Racialized and Indigenous students host historic summit

TORONTO, March 19, 2016 /CNW/ - Today, more than 200 racialized and Indigenous students from across the country are coming together in Scarborough, Ontario for the first-ever Racialized and Indigenous Students' Experience Summit (RISE), hosted by the Canadian Federation of Students.

"This is an historic gathering of powerful students from marginalized communities," said Bilan Arte, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "Racialized and Indigenous students will rise together to combat racism and colonialism on our campuses and in our communities."

Dozens of workshops, panels and open organizing spaces are scheduled from Saturday March 19 to Monday March 21 for participants to share and learn from each other's victories and challenges and develop strategies for policies and advocacy campaigns to take back to their campuses. The RISE summit will also welcome well-known community activists Harsha Wallia, Clayton-Thomas Muller, Tasha Spillett, Lynn Jones and Algonquin Elder Annie Smith St-Georges.

The RISE Summit will conclude on the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21, 2016.

The Canadian Federation of Students is the oldest and largest national student organization in Canada, representing over 650,000 college, undergraduate and graduate students across the country.

SOURCE Canadian Federation of Students

For further information: Sarah McCue, Communications Coordinator, 613-797-6626, [e-mail]