David Robertson on Walking With Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing
By Rotman Events

David Robertson, two-time winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award, discusses his most recent book, "52 Ways to Reconcile."

Agenda

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Author Presentation + moderated discussion with audience Q&A

6:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Light refreshments and book signing

About this event

Following the conversation, we invite you to join us for a meet-and-greet with the author, book signing and light refreshments.

Co-presented by:

GATE (Gender and the Economy)

Topic:

52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing (May 13, 2025 McLelland & Stewart)

Speaker:

David A. Robertson, Governor General Award-winning author

Moderator:

Jordyn Hrenyk, Postdoctoral fellow, Rotman School of Management

Book Synopsis:

From bestselling author of the Misewa Saga series David A. Robertson, this is the essential guide for all Canadians to understand how small and attainable acts towards reconciliation can make an enormous difference in our collective efforts to build a reconciled country.

52 Ways to Reconcile is an accessible, friendly guide for non-Indigenous people eager to learn, or Indigenous people eager to do more in our collective effort towards reconciliation, as people, and as a country. As much as non-Indigenous people want to walk the path of reconciliation, they often aren’t quite sure what to do, and they’re afraid of making mistakes. This book is the answer and the long overdue guide.The idea of this book is simple: 52 small acts of reconciliation to consider, one per week, for an entire year. They’re all doable, and they’re all meaningful.

All 52 steps take readers in the right direction, towards a healthier relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and a time when we are past trauma. By following these steps, we can live in stronger and healthier communities equally, and respectfully, together.

About the speaker:

David A. Robertson is the author of numerous books for young readers including Governor General’s Literary Award winners On the Trapline and When We Were Alone. The Barren Grounds, Book 1 of The Misewa Saga series, was a Kirkus, NPR, and Quill & Quire best middle-grade book of 2020, as well as a USBBY and Texas Lone Star selection. Winner of the Writers’ Union of Canada’s Freedom to Read Award, as well as the 2021 Globe and Mail Children’s Storyteller of the Year recipient, Dave is a member of Norway House Cree Nation and currently lives in Winnipeg, Canada. For more information, visit his website: www.darobertson.ca and follow him on X: @DaveAlexRoberts.

About the moderator:

Jordyn Hrenyk is a Michif researcher from Métis Nation Saskatchewan, Local #7. She is a Provost’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Rotman School of Management. Jordyn’s research is focused on Indigenous entrepreneurship and values-aligned business. She often examines the theoretical and empirical intersections between Indigenous art, spirituality, and entrepreneurship. Jordyn is a passionate advocate for Indigenous business students and she also conducts research focused on Indigenizing and decolonizing the business school.

Event Logistics:

This event is available to attend in-person or virtually via livestream.

Rotman Events is committed to accessibility for all people. If you have any access needs or if there are any ways we can support your full participation in this session, please email Mandi Gosling [events@rotman.utoronto.ca] no later than 2 weeks in advance of the event and we will be glad to work with you to make the appropriate arrangements.

General Admission: In-Person + Book Ticket Details

• The event will be hosted in Desautels Hall at the Rotman School of Management (105 Saint George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E6). Your registration fee includes a copy of the book, meet-and-greet with book signing by the author, as well as access to a video replay of the session for 30 days.

General Admission: Livestream + Book Ticket Details

• Rotman Events will email registrants a link to the livestream. Your registration fee includes access to the livestream, video replay for 30 days, a copy of the book and shipping fees. The book will be shipped to registrants after the event. Please allow 3 - 4 weeks for delivery.

30-day Catch-up Viewing

• Unable to attend the event due to scheduling conflicts? Not to worry. All registrants (in-person or livestream) can access the full recording on-demand for one month after the live event.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

• Refunds will only be issued for cancellations received in writing NO LATER than 24 hours prior to the event. Please email events@rotman.utoronto.ca for processing.

• In-person registrants who do not pick up their book at the event will have 5 business days to request postal delivery by emailing us at events@rotman.utoronto.ca. All unclaimed books will be returned to the publisher after that time.