Kathryn Lennon
2:00pm – 4:00pm
APIRG Office – 9111 HUB Mall
On Friday, September 16th, join Kathryn Gwun-Yeen 君妍 Lennon & Kyla Pascal, co-editors and co-creators of Hungry Zine, for a Zine Making Workshop!
Kathryn was born and raised in Edmonton/Amiskwacîwâskahikan. Her maternal grandparents were once small-scale farmers and subsistence market vendors in Hong Kong, and her paternal ancestors left Ireland long ago during the famine. The acts of growing, cooking and sharing food and food knowledge mean many things to her; they are a way of honouring those who have come before, imagining just and sustainable futures, and cultivating relationships to people and place.
Kyla is an Afro-Indigenous (Dominican/Métis) woman born and raised in Amiskwaciwâskahikan / ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (Edmonton). Over the years Kyla has worked with a number of non-profit organizations focusing on anti-oppression, advocacy, and community-building. Her experiences and interests are centred around Indigenous solidarity, sustainability, community health, and food justice. The goal of her work is to build more resilient, just, and healthier communities.
Campus Unions 101
4:30pm – 6:00pm
BUS B-05
The Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA) was established in 1978 and is the union representing the more than 5,000 support staff at the University of Alberta. The work that NASA members do reflects the diversity of the University of Alberta—there are building service workers, library personnel, administrative and clerical personnel, tradespeople, researchers, lab assistants, computer technicians, nurses, and engineers. The work NASA members do is what makes the university work. NASA negotiates a collective agreement with the university that is ratified by its members, and represents all employees to ensure the university complies with the agreement and treats its workers fairly.
Cole Rockarts will be joining us on Friday, September 16th to talk about unions on university campuses and beyond.
Campus Food Bank Cooking Lesson
4:30pm – 6:30pm
Strathcona Community League – 10139 87 Ave
On September 16th we will have a cooking lesson with the Campus Food Bank to create a delicious harvest meal.
AWOL Variety Show
Doors at 8PM / Show at 9PM
Strathcona Community League – 10139 87 Ave
FREE
Performances by pseudo-antigone, Shima Robinson and more TBA!
We made it! A week packed full of workshops, events, community building, and more!
Celebrate with us with the AWOL Variety Show featuring local artists performing music and poetry at the Strathcona Community League.