Queer Indigenous Panel Discussion

In honour of National Coming Out Day, the Indigenous Education department at College of the Rockies presents a Queer Indigenous Panel Discussion with guests Smokii Sumac and Cherie Luke, moderated by Dana Wesley, Executive Director Indigenous Strategy and Reconciliation.

Please join us in-person at the Cranbrook Campus Lecture Theatre on October 11th from 12:30 – 2:30 pm.

This event is free to attend and open to the public but we do ask that you pre-register to help us manage numbers.

Online Registration Form

Presenter Bios

Smokii Sumac

📸@sweetmoonphoto

Smokii Sumac (they/he) is a Ktunaxa two spirit and trans poet, PhD Candidate, podcast host, and emerging playwright. Smokii’s research for his Indigenous Studies PhD centres on the question how do we come home?; as adoptees, as two-spirit people, and as Indigenous people more broadly. The ʔasqanaki Podcast, which Smokii hosts, focuses on why Indigenous representations matter, featuring a range of Indigenous guest musicians and writers including G.R. Gritt and Tenille Campbell. Most recently, he has been working on his first play Seven and One Heart with the National Queer and Trans playwriting unit, and he is proud to be a member of the xaȼqanaǂ ʔitkiniǂ project where he supports conversations around gender and sexual diversity throughout the research process, as the team asks the question qapsin kiʔin ʔakaǂxuniyam? What would a healthy community look like?

Inismi/Cherie Luke

Cherie Luke (she/they) comes from and has been raised in the community of Yaqan Nukiy, which present day Creston is located. She is a Ktunaxa Indigenous woman and advocate for her community while currently serving as first time councilor for their nation’s Chief and Council.