The Race and Antiracism Network
Browse through the events that make up the Race and Antiracism Network (RAN) living history since 2006.
UFV International Week for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 11-20, 2020 at UFV Abbotsford campus
2019
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 21, 2019 at UFV Abbotsford campus
Speakers:
This group of speakers gave us insight into the refugee experience. The family spoke about their experience of waiting in a refugee camp for their approval to travel to Canada, to their arrival and welcome into Canadian Life. The panelists gave background into the community and political climate today. There are many challenges that we continue to face today in order to become an inclusive society.
2018
A Brazilian Experience Fighting Against Modern Slavery
January 25, 2018 at UFV Abbotsford campus
Mary Ann Junho Song shared her engagement with issues of of marginalization, invisibility and trauma, as experienced by those victimized by modern-day slavery and oppressive child labour practices.
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 21, 2018 at UFV Abbotsford Campus
Charlene Hellson performed her play "Unpacking the Backpack". This was a powerful monologue of the experience of Aboriginal peoples.
"Unpacking the Backpack" was written, and performed for the conference "Cultural and Mental Health Practice: Honoring Our Differences" in 2006 and has been performed across the country ever since. It is an educational and experiential monologue that speaks to the heart and creates a new understanding of the historical impact upon the mental health of Aboriginal people in Canada today. This one-woman show will take you on an empathic journey through the story telling tradition of Aboriginal people. This unique learning experience has been described as "moving, eloquent, and courageous".
Charlene Hellson is a member of the Siksika Nation, part of the Blackfoot Confederacy. She leads several lives as grandmother, performer, writer, and comes from Calgary, Alberta where she worked for many years in Indigenous Health for Alberta Health Services and established a reputation as a community artist and advocate for mental health. Charlene truly believes in the healing potency of the arts. Charlene now lives in Vancouver and is the Mental Wellness Resource Coordinator, for the Aboriginal Wellness Program for Vancouver Coastal Health.
Sponsored by:
2017
"9 questions about the global refugee crisis you were too embarrassed to ask"
February 16, 2017
RAN invited students, staff and faculty to share personal experiences and stories to confront racism and discrimination. RAN denounces the racist, xenophobic and exclusionary nature of Mr. Trump’s executive order and voiced concern on its impact.
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 28, 2017 at UFV Abbotsford campus
Committed Citizens Changing the World
With the theme of “Citizens Creating Change”, the RAN hosted an event to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The issues of rising populist, oppressive and anti-immigrant discourses were discussed during the event. Increasingly we have seen a rise in populist rhetoric in many countries. This is affecting Canadians today.
Three panelists spoke about how they have participated in events that were organized to address the emerging populism.
What Have We Learned From Activists?
May 2, 2017
Professional Development Day – RAN facilitated a workshop titled, "What Have We Learned From Activists?". In the era of Brexit and Trump, we are learning more about populism, but also about democracy and citizenship. The erosion of human rights and the rise of xenophobia has placed concerned educators and citizens in an important position.
This session will identify actions and initiatives that can make a difference and will explore the question, how can UFV be engaged in a meaningful way in activism that makes a difference?
UFV hosts the Witness Blanket exhibition
September 13 to November 8, 2017
UFV hosted the Witness Blanket exhibition to share the memories of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools. Several activities took place in conjunction with the Witness Blanket exhibition, including a special topics course that was held by UFV. Check the Witness Blanket website for the history behind the event.
Walk for Reconciliation
September 24, 2017 in downtown Vancouver
Sponsored by Human Resources, UFV hosted the Walk for Reconciliation. Visit the Reconciliation Canada website for a full description of the event.
Prisoners of Childhood: Reconciling Justice with Trauma History, Healing and Resilience
September 25, 2017 at Evered Hall UFV
Sponsored by UFV College of Arts, Faculty of Professional Studies & Faculty of Health Sciences, bestselling author Dr. Gabor Mate shared his latest book, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, and communicated with people with lived experience of trauma, addictions and incarceration.
September 26, 2017 at UFV Abbotsford campus
The UFV History Department hosted a public forum to discuss historical monuments, the use of history and who gets to decide.
September 29, 2017 at The Abbotsford Arts Council
The Canada 150 House Post Raising Ceremony was hosted in the Abbotsford Arts Council and house. Check the Abbotsford Arts Council website for more info.
November 7, 2017 at The Reach Gallery Museum
We Are Abbotsford organized a live performance and panel discussion to facilitate the development of our multicultural community.
UFV Gender and Society Network hosts their first event
November 8, 2017 at UFV Abbotsford campus
UFV Gender and Society Network
Dr. MacDonald shared her research on gender and society from feminist perspectives. During the event, Dr. MacDonald presented her paper, "Friends, Foes, or Fiction: Considerations on Feminist Men".
2016
International Day to Eliminate Racism
Guest Speaker: Dr. Gregory Younging
March 21, 2016
"Perspectives on the Residential School Era, Transitional Justice, Inherited Histories and Reconciliation"
RAN invited Dr. Gregory Younging to present issues related to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) and he shared his insight on histories and reconciliation. Dr. Younging spoke passionately about his experience on the TRC and the impact of the stories that were heard during the process of ‘truthtelling’. Many stories and impact statements were heard over the course of the work done by the Commission.
2015
RAN presents a roundtable discussion on the Canadian Barbaric Cultures Act
Featuring a UFV Panel and discussion with headliner Kamaljit Lehal
March 19, 2015
The Canadian Barbaric Cultures Act was introduced by the federal Conservative government in 2015. The purpose of the act was framed as a response to the "barbaric" acts of forced marriage and the Muslim veil (headwear). The Conservatives also promised to set up a call-in line so people could call in and report any acts that were interpreted as “barbaric cultural practices”.
The panel spoke in response to the proposed act and legislation. The Conservative government was viewed as taking a hard stance on the niqab and fueling an anti-Muslim sentiment, by some of the speakers. The event was attended by a full house including many people from the Abbotsford community.
2014
What have we learned from Apartheid?: Remembering Nelson Mandela
Panelists: Jacqueline Nolte, Saylesh Wesley, Wenona Victor
March 20, 2014 at UFV Abbotsford Campus
Nelson Mandela passed away in December 2013 and as a result, we decided to have our March 21st event on apartheid. UFV's Racism and Antiracism Network (RAN) is pleased to present "What have we learned from Apartheid?: Remembering Nelson Mandela", an event to honour the International Day for the Elimination of Racism and the legacy of Nelson Mandela. The RAN event took place on Thursday March 20th from 11:30am-1:30pm in Alumni Hall which led to a morning of enriching and provocative conversations.
2013
International Day to Eliminate Racism
March 21, 2013
RAN and BC’s Multicultural Advisory Council co-hosted an event to commemorate the International Day to Eliminate Racism. The event hosted Dr. Margo Tamez as a guest speaker to share her work on borders and carceral systems in North America.
Dr. Tamez is a scholar, poet, and an advocate for indigenous rights. Her work, Raven Eye, is one of the first Apache-authored literary works that indigenize the American poetry form, known as the long poem. Dr. tamez draws from creation stories, oral tradition, and Lipan Apache narratives. The Minister of Advanced Education, The Honourable John Yap, joined the roundtable conversation.
Charter of Rights & Freedoms: A Roundtable Event
November 21, 2013
A discussion on the implications of the Charter of Rights & Freedoms after 30 years. Hamish Telford, Lorna Andrews and Sidrah Ahmad joined the panel. The Charter became part of the Constitution Act, 1982 and it guarantees political rights to Canadian citizens and civil rights to everyone in Canada. The panelists' remarks focused on how far we have come, and where we still need to go to move forward.
2012
January 30, 2012
Dr. Sunera Thobani, Associate Professor in Women’s and Gender Studies and Director of the RAGA Centre at UBC, and Ron Dart, Faculty in the Department of Political Science at UFV, shared their work on human rights and the “War On Terror”.
Dr. Thobani is well known for her work on critical race, postcolonial, transnational and feminist theory. Her research includes Canada, the US, South Asia, and the South Asian diaspora. Ron Dart worked with Amnesty International before joining UFV. His interests are in Canadian nationalism, human rights, and world religions. He has conducted work on political Zionism, and the impact of Zionist ideology on the Palestinians. The event is sponsored by the Faculty & Staff Association (Human Rights & International Solidarity) and the Race and Antiracism Network.
International Day to Eliminate Racism
March 20, 2012
This year the RAN initiated the conversation on “Discrimination and Equity Policies” on International Day of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Sidrah Ahmad, Adaly Molini, Wenona Victor, Curtis Magnuson, Diane Griffiths and Danica Denomme joined the conversation as panelists.
2011
International Day to Eliminate Racism
March 21, 2011
In commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Dr. Patricia Monture-Angus, the RAN held an event on Indigenous Women, "Experiences, Voices, Communities of Action".
Patricia Monture-Angus was a member of the Mohawk Nation, taught law at Dalhousie University and was at the University of Saskatchewan at the time of her death. She was a passionate advocate for the traditions of her people and working with grassroots groups. Dr. Monture-Angus was the author of Thunder in My Soul: A Mohawk Woman Speaks (1995), and Journeying Forward: Dreaming First Nations' Independence (1999).
Race & September 11 Ten Years Later
September 12, 2011
In commemoration of September 11th 2001, the Race and Antiracism Network facilitated discussion on issues of race, racism, gender and communities at UFV. Sidrah Ahmad, Itrath Syed and Alison Wainwright attended the discussion as guest speakers.
October 13, 2011
The RAN invited everyone to join the Abbotsford Community Services’ Safe Harbour Training. This training aimed to help communities to develop a respectful and peaceful environment.
2010
Professional Development Day: Race, Racism, & Anti-Racism in the University
May, 2010
This day long PD day was attended by over 100 people, with two key note speakers and a series of workshops. Jo-Anne Lee from the University of Victoria spoke about race, racism, and racialization. The talk was a primer for discussing racism and its intersections with other systems of inequality such as class, gender, and sexuality.
Michelle LaFlamme from JIBC gave a presentation titled, "Uppity Tips: Survival in Academia". The presentation gave a series of anecdotes to understand the journey of a student, with 13 years in a largely white academic environment. Sessions of the day included topics such as: intersectionality and combating ambient violence, “What I learned in class today”, Indigenous learning circles, responding to racism in the workplace and in the hallways, teaching international students, and responding to racism in the classroom.
The result of the PD day generated activity for the RAN report which was published and distributed in 2011.
2007
International Day to Eliminate Racism
March 21, 2007 at the Center for Indo-Canadian Studies in Abbotsford
A fireside chat about Canadian pioneers and the impact of Canadian legislation at the turn of the century was carried by Molly Ungar, Jacqueline Nolte, Adrienne Chan and Satwinder Bains. Jacqueline Nolte from Visual Arts presented on the historical tragedy of racism and associated oppression in South Africa, Molly Unger from History started a discussion on the Indian (Sikh) as yesterday's pioneers, and Adrienne Chan from Social Work and Human Services spoke about the Chinese head tax redress movement. We join communities across the world in working towards eliminating racism.
Special screening of "Crash" in honour of End Racism Day
March 23, 2007 in room B101 at the UFV Abbotsford campus
The Social Work Student Association presented the Oscar-winning film "Crash" in an effort to end racism. "Crash" tells interlocking stories of Caucasians, African Americans, Latinos, Koreans, Iranians, cops and criminals, the rich and the poor, the powerful and powerless, all defined in one way or another by racism. Through their interactions the film attempts to examine the complexities of racial tolerance.
2006
International Day to Eliminate Racial Discrimination
March, 2006
Organized by Shirley Hardman, Adrienne Chan and Satwinder Bains, this year’s event of International Day to Eliminate Racial Discrimination raised discussion on class and group privilege. A film titled “A Class Divided” was shown during the event.