DestiNAITion Global

New Wave Documentary

Monday, November 17 | 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. | Shaw Theatre

Presented by Linda Hoang - Chúng Ta Cùng Nhau • "We are together"

RSVP to attend this FREE film screening of the English-language, Vietnamese-centered documentary, where filmmaker Elizabeth Ai embarks on a journey to capture the vibrant spirit of a musical phenomenon that electrified Vietnamese American teens in the 1980s: New Wave. What begins as an exploration of the rebellion and freedom within this subculture evolves into a profound narrative of identity, loss, and healing.

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Category:

• Build intercultural competence

Heritage Fest

Tuesday, November 18 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | CAT Crossing

The Heritage Fest is a one-day, on-campus multicultural festival at NAIT, hosted by the International & Intercultural Community Centre (IICC). Students and staff are invited to showcase their talents and share their ethnic and cultural pride! On this day, we celebrate our rich cultural and ethnic diversity through culture sharing, booth exhibits and performances! The event aims to create and foster a “street/community festival” atmosphere at the heart of NAIT’s campus – the CAT Building. This event attracts thousands of NAIT students and staff to celebrate our community! We also want to honour and acknowledge that the land on which we celebrate our heritage and cultural diversity is Treaty Six territory, specifically Amiskwaciy Waskahikan (City of Edmonton).

Program Schedule:

11:00am - 2:00pm - Heritage Fest cultural booths open

11:30am - 1:00pm - Formal program and performances

1:30pm - Award winners announced

Stage sponsored by NAITSA

This event is part of the NAIT DestiNAITion Global 2025 program and is open to all current NAIT students and staff.

Register

Category:

• Celebrate our cultural diversity

• Nurture our global community

Beyond Borders: Global Learning Exhibit

Tuesday, November 18 | 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. | CAT Glassbox

Presented by: Mila Sokolyanskaya, Global Engagement Coordinator

Step into a vibrant showcase of student-led global learning experiences! This interactive exhibit features stories, photos, and reflections from NAIT students who studied abroad in countries like Peru, Denmark, Germany, Japan, and Italy.

Explore a dynamic slideshow, read student feedback, and discover what global learning really looks like—through their eyes. You’ll also have the chance to:

• Suggest your dream global learning destination
• Chat with the Global Engagement team
• Hear from faculty members who led international experiences

Whether you're curious about studying abroad, passionate about international education, or just love a good story—this exhibit is for you. Drop by, get inspired, and help shape the future of global learning at NAIT!

Register

Category: 

• Discover NAIT’s international contributions

• Nurture our global community

Journey to Weisenbach

Wednesday, November 19 | 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. | CAT 212

Presented by: Dr. Richard Ford, Instructor, JR Shaw School of Business

Journey to Weisenbach is a role-playing game involving cross-cultural negotiation. This simulation is a good way for participants to experience and adjust to different communication and negotiation patterns. This activity also simulates some of the intercultural barriers present in today’s “global economy” business environment. By role-playing an exchange between Canadians and Weisenbachians, participants learn about some of the ways in which cultures can differ. The task is simple, but the cultural barriers are considerable.

This session is for NAIT staff and students. 

Register

Category:

• Build our intercultural competence

• Celebrate our cultural diversity

Global Café : A Taste of the Dominican Republic: Morir Soñando & Mangú

Wednesday, November 19 I  12 - 1 p.m. | W101, International and Intercultural Community Centre 

Presented by: Eduardo Sosa, Associate Vice President, Facilities Management and Development

Take a delicious journey to the Dominican Republic at the Global Café! Discover two beloved Dominican staples: Morir Soñando, a refreshing citrus and milk drink, and Mangú, a comforting dish made with mashed plantains. Learn about the rich cultural traditions behind these favorites and enjoy sample-sized tastings (first come, first served).

*Please note: This is not a drop-in event. 

The session includes:

1. Presentation
2. Group Discussion/sharing
3. Tasting (sample-sized, first-come, first served

Global Café is a series of cross-cultural learning through culture, customs, and traditions organized by the International and Intercultural Community Centre. Our aim is to create a conversational learning space for intercultural learning.

This event is for NAIT staff and students. 

Register

Category:

• Celebrate our cultural diversity

• Nurture our global community

Challenging Linguistic Bias: Creating Inclusive Spaces Through Language Awareness 

Wednesday, November 19 | 1:30 – 2:30 pm | Dow Theatre 

Hosted by: Jane Sewali-Kirumira, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant 

This interactive training session explores the concept of linguistic discrimination, examining how biases related to language, accent, dialect, grammar, speech patterns, and perceived language proficiency can negatively impact individuals.

Through interactive examples, participants will explore how language can be used to marginalize, stereotype, or exclude people, often intersecting with issues of race, ethnicity, and class.

Participants will gain insight into how these language-based biases perpetuate systemic inequalities in educational, workplace, and public settings, and will learn effective strategies to promote inclusive and respectful communication.

This session is designed for educators and learners, human resources professionals, community leaders, and anyone dedicated to fostering environments where every voice is acknowledged and valued.

Register

Category:

• Build our intercultural competence

• Nurture our global community

Cultural Intelligence (CQ): A Skillset for Inclusive Leadership

Thursday, November 20 | 10 - 11 a.m. | W202

Presented by: Litzy Baeza, Gender, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Consultant

In today’s workplaces, cultural diversity is the norm rather than the exception. While emotional intelligence helps us understand people’s needs and emotions, cultural intelligence (CQ) goes a step further by equipping us to navigate and adapt to diverse cultural norms, values, and communication styles. CQ is a critical skillset for inclusive leadership, enabling individuals to build trust, foster collaboration, and create equitable environments where everyone feels valued and respected.

Register

Category:

• Build our intercultural competence

• Celebrate our cultural diversity

Global Café: Traditional Meat: Indigenous Knowledge & Culture

Thursday, November 20 I  12 - 1 p.m. | W101, International and Intercultural Community Centre 

Presented by: Camille Louis, Manager, Nisohkamatotan Centre

Join us for a meaningful conversation at this month’s Global Café! We’ll explore the deep cultural, spiritual, and ecological significance of wild game and traditional meat in Indigenous communities.

This session will highlight how animals like the bison have shaped Indigenous traditions, sustainability practices, and food systems across the prairies. Through storytelling and discussion, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the enduring relationship between Indigenous Peoples and food sources, a connection rooted in respect, stewardship, and resilience.

Sample a taste of bison chili during the event (sample-size portions). Available on a first-come, first-served basis.

*Please note: This is not a drop-in event.

The session includes:

1. Presentation

2. Group Discussion/sharing

3. Tasting (sample-sized, first-come, first served)

Global Café is a series of cross-cultural learning through culture, customs, and traditions organized by the International and Intercultural Community Centre. Our aim is to create a conversational learning space for intercultural learning.  

This event is for NAIT staff and students. 

Register

Category:

• Celebrate our cultural diversity

• Nurture our global community

Build your Intercultural Competence in a Story Circle

Thursday, November 20 I  2 - 4 p.m. | W202

Presented by: Naisa Bujold, Intercultural Specialist

UNESCO Story Circles, developed by Dr. Darla Deardorff for UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), provide a warm and inviting space where people from all backgrounds can come together to share their stories, experiences, and perspectives.

Engaging in conversations and learning about the experiences and perspectives of others is a meaningful part of intercultural development. Open, heartfelt discussions give us the chance to practice listening to understand and foster empathy while also building stronger relationships and connections within our community.

At NAIT, Story Circles offer a supportive environment, guided by skilled facilitators, where participants can learn about circle practices, engage in genuine listening and sharing, and strengthen their intercultural skills. Participants will be given discussion prompts and the opportunity to share with others in their circle. While others are sharing, you will practice the important skill of listening to understand.

You don't need any prior experience with other intercultural programs to join. This is open to everyone in the NAIT community, which means it’s also for you!

Register

Category: 

• Celebrate our cultural diversity

• Build our intercultural competence

Threads of Many Lands: A Journey Through Cultures and Identity

Tuesday, November 18 | 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | IICC (W101)

Presented by: Magdalena Salame, Administrative Support, International & Intercultural Community Centre (IICC)

Every person carries stories within them - stories of roots, journeys, languages, and love.

In Threads of Many Lands, Magdalena Salame invites you to travel through a life woven from the vibrant threads of Argentina, Poland, Italy, Lebanon, and Canada. From grandparents who crossed oceans after the war, to the experience of growing up trilingual in a new country, to building a multicultural family of her own, this “book” explores what it means to belong everywhere and yet be wholly yourself.

Through her chapters of migration, language, and love, Magdalena shares the beauty of multicultural identity, a tapestry made stronger and more colorful with every new thread.

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Daughter of the Diaspora: The Story I Continue to Carry

Wednesday, November 19 | 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Centre for Community and Belonging (E134)

Presented by: Alisha Shah, Resource Centre Supervisor, Centre for Community and Belonging

As a Black/Brown Indo-Caribbean African woman, Alisha Najma Shah story is one of intersections -of race, heritage, faith, migration, and belonging. Alisha carries with her the resilience of ancestors who survived slavery and colonialism, and the spirit of those who rebuilt communities from the ground up. Alisha lived experience has been shaped by histories of displacement and perseverance -and by a deep sense of purpose to her voice, knowledge, and compassion in spaces where belonging must be built, not assumed.

In this reading, I invite you to journey with Alisha through moments of silence, discovery, courage, and connection -from learning to read at seven, to walking in the footsteps of ancestors who purchased their own village, to finding identity in rhythm, faith, and food.

This is a story about voice -how it emerges, how it heals, and how it teaches us that we are all part of one another’s becoming.

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What the Heart Remembers : The Stories I’ve Carried My Whole Life

Thursday, November 20 | 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | IICC (W101)

Presented by: Kaitlyn Menard, Indigenous Liaison Specialist, Nisohkamatotan Centre

Kaitlyn Menard is a Canadian woman and proud member of Saddle Lake Cree Nation. In this intimate and deeply personal journey, she traces the moments that have shaped her life — moments filled with love, self doubt, resilience, and renewal.

From self-harm to the honour of receiving an eagle feather, from working inside a British prison to collecting monster truck toys, Kaitlyn’s story spans the unexpected. Her experiences reveal the quiet battles and small joys that form a life, told with honesty, humour, and heart.

These are stories about the legacy of residential schools, the complexities of motherhood, and the search for identity and belonging. Stories that have rarely been spoken aloud — until now.

This is a journey of reclaiming self.

Telling your truth.

Of remembering where you come from.

And of learning to stand in who you are.

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What is culture?

What makes up your cultural identity?

Have you heard of intercultural competence?

How do you get really good at relating with people from different cultures?