October 19-21, 2022, Winnipeg, Manitoba

We invite you to view the sessions noted below that we an integral part of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion conference held October 19-21, 2022 in person at the delta hotel in Winnipeg, Manitoba These sessions are of particular interest to educators and students as they touch upon key issues in history education and social studies related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Canada and aim at enhancing knowledge about Canada via a critical study of the past, present and future, The sessions feature leaders form the Southern chiefs of Manitoba, educators from the Manitoba Social Sciences Teachers’ Association (MSSTA) and professors and academics from various educational institutions including a number involved in the Thinking Historically for Canada’s future research project along with other experts.

The “Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn” project and public act of reclamation and reconciliation in downtown Winnipeg

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The project has been named “Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahghon” which translates to “it is visible,” and it will be the largest redevelopment of an historic building in Manitoba and one of the largest historic redevelopments in Canada. The project is a vision to revitalize the heart of Winnipeg’s downtown where the Southern Chief’s Organization is a leader in breaking down barriers and building relationships to ensure the success of everyone in downtown Winnipeg. The SCO vision of inclusion and prosperity of our community cannot be achieved without addressing and delivering the resources and community infrastructure needed and, in our way, that support people to live safely, healthily, and successfully.

In Manitoba, First Nations have an 11-year life expectancy gap from other Manitobans as reported in 2019 in a joint report from the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba and the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy at the University of Manitoba, and the report was further published in Dec 2021 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ). Through our hard work and the policy shifts we are making, we are leading change in programs and services in health, environment, justice, and child welfare,and with economic projects such as this one, we begin to see change. This session is presented in conjunction with the Association for Canadian Studies.

Participants:

Joy Cramer, CEO / Présidente et directrice générale, Southern Chiefs’ Organization

Jennifer Rattray, COO / Directrice d’exploitation, Souther Chiefs’ Organization

Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, Chair, World Refugee & Migration Council, Senior Advisor to the Project

The Role of Education in Depolarizing a Society

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In a context where misinformation plays an increasingly documented role in the polarization of society, schools are expected to contribute to students’ critical thinking. Taking into account a plurality of experiences and perspectives can support students’ preparation for citizenship in a democratic society. However, this teaching quickly becomes sensitive and teachers are faced with considerable pedagogical challenges and student (and parent) reactions. In this roundtable, we discuss this issue using the example of teaching about racism and genocide.

In Manitoba, First Nations have an 11-year life expectancy gap from other Manitobans as reported in 2019 in a joint report from the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba and the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy at the University of Manitoba, and the report was further published in Dec 2021 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ). Through our hard work and the policy shifts we are making, we are leading change in programs and services in health, environment, justice, and child welfare,and with economic projects such as this one, we begin to see change. This session is presented in conjunction with the Association for Canadian Studies.

Participants:

Sivane Hirsch, Professor, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Teaching sensitive topics in a polarized context

Marc-André Ethier, Full Professor, University of Montreal, Investigating controversial issues in the history classroom

David Lefrançois, Professor, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Investigating controversial issues in the history classroom

Situating Refugees in Canada’s Historic Narrative

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Canada is often described as a nation of immigrant and prior to Confederation emerged as a destination for refugees. Polling reveals that some three in four Canadians wrongly believe that across its history Canada has always welcomed refugees. Indeed only after the Second World War were discriminatory migration policies gradually lifted thus resulting in a dramatic shift in the source countries and composition of refugees coming here. To this day Canada has seen both successes and failures in its efforts to welcome refugees as viewed in the most recent efforts to e current crises admit Afghans and Ukrainians. This workshop will look at how Canada’s record with respect to the admission of refugees has evolved with time? It will also consider how Canada’s historic experience with welcoming refugees inform its contemporary approach to refugee entry and settlement

Participants:

Rob Vineberg, Research Fellow at Canada West Foundation, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Corbin Steinke, Educator & Executive Committee member, The Manitoba Social Science Teachers’ Association

Professor Shauna Labman, University of Winnipeg

Ancestries, Identities and Public Policies; Launching uMetropolis

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Interest in tracing one’s roots and exploring one’s ancestry has exploded over the last decades in Canada and abroad. Documenting,measuring and researching the multiplicity of ancestries in Canada, whether Indigenous, early settlers or those of successive waves of migrants are vital to constructing Canada’s historic narrative and the ways in which Canadian define themselves has an important influence on public policies. In March 2023, the Metropolis Institute will launch its on-line learning initiative uMetropolis with a series of courses on Ancestries and Identities in Canada. The courses aim at providing insight into the manner in which identities are applied by policy-makers and civil society and how the manner in which ancestries are defined contributes to policy formation. This workshop will hear from some of the courses subject matter experts who will speak to the intersection betweenancestries and identities in the Canadian context.

Participants:

Jane Badets, retired-former Assistant Chief Statistician, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario

Corbin Steinke, Educator & Executive Committee member, The Manitoba Social Science Teachers’ Association

Chris Surtees, E-Learning and Web Director, Metropolis Institute

Ashley Manuel, Managing Director, Metropolis Institute

More sessions to be posted soon.