Sacred Medicine Bags
Wednesday November 26
4-6pm
Bldg 355 Rm 211
Join us in a hands-on workshop where we’ll make medicine bags to give to participants at the upcoming MMIWG2S+ march on February 14 2026. This is a creative, relational-building and action-oriented, session where we’ll create medicine bags to support the calls for justice at the annual event held every February 14 that honours Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit Peoples. This is an opportunity for the community to gather to learn more about Indigenous ways of being, understand what reconciliation really means, have conversations about non-performative activism, to build relationships and to give back to the community. Everyone is welcome. Special guests and hosts from the Indigenous Studies Club will help us start the session in a good way with smudging. All supplies (including ethically sourced sacred medicines) will be provided. Light refreshments will be shared. This event is part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, an annual international campaign, occurring from November 25 to December 10.
Write for Rights
Thursday November 27
2-4pm
Malaspina Theatre Bldg 310
All are welcome to learn about Amnesty International’s campaign to support people who’ve been harassed, threatened and jailed for their activism. For over 20 years, Amnesty International’s annual Write for Rights campaign has transformed the lives of people whose rights have been wronged.
Using the power of their words, hundreds of thousands of Write for Rights supporters in more than 200 countries have united behind a common purpose: together, we can change lives for the better. We’ll have campaign materials and letter templates, educational videos, and guest speakers. Light refreshments will be available in the lobby. This event is free to attend, hosted by VIU’s Social Work and Studies in Women and Gender programs, and sponsored by VIUFA’s Human Rights and International Solidarity committee. This event is part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, an annual international campaign, occurring from November 25 to December 10.
Human Rights Day
Wednesday December 10
TBD
More information on VIUFA event will follow.
2025 Theme – Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials
In this period of turbulence and unpredictability, where many feel a growing sense of insecurity, disaffection and alienation, the theme of Human Rights Day is to reaffirm the values of human rights and show that they remain a winning proposition for humanity.
Through this campaign, we aim to re-engage people with human rights by showing how they shape our daily lives, often in ways we may not always notice. Too often taken for granted or seen as abstract ideas, human rights are the essentials we rely on every day.
By bridging the gap between human rights principles and everyday experiences, we aim to spark awareness, inspire confidence and encourage collective action.
The campaign emphasizes that human rights are positive, essential and attainable.
