Commander John Bennett Herrington, the first Native American tribal member to fly in outer space, is among the special guests speaking at an Aboriginal symposium at Centennial College on December 10.

The theme, "Looking into the Future - 2040," will present an opportunity to engage First Nations people and other participants in dialogue about the future for Aboriginal people. Speakers will be invited to share their vision of the year 2040, when a 16-year-old in high school will have reached middle age.

The forward-looking symposium will examine:

• prophesies, predictions and re-generation;
• sustainable development and inter-generational equity;
• career trends and pathways;
• validating indigenous ways of thinking and knowing; and,
• the importance of oral culture and witnessing.

Keynote speaker and space shuttle veteran John Bennett Herrington of the Chickasaw Nation will discuss visioning and creating pathways for the future. Other workshops will feature Sal Ferreras from Aboriginal Music Studies at Vancouver Community College and the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion at the Olympic Winter Games. Dan and Mary Lou Smoke will highlight their cultural counselling work, media and communications experience, and their university courses in indigenous spirituality.

Sponsorship of the event, which marks Human Rights Day, is through Centennial's Institute for Global Citizenship and Equity, a leading-edge centre examining global citizenship and equity issues, as well as the college's Culture and Heritage Institute.

When
Thursday, December 10
9:00am to 4:30 pm

Where
Centennial College Residence and Conference Centre,
940 Progress Avenue, Scarborough
(Markham Rd. at Hwy 401)

There is a small participation fee for students and educators. For more symposium details, please visit www.centennialcollege.ca/aboriginal.