good evening everyone heavy subject I hope you’re as ready as I am to talk
hope you’re as ready as I am to talk
hope you’re as ready as I am to talk about something that’s kind of been
about something that’s kind of been
about something that’s kind of been bothering me for I guess six years that
bothering me for I guess six years that
bothering me for I guess six years that I’ve been at the University of Winnipeg
I’ve been at the University of Winnipeg
I’ve been at the University of Winnipeg and for I guess 20 years since I started
and for I guess 20 years since I started
and for I guess 20 years since I started going to school so let’s get started
going to school so let’s get started
going to school so let’s get started so education is our passport for the
so education is our passport for the
so education is our passport for the future tomorrow belongs to the people
future tomorrow belongs to the people
future tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for today’s so what if our
who prepare for today’s so what if our
who prepare for today’s so what if our education system reflected a genuine
education system reflected a genuine
education system reflected a genuine diversity model now in Canada we hype up
diversity model now in Canada we hype up
diversity model now in Canada we hype up the word diversity we hype that up
the word diversity we hype that up
the word diversity we hype that up all the time type it up
all the time type it up
all the time type it up specifically with a cultural mosaic
specifically with a cultural mosaic
specifically with a cultural mosaic trope and a very very popular Prime
trope and a very very popular Prime
trope and a very very popular Prime Minister Justin Trudeau we’re also
Minister Justin Trudeau we’re also
Minister Justin Trudeau we’re also stereotypically known in Canada for
stereotypically known in Canada for
stereotypically known in Canada for apologetic attitudes our maple syrup or
apologetic attitudes our maple syrup or
apologetic attitudes our maple syrup or hockey icons and the selfie King himself
hockey icons and the selfie King himself
hockey icons and the selfie King himself as I mentioned our Prime Minister so
as I mentioned our Prime Minister so
as I mentioned our Prime Minister so Canada is built on narratives of
Canada is built on narratives of
Canada is built on narratives of diversity the cultural mosaic trope that
diversity the cultural mosaic trope that
diversity the cultural mosaic trope that consumes outsider’s perspectives of our
consumes outsider’s perspectives of our
consumes outsider’s perspectives of our so called welcoming nation to those
so called welcoming nation to those
so called welcoming nation to those fleeing prosecution terror and war
fleeing prosecution terror and war
fleeing prosecution terror and war Canadians will welcome you regardless of
Canadians will welcome you regardless of
Canadians will welcome you regardless of your faith diversity is our strength
your faith diversity is our strength
your faith diversity is our strength welcome to Canada this quote from Justin
welcome to Canada this quote from Justin
welcome to Canada this quote from Justin Trudeau outlines our concept of Canadian
Trudeau outlines our concept of Canadian
Trudeau outlines our concept of Canadian politeness and unity making it quite
politeness and unity making it quite
politeness and unity making it quite difficult to convince the general
difficult to convince the general
difficult to convince the general mainstream public that Canada could ever
mainstream public that Canada could ever
mainstream public that Canada could ever be subject to or producers of
be subject to or producers of
be subject to or producers of discrimination now these false
discrimination now these false
discrimination now these false narratives are enforced by a political
narratives are enforced by a political
narratives are enforced by a political commentary that appears inclusive on the
commentary that appears inclusive on the
commentary that appears inclusive on the surface but remains exclusive and
surface but remains exclusive and
surface but remains exclusive and practice so some people ask and say to
practice so some people ask and say to
practice so some people ask and say to me Alexa how could you say Canada isn’t
me Alexa how could you say Canada isn’t
me Alexa how could you say Canada isn’t a leader of change with a progressive
a leader of change with a progressive
a leader of change with a progressive figure like Justin
figure like Justin
figure like Justin you know his cabinet is made of a 50% of
you know his cabinet is made of a 50% of
you know his cabinet is made of a 50% of women he’s a feminist he welcomed Syrian
women he’s a feminist he welcomed Syrian
women he’s a feminist he welcomed Syrian refugees he walked in pride and
refugees he walked in pride and
refugees he walked in pride and appointed people of color in the Liberal
appointed people of color in the Liberal
appointed people of color in the Liberal Party hello we’ve made it in Canada but
Party hello we’ve made it in Canada but
Party hello we’ve made it in Canada but I’d like to challenge that so some of
I’d like to challenge that so some of
I’d like to challenge that so some of these so-called left liberal progressive
these so-called left liberal progressive
these so-called left liberal progressive sentiments are usually expressed when
sentiments are usually expressed when
sentiments are usually expressed when I’m challenging the Canadian system now
I’m challenging the Canadian system now
I’m challenging the Canadian system now the work that I do as the founder of
the work that I do as the founder of
the work that I do as the founder of black space Winnipeg and host of rock
black space Winnipeg and host of rock
black space Winnipeg and host of rock colors on seek a UW 95.9 FM and the
colors on seek a UW 95.9 FM and the
colors on seek a UW 95.9 FM and the former racialized student Commissioner
former racialized student Commissioner
former racialized student Commissioner sometimes can make folks uncomfortable
sometimes can make folks uncomfortable
sometimes can make folks uncomfortable the conversations that I have are pretty
the conversations that I have are pretty
the conversations that I have are pretty controversial why because I talk about
controversial why because I talk about
controversial why because I talk about race a lot of the subjects that people
race a lot of the subjects that people
race a lot of the subjects that people are afraid to we heard before a lot
are afraid to we heard before a lot
are afraid to we heard before a lot about vulnerability and this is what
about vulnerability and this is what
about vulnerability and this is what makes me feel vulnerable when we talk
makes me feel vulnerable when we talk
makes me feel vulnerable when we talk about identity identity politics where
about identity identity politics where
about identity identity politics where we are in the world and how race shapes
we are in the world and how race shapes
we are in the world and how race shapes all of that so it’s time to have organic
all of that so it’s time to have organic
all of that so it’s time to have organic conversations about what makes us
conversations about what makes us
conversations about what makes us uncomfortable so it’s TED talk and I
uncomfortable so it’s TED talk and I
uncomfortable so it’s TED talk and I thought I’d approach this possibility to
thought I’d approach this possibility to
thought I’d approach this possibility to have 15 minutes to share ideas that help
have 15 minutes to share ideas that help
have 15 minutes to share ideas that help influence the world I thought I would
influence the world I thought I would
influence the world I thought I would speak to my experience as an
speak to my experience as an
speak to my experience as an undergraduate and expressed the vision I
undergraduate and expressed the vision I
undergraduate and expressed the vision I have for diversifying the Academy so in
have for diversifying the Academy so in
have for diversifying the Academy so in post-secondary education and primary
post-secondary education and primary
post-secondary education and primary education systems we are starting to see
education systems we are starting to see
education systems we are starting to see demands for inclusive practices
demands for inclusive practices
demands for inclusive practices diversifying the Academy decolonizing
diversifying the Academy decolonizing
diversifying the Academy decolonizing the classroom and creating courses
the classroom and creating courses
the classroom and creating courses to educate students on the not so
to educate students on the not so
to educate students on the not so glorious past and present of Canada one
glorious past and present of Canada one
glorious past and present of Canada one example being here at the University of
example being here at the University of
example being here at the University of Winnipeg the indigenous course
Winnipeg the indigenous course
Winnipeg the indigenous course requirement which hasn’t always received
requirement which hasn’t always received
requirement which hasn’t always received I guess support collectively from the
I guess support collectively from the
I guess support collectively from the student body faculty and staff at the
student body faculty and staff at the
student body faculty and staff at the University of Winnipeg but the efforts
University of Winnipeg but the efforts
University of Winnipeg but the efforts for cultural inclusion and
for cultural inclusion and
for cultural inclusion and representation in the Academy are among
representation in the Academy are among
representation in the Academy are among us now I’ve said it already but I’m
us now I’ve said it already but I’m
us now I’ve said it already but I’m about to say another word that’s gonna
about to say another word that’s gonna
about to say another word that’s gonna put you may be in discomfort and I want
put you may be in discomfort and I want
put you may be in discomfort and I want you to say it with me okay ready
you to say it with me okay ready
you to say it with me okay ready white supremacy oh thank God we all said
white supremacy oh thank God we all said
white supremacy oh thank God we all said it let’s do another exercise after the
it let’s do another exercise after the
it let’s do another exercise after the count of three
count of three
count of three I want everybody to repeat this okay one
I want everybody to repeat this okay one
I want everybody to repeat this okay one two three okay if there was any doubt
two three okay if there was any doubt
two three okay if there was any doubt that it didn’t before say this every day
that it didn’t before say this every day
that it didn’t before say this every day when you wake up and it’ll become habit
when you wake up and it’ll become habit
when you wake up and it’ll become habit and you’ll start to see it okay so this
and you’ll start to see it okay so this
and you’ll start to see it okay so this may come as a shock to you if you’re
may come as a shock to you if you’re
may come as a shock to you if you’re hearing this for the first time but for
hearing this for the first time but for
hearing this for the first time but for the people on the receiving end of
the people on the receiving end of
the people on the receiving end of systemic injustice and oppression this
systemic injustice and oppression this
systemic injustice and oppression this is no news to us in order to move
is no news to us in order to move
is no news to us in order to move forward to dismantling white supremacy
forward to dismantling white supremacy
forward to dismantling white supremacy in our educational structures we have to
in our educational structures we have to
in our educational structures we have to first acknowledge that it exists in our
first acknowledge that it exists in our
first acknowledge that it exists in our country so after about six years at the
country so after about six years at the
country so after about six years at the University Winnipeg I am finally
University Winnipeg I am finally
University Winnipeg I am finally released from my academic sentence with
released from my academic sentence with
released from my academic sentence with a major in human rights and a double
a major in human rights and a double
a major in human rights and a double minor in business and conflict
minor in business and conflict
minor in business and conflict resolution studies sometimes I feel I
resolution studies sometimes I feel I
resolution studies sometimes I feel I barely made it out alive but I’m here
barely made it out alive but I’m here
barely made it out alive but I’m here now towards the end of my degree I began
now towards the end of my degree I began
now towards the end of my degree I began to feel I was paying for a very
to feel I was paying for a very
to feel I was paying for a very expensive piece of paper with my name on
expensive piece of paper with my name on
expensive piece of paper with my name on it and any undergraduates in the
it and any undergraduates in the
it and any undergraduates in the audience might be able to empathize with
audience might be able to empathize with
audience might be able to empathize with me but it has been a quite interesting
me but it has been a quite interesting
me but it has been a quite interesting journey it wasn’t just the sleepless
journey it wasn’t just the sleepless
journey it wasn’t just the sleepless nights stressful assignments and painful
nights stressful assignments and painful
nights stressful assignments and painful group activities that had me eager to
group activities that had me eager to
group activities that had me eager to leave academia as soon as I could but it
leave academia as soon as I could but it
leave academia as soon as I could but it was the dismal representation for people
was the dismal representation for people
was the dismal representation for people of color I recognized within my
of color I recognized within my
of color I recognized within my department now the evidence in which I
department now the evidence in which I
department now the evidence in which I provide is a history of lived experience
provide is a history of lived experience
provide is a history of lived experience as a woman of color predominantly in a
as a woman of color predominantly in a
as a woman of color predominantly in a white institution it’s difficult to
white institution it’s difficult to
white institution it’s difficult to pinpoint every single microaggression
pinpoint every single microaggression
pinpoint every single microaggression and racist encounter I’ve experienced
and racist encounter I’ve experienced
and racist encounter I’ve experienced within a classroom setting pushing
within a classroom setting pushing
within a classroom setting pushing towards a diverse curriculum faculty
towards a diverse curriculum faculty
towards a diverse curriculum faculty staff and student body will ensure
staff and student body will ensure
staff and student body will ensure positive outcomes for the university
positive outcomes for the university
positive outcomes for the university community much like my early years
community much like my early years
community much like my early years university education was consumed with
university education was consumed with
university education was consumed with moments of isolation and vulnerability
moments of isolation and vulnerability
moments of isolation and vulnerability at times being the only person of color
at times being the only person of color
at times being the only person of color in the classroom left a lasting impact
in the classroom left a lasting impact
in the classroom left a lasting impact on me that can not be expressed to most
on me that can not be expressed to most
on me that can not be expressed to most without being able to relate to through
without being able to relate to through
without being able to relate to through lived experience
lived experience
lived experience so over time I began to feel
so over time I began to feel
so over time I began to feel disconnected towards my degree I grew
disconnected towards my degree I grew
disconnected towards my degree I grew tiresome of hearing perspectives from
tiresome of hearing perspectives from
tiresome of hearing perspectives from philosophers like Immanuel Kant’s and
philosophers like Immanuel Kant’s and
philosophers like Immanuel Kant’s and John Locke and Aristotle what was
John Locke and Aristotle what was
John Locke and Aristotle what was declared as an academic inclusive space
declared as an academic inclusive space
declared as an academic inclusive space to discover achieve and belong in
to discover achieve and belong in
to discover achieve and belong in reality felt empty bland and uninspiring
reality felt empty bland and uninspiring
reality felt empty bland and uninspiring students of color who consistently
students of color who consistently
students of color who consistently learned from white scholars and
learned from white scholars and
learned from white scholars and educators for the entirety of their
educators for the entirety of their
educators for the entirety of their academic career comes at a cost the
academic career comes at a cost the
academic career comes at a cost the connection between lack of
connection between lack of
connection between lack of representation from diverse education
representation from diverse education
representation from diverse education models is linked to and can be linked to
models is linked to and can be linked to
models is linked to and can be linked to success rates of students ability to
success rates of students ability to
success rates of students ability to excel in their studies now my department
excel in their studies now my department
excel in their studies now my department was notorious for developing and
was notorious for developing and
was notorious for developing and presenting developing countries as
presenting developing countries as
presenting developing countries as corrupt and broken nation’s six years of
corrupt and broken nation’s six years of
corrupt and broken nation’s six years of learning about who’s the most corrupt
learning about who’s the most corrupt
learning about who’s the most corrupt African warlord declared by the
African warlord declared by the
African warlord declared by the International Criminal Court what
International Criminal Court what
International Criminal Court what country owes money to the International
country owes money to the International
country owes money to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank and pushing
Monetary Fund and World Bank and pushing
Monetary Fund and World Bank and pushing the white saviour Western complex
the white saviour Western complex
the white saviour Western complex I grew hopeless for human rights
I grew hopeless for human rights
I grew hopeless for human rights conflict resolution and International
conflict resolution and International
conflict resolution and International Development Studies and it comes as a
Development Studies and it comes as a
Development Studies and it comes as a great shock to be reminded what’s
great shock to be reminded what’s
great shock to be reminded what’s rendered as mandatory and protocol in
rendered as mandatory and protocol in
rendered as mandatory and protocol in academia derives primarily from European
academia derives primarily from European
academia derives primarily from European scholarship I yearned for that academic
scholarship I yearned for that academic
scholarship I yearned for that academic therapy I found in classes that centered
therapy I found in classes that centered
therapy I found in classes that centered course material from voices I can relate
course material from voices I can relate
course material from voices I can relate to bell hooks Maya Angelou James Baldwin
to bell hooks Maya Angelou James Baldwin
to bell hooks Maya Angelou James Baldwin are the minds I wanted to learn from I
are the minds I wanted to learn from I
are the minds I wanted to learn from I wanted to find on my page open the decks
wanted to find on my page open the decks
wanted to find on my page open the decks the textbook craving those soothing
the textbook craving those soothing
the textbook craving those soothing theories that I know would stay with me
theories that I know would stay with me
theories that I know would stay with me once I left the classroom and my vision
once I left the classroom and my vision
once I left the classroom and my vision for diversity in the education system is
for diversity in the education system is
for diversity in the education system is a simple idea inspire ways to challenge
a simple idea inspire ways to challenge
a simple idea inspire ways to challenge white supremacy and higher education and
white supremacy and higher education and
white supremacy and higher education and how do we do that through action
how do we do that through action
how do we do that through action resistance and demands for inclusion
resistance and demands for inclusion
resistance and demands for inclusion inclusive practices that enhance our
inclusive practices that enhance our
inclusive practices that enhance our education systems for all students
education systems for all students
education systems for all students faculty and staff on campus so here are
faculty and staff on campus so here are
faculty and staff on campus so here are couple tips
couple tips
couple tips post-secondary institutions can do to
post-secondary institutions can do to
post-secondary institutions can do to increase visibility and representation
increase visibility and representation
increase visibility and representation and focus on decentralizing whiteness in
and focus on decentralizing whiteness in
and focus on decentralizing whiteness in the academy so number one hire people of
the academy so number one hire people of
the academy so number one hire people of color and folks who traditionally come
color and folks who traditionally come
color and folks who traditionally come from the objected pockets of society
from the objected pockets of society
from the objected pockets of society number two decentralize whiteness from
number two decentralize whiteness from
number two decentralize whiteness from course material through different
course material through different
course material through different approaches to education three ensure 50%
approaches to education three ensure 50%
approaches to education three ensure 50% or more of the course syllabus is
or more of the course syllabus is
or more of the course syllabus is dedicated to scholars of color and
dedicated to scholars of color and
dedicated to scholars of color and ensure that you are educated enough
ensure that you are educated enough
ensure that you are educated enough yourself to properly engage with those
yourself to properly engage with those
yourself to properly engage with those scholars of color structure coursework
scholars of color structure coursework
scholars of color structure coursework and campus culture around major events
and campus culture around major events
and campus culture around major events that help promote education and
that help promote education and
that help promote education and awareness of marginalized groups like
awareness of marginalized groups like
awareness of marginalized groups like Black History Month Asian Heritage Month
Black History Month Asian Heritage Month
Black History Month Asian Heritage Month indigenous History Month pride trans Day
indigenous History Month pride trans Day
indigenous History Month pride trans Day of Remembrance anything that focuses on
of Remembrance anything that focuses on
of Remembrance anything that focuses on marginalized groups and number five
marginalized groups and number five
marginalized groups and number five collaborate with community members and
collaborate with community members and
collaborate with community members and organizations to encourage a more
organizations to encourage a more
organizations to encourage a more diverse student body with access to
diverse student body with access to
diverse student body with access to scholarship opportunities and better
scholarship opportunities and better
scholarship opportunities and better access to education so back in 2015 I
access to education so back in 2015 I
access to education so back in 2015 I actually submitted a very similar
actually submitted a very similar
actually submitted a very similar recommendations to my faculty at the
recommendations to my faculty at the
recommendations to my faculty at the global college expressing a my humble
global college expressing a my humble
global college expressing a my humble yet radical plea to encourage a more
yet radical plea to encourage a more
yet radical plea to encourage a more diverse model and human rights from the
diverse model and human rights from the
diverse model and human rights from the material to the faculty and staff our
material to the faculty and staff our
material to the faculty and staff our classroom should reflect stronger
classroom should reflect stronger
classroom should reflect stronger diversity why say it with me okay so
diversity why say it with me okay so
diversity why say it with me okay so these suggestions provided were also in
these suggestions provided were also in
these suggestions provided were also in response to a 2016 survey conducted by
response to a 2016 survey conducted by
response to a 2016 survey conducted by the University of Winnipeg called
the University of Winnipeg called
the University of Winnipeg called employment equity census basically the
employment equity census basically the
employment equity census basically the survey was distributed to all active
survey was distributed to all active
survey was distributed to all active core employees compose of faculty and
core employees compose of faculty and
core employees compose of faculty and staff so not just educators active on
staff so not just educators active on
staff so not just educators active on payroll so about 846 employees responded
payroll so about 846 employees responded
payroll so about 846 employees responded it is within these small percentage of
it is within these small percentage of
it is within these small percentage of marginalized groups for my resilient
marginalized groups for my resilient
marginalized groups for my resilient demand in challenging what appears to be
demand in challenging what appears to be
demand in challenging what appears to be a non diverse academic environment so we
a non diverse academic environment so we
a non diverse academic environment so we have about 59% of women well who I was
have about 59% of women well who I was
have about 59% of women well who I was happy about that statistic which is
happy about that statistic which is
happy about that statistic which is great
great
great 39% of men and then moving on to this
39% of men and then moving on to this
39% of men and then moving on to this one though we have in indigenous course
one though we have in indigenous course
one though we have in indigenous course requirement less than 10% of indigenous
requirement less than 10% of indigenous
requirement less than 10% of indigenous people work at the University of
people work at the University of
people work at the University of Winnipeg I thought was very interesting
Winnipeg I thought was very interesting
Winnipeg I thought was very interesting folks who self-identify with a person
folks who self-identify with a person
folks who self-identify with a person with a disability is less than a present
with a disability is less than a present
with a disability is less than a present racialized folks is just under seventeen
racialized folks is just under seventeen
racialized folks is just under seventeen percent and for sexual orientation folks
percent and for sexual orientation folks
percent and for sexual orientation folks who come from or identify as LGBTQ is
who come from or identify as LGBTQ is
who come from or identify as LGBTQ is less than eight percent and less than
less than eight percent and less than
less than eight percent and less than one percent so three out of five hundred
one percent so three out of five hundred
one percent so three out of five hundred and thirty-seven people identify as
and thirty-seven people identify as
and thirty-seven people identify as gender nonspecific and non-binary who
gender nonspecific and non-binary who
gender nonspecific and non-binary who likes pie what kind of pie
likes pie what kind of pie
likes pie what kind of pie any kind of pie pumpkins my favorite so
any kind of pie pumpkins my favorite so
any kind of pie pumpkins my favorite so look at this this is this is this is
look at this this is this is this is
look at this this is this is this is what less than ten percent looks like on
what less than ten percent looks like on
what less than ten percent looks like on a plate do you want more pie than that
a plate do you want more pie than that
a plate do you want more pie than that okay like the holiday season is coming
okay like the holiday season is coming
okay like the holiday season is coming up and I’m an on eating and that’s not
up and I’m an on eating and that’s not
up and I’m an on eating and that’s not enough so the numbers do not lie so
enough so the numbers do not lie so
enough so the numbers do not lie so taxes are alarming how can we diversify
taxes are alarming how can we diversify
taxes are alarming how can we diversify the Academy with such tokenizing
the Academy with such tokenizing
the Academy with such tokenizing inadequate representation amongst
inadequate representation amongst
inadequate representation amongst faculty staff from marginalized
faculty staff from marginalized
faculty staff from marginalized communities in our institutions these
communities in our institutions these
communities in our institutions these numbers are also scarce across Canadian
numbers are also scarce across Canadian
numbers are also scarce across Canadian universities another example is at the
universities another example is at the
universities another example is at the University of Toronto where marginalized
University of Toronto where marginalized
University of Toronto where marginalized groups are about this
groups are about this
groups are about this so fifty-two percent of women 1 percent
so fifty-two percent of women 1 percent
so fifty-two percent of women 1 percent of indigenous people 27 percent of
of indigenous people 27 percent of
of indigenous people 27 percent of racialized individuals persons with
racialized individuals persons with
racialized individuals persons with disabilities is 3% and 5% for the
disabilities is 3% and 5% for the
disabilities is 3% and 5% for the LGBTQIA community now I hope this
LGBTQIA community now I hope this
LGBTQIA community now I hope this evidence at hand is enough to convince
evidence at hand is enough to convince
evidence at hand is enough to convince and light a fire of change and ignite
and light a fire of change and ignite
and light a fire of change and ignite that fire and make it grow concerned
that fire and make it grow concerned
that fire and make it grow concerned students faculty and staff have started
students faculty and staff have started
students faculty and staff have started to execute initiatives for academic
to execute initiatives for academic
to execute initiatives for academic inclusion but the numbers need to grow
inclusion but the numbers need to grow
inclusion but the numbers need to grow for example earlier this year the
for example earlier this year the
for example earlier this year the University of Toronto held the first
University of Toronto held the first
University of Toronto held the first ever in Canada black graduation creating
ever in Canada black graduation creating
ever in Canada black graduation creating safe space for
safe space for
safe space for black undergraduates eager to celebrate
black undergraduates eager to celebrate
black undergraduates eager to celebrate their success of their academic journey
their success of their academic journey
their success of their academic journey with their peers along the way efforts
with their peers along the way efforts
with their peers along the way efforts like this remind me of what happens when
like this remind me of what happens when
like this remind me of what happens when marginalized communities come together
marginalized communities come together
marginalized communities come together and impact a system through traditions
and impact a system through traditions
and impact a system through traditions and ways to positively infect new
and ways to positively infect new
and ways to positively infect new generations to come so we’re in a very
generations to come so we’re in a very
generations to come so we’re in a very crucial time and have a chance to make
crucial time and have a chance to make
crucial time and have a chance to make history by applying pressure and
history by applying pressure and
history by applying pressure and demanding for stronger diversity
demanding for stronger diversity
demanding for stronger diversity policies approaches in the Academy
policies approaches in the Academy
policies approaches in the Academy imagine this as a call to action
imagine this as a call to action
imagine this as a call to action personally it is exhausting as a woman
personally it is exhausting as a woman
personally it is exhausting as a woman of color to express to people why
of color to express to people why
of color to express to people why there’s a problem when euro Canadian
there’s a problem when euro Canadian
there’s a problem when euro Canadian history is a requirement and black
history is a requirement and black
history is a requirement and black history is an elective without tools in
history is an elective without tools in
history is an elective without tools in place to grow diversity on our campus
place to grow diversity on our campus
place to grow diversity on our campus we’ll end up with a long battle ahead of
we’ll end up with a long battle ahead of
we’ll end up with a long battle ahead of us much like in recent events that took
us much like in recent events that took
us much like in recent events that took place in Charlottesville
place in Charlottesville
place in Charlottesville I fear the stronger the campaign comes
I fear the stronger the campaign comes
I fear the stronger the campaign comes to remove statues of our oppressors and
to remove statues of our oppressors and
to remove statues of our oppressors and apply strict diversity frameworks to
apply strict diversity frameworks to
apply strict diversity frameworks to maintain a rich student body and campus
maintain a rich student body and campus
maintain a rich student body and campus culture we will start to see instances
culture we will start to see instances
culture we will start to see instances of white and male frigid fragility fight
of white and male frigid fragility fight
of white and male frigid fragility fight back a system that will no longer
back a system that will no longer
back a system that will no longer benefit folks who’ve enjoyed the
benefit folks who’ve enjoyed the
benefit folks who’ve enjoyed the benefits from the oppression of
benefits from the oppression of
benefits from the oppression of marginalized communities from
marginalized communities from
marginalized communities from generations but as James Baldwin once
generations but as James Baldwin once
generations but as James Baldwin once said not everything that is faced can be
said not everything that is faced can be
said not everything that is faced can be changed but nothing can be changed until
changed but nothing can be changed until
changed but nothing can be changed until it’s faced I had a conversation with a
it’s faced I had a conversation with a
it’s faced I had a conversation with a student at a conference earlier this
student at a conference earlier this
student at a conference earlier this year that had me having this much faith
year that had me having this much faith
year that had me having this much faith in our academic system and he said as an
in our academic system and he said as an
in our academic system and he said as an indigenous man I have to pay to go to
indigenous man I have to pay to go to
indigenous man I have to pay to go to university to gain more access to my
university to gain more access to my
university to gain more access to my peoples traditions that were taken away
peoples traditions that were taken away
peoples traditions that were taken away from us by the states what steps will be
from us by the states what steps will be
from us by the states what steps will be systemic Lee implemented to truly revoke
systemic Lee implemented to truly revoke
systemic Lee implemented to truly revoke white supremacist ha’s I have little
white supremacist ha’s I have little
white supremacist ha’s I have little faith in the education system that
faith in the education system that
faith in the education system that forces students to enter a life into
forces students to enter a life into
forces students to enter a life into debt after their education and rejects
debt after their education and rejects
debt after their education and rejects the hard-earned degrees from students
the hard-earned degrees from students
the hard-earned degrees from students who come from
who come from
who come from countries abroad recently a friend of
countries abroad recently a friend of
countries abroad recently a friend of mine had a conversation expressing our
mine had a conversation expressing our
mine had a conversation expressing our frustrations of white supremacy in the
frustrations of white supremacy in the
frustrations of white supremacy in the classroom and she told me that in her
classroom and she told me that in her
classroom and she told me that in her environmental science course they were
environmental science course they were
environmental science course they were learning about the environmentalist
learning about the environmentalist
learning about the environmentalist Archibald Bella named Melanie am i
Archibald Bella named Melanie am i
Archibald Bella named Melanie am i saying this correctly do we know him he
saying this correctly do we know him he
saying this correctly do we know him he goes by the name grey owl so basically
goes by the name grey owl so basically
goes by the name grey owl so basically he took on the aesthetic of what he
he took on the aesthetic of what he
he took on the aesthetic of what he thought indigenous people look like
thought indigenous people look like
thought indigenous people look like darkened his skin grew out his hair
darkened his skin grew out his hair
darkened his skin grew out his hair married an indigenous woman and
married an indigenous woman and
married an indigenous woman and culturally appropriate an indigenous
culturally appropriate an indigenous
culturally appropriate an indigenous culture to legitimize what I feel was
culture to legitimize what I feel was
culture to legitimize what I feel was his twisted logic and she asked why are
his twisted logic and she asked why are
his twisted logic and she asked why are we learning from an environmentalist
we learning from an environmentalist
we learning from an environmentalist basically in red face still the
basically in red face still the
basically in red face still the professor tried to justify his studies
professor tried to justify his studies
professor tried to justify his studies and efforts made for the environmental
and efforts made for the environmental
and efforts made for the environmental advocacy so educators who feel the need
advocacy so educators who feel the need
advocacy so educators who feel the need to desperately clutch onto academic
to desperately clutch onto academic
to desperately clutch onto academic figures who we know today were racist
figures who we know today were racist
figures who we know today were racist sexist and horrible human beings in the
sexist and horrible human beings in the
sexist and horrible human beings in the name of education needs to rethink
name of education needs to rethink
name of education needs to rethink primitive texts regulated throughout
primitive texts regulated throughout
primitive texts regulated throughout their curriculum but it’s not their
their curriculum but it’s not their
their curriculum but it’s not their fault there were products of their time
fault there were products of their time
fault there were products of their time usually what people say I wonder if a
usually what people say I wonder if a
usually what people say I wonder if a hundred years from now people are gonna
hundred years from now people are gonna
hundred years from now people are gonna look back and say Donald Trump was a
look back and say Donald Trump was a
look back and say Donald Trump was a product in his time even though we’re
product in his time even though we’re
product in his time even though we’re allegedly in a time of equality and
allegedly in a time of equality and
allegedly in a time of equality and change okay so what we need is a
change okay so what we need is a
change okay so what we need is a revolution and education revolution to
revolution and education revolution to
revolution and education revolution to revamp the blueprint of our universities
revamp the blueprint of our universities
revamp the blueprint of our universities I came to the University Winnipeg I came
I came to the University Winnipeg I came
I came to the University Winnipeg I came to seek higher education and open my
to seek higher education and open my
to seek higher education and open my mind and discover what I wanted to do
mind and discover what I wanted to do
mind and discover what I wanted to do with my university career basically to
with my university career basically to
with my university career basically to discover achievable long so what did I
discover achievable long so what did I
discover achievable long so what did I discover that I had a unique voice that
discover that I had a unique voice that
discover that I had a unique voice that love to challenge for answers in the
love to challenge for answers in the
love to challenge for answers in the classroom what can I say I was raised by
classroom what can I say I was raised by
classroom what can I say I was raised by a very conscious independent black woman
a very conscious independent black woman
a very conscious independent black woman that’s some of the benefits and I’ll
that’s some of the benefits and I’ll
that’s some of the benefits and I’ll never apologize for that and I wanted to
never apologize for that and I wanted to
never apologize for that and I wanted to relate to people too in my community
relate to people too in my community
relate to people too in my community so what did I achieve a way to grow my
so what did I achieve a way to grow my
so what did I achieve a way to grow my passion through grassroots activism
passion through grassroots activism
passion through grassroots activism collaborating with a network
collaborating with a network
collaborating with a network that applies models of change through
that applies models of change through
that applies models of change through pressure persistence and promise and
pressure persistence and promise and
pressure persistence and promise and where do I belong to now a community
where do I belong to now a community
where do I belong to now a community that recognizes the importance of these
that recognizes the importance of these
that recognizes the importance of these issues that affected marginalized groups
issues that affected marginalized groups
issues that affected marginalized groups now the first I have for raw actions of
now the first I have for raw actions of
now the first I have for raw actions of change came from a lack of diversity I
change came from a lack of diversity I
change came from a lack of diversity I noticed within my academic career if
noticed within my academic career if
noticed within my academic career if we’re truly in a cultural mosaic diverse
we’re truly in a cultural mosaic diverse
we’re truly in a cultural mosaic diverse nation then that should be reflected
nation then that should be reflected
nation then that should be reflected across all areas of our society it’s
across all areas of our society it’s
across all areas of our society it’s 2015-2017 excuse me and our education
2015-2017 excuse me and our education
2015-2017 excuse me and our education system needs to encompass and represent
system needs to encompass and represent
system needs to encompass and represent communities across our nation not just
communities across our nation not just
communities across our nation not just the one pocket of our nation’s privilege
the one pocket of our nation’s privilege
the one pocket of our nation’s privilege majority inclusive the quality education
majority inclusive the quality education
majority inclusive the quality education is a foundation for dynamic and
is a foundation for dynamic and
is a foundation for dynamic and equitable societies Desmond Tutu I hope
equitable societies Desmond Tutu I hope
equitable societies Desmond Tutu I hope this was enough to encourage folks to
this was enough to encourage folks to
this was enough to encourage folks to really take action and apply pressure
really take action and apply pressure
really take action and apply pressure for a genuine authentic diversity model
for a genuine authentic diversity model
for a genuine authentic diversity model and higher education thank you
and higher education thank you
and higher education thank you [Applause]
”
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