2024 GLOBAL SING GATHERING
5 September 2024
2024 GLOBAL SUMMER INTERNSHIP FOR INDIGENOUS GENOMICS GATHERING
In May 2024, SING Canada, a key member of the Global SING Consortium, which also comprises organizations from the U.S., Mexico, Sweden, Aotearoa, and Australia, proudly hosted the Global Indigenous Leadership in Genomics Symposium and Workshop at the University of British Columbia. This event took place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Musqueam Nation.
The gathering began on May 6th and 7th with a SING Alumni Workshop. This event was designed for former participants of all six SING programs, creating a unique Indigenous-led space for them to connect. The workshop offered opportunities for sharing and collaboration, allowing alumni to present their ongoing research, discuss recent advancements in genomic science, and explore how these developments are impacting Indigenous peoples and communities.
Following the workshop, the evening of the 7th kicked off the Symposium with local Coast Salish dance group Coastal Wolf Pack. Over the next 2 days the Symposium highlighted the importance of Indigenous perspectives in guiding genomic research and technologies, striving to advance decolonial approaches and moving beyond mere inclusion. This symposium attracted a diverse group of attendees, including alumni, academics, researchers and community members engaged in Indigenous-led genomics, bioinformatics, data sovereignty, and research ethics.
Overall, the Global Indigenous Leadership in Genomics Symposium and Workshop was an important event, advancing the conversation on the integration of Indigenous knowledge and leadership into genomic sciences and fostering a community of practice dedicated to ethical and inclusive research practices.
Members of the SING Australia delegation on the lands of the Musqueam Nation