CSSE 2021 Keynote Update & Registration for Black and Indigenous Students

Aniin ni dinowaymahginitook, hello all my relations.

Dear members,

We are quickly nearing the CSSE conference for this year. I am anticipating the virtual networking and the learning that will occur during our time together.

This message is a continuation of the previous communications related to the calls for systemic and structural changes within Congress and within each one of our societies and associations, changes that draw strength from the meaningful inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives. As mentioned earlier, this year CSSE will:

  • Match the Federation’s initiative to waive conference fees to Black and Indigenous students
  • Host a panel and townhall on making meaningful change, addressing systemic barriers, and guide the future of CSSE
  • Encourage fierce and difficult dialogue around combatting racism against Indigenous, Black and Asian peoples, and advance decolonization efforts in education in Canada through our program

This is a beginning, the first steps towards challenging work that includes the dismantling of colonial ways of being, knowing, and doing that demean and divide peoples.

For the CSSE 2020 conference, we were excited to welcome Dr. Carl James (Professor, Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora and the Senior Advisor on Equity and Representation in the office of the Vice President of Equity, People, and Culture at York University) as one of our plenary keynote lecturers. Since the conference did not happen last year, Dr. James was open to presenting at this year’s gathering. We are saddened to inform you that Dr. James has decided not to do the keynote presentation for the virtual conference. He has chosen to stand in solidarity with the BCSA, a decision which we fully understand and support. In response, the CSSE Executive has made the decision not to fill this plenary space; this timeslot will be left unfilled. Very much like leaving a chair intentionally and respectfully empty at a table in honour of someone, rather than absence, this space symbolizes presence in a different form – spirit. We have left this space unfilled as a demonstration of solidarity for all those that seek justice, equity, authentic inclusion through means that are decolonizing and empowering.

We would like to recognize the many sessions in this year’s program that focus on social justice, equity, anti-racism and anti-oppression. A selection of these events is listed below. These presentations will provide us valuable opportunities to learn and grow as educational researchers, scholars, community members, and educators, and may inspire us to exercise creativity and be radically innovative while expanding our community – to “think outside the box and live within the circle” (personal communication, Dr. Gregory Cajete, Tewa).

Registration for Black and Indigenous Graduate Students

CSSE and Congress registration fees have been waived for all Black and Indigenous graduate students. If you identify as a Black or Indigenous graduate student, please register via the Congress website at https://fhss.swoogo.com/21-registration-inscription/begin?reg_type_id=153494

If you are a Black or Indigenous graduate student and you have already registered for the conference, please also email Michael Holden, Conference Manager, at conference-congres@csse-scee.ca so that we can help in the process of Congress issuing you a full refund for your CSSE and Congress registration fees for this year.

Kikawāpamin mīnawa and take care,

Jacqueline Ottmann

President, CSSE

 

Selection of Spotlight and Special Events focusing on social justice, equity, anti-racism, and anti-oppression in this year’s conference program

Session / Séance 1.7, 2.9, & 4.11

CASIE-ACÉÉA

Rising Voices: Mentoring and Leadership for Emerging Scholars in Indigenous Education

Session / Séance 3.4

CCPA-ACPC

Keynote / Discours principal

Challenging Settler Colonialism, Anti-Black Racism, and Neoliberal Ecocide: What kinds of pedagogical praxis can build ecological, cognitive, affective, relational, and economic justice?

George Dei

Session / Séance 3.5

CIESC-SCÉCI

Who You Callin’ Black Eh?

Lessons Learned and Lessons in Process: A drama & talk-back

Susan Brigham (MSVU), Rita Deverell (MSVU)

Session / Séance 3.7

CSSE-SCÉÉ

Stolen Niitsitapi (the Real People) Children: Canada’s Assimilative Tactics Revealed

Chair/Prés.: Jennifer Tupper (Alberta)

Apooyak’ii/Tiffany Prete

Session / Séance 4.1

ACDE-ACDÉ / CASIE-ACÉÉA

The Sherman Lecture with Dr. Niigaan Sinclair

Conférence Sherman prononcée par Niigaan Sinclair, Ph. D.

Chair/Prés.: Sharon Wahl (UNB)

Reconciliation in a Post-Curriculum World: The Future of Education

Niigaan Sinclair (Manitoba)

Session / Séance 9.7

CASEA-ACÉAS

Decolonizing Educational Leadership

Session / Séance 13.6

QSEC-ÉAÉC

Community Talk / Dialogue communautaire

Local youth BIPOC activist speakers and Freedom School

Session / Séance 15.1

ACDE-ACDÉ / CASIE-ACÉÉA

Revising the Accord on Indigenous Education

Révision de l’Accord sur l’éducation autochtone

Chair/Prés.: Jennifer Tupper (Alberta)

Session / Séance 15.13

QSEC-ÉAÉC

BIPOC Grad Student Networking event: Speed mentoring/Grad Student Networking Event, featuring BIPOC

Événement de réseautage pour les étudiants diplômés PANDC : mentorat express / événement de réseautage pour les étudiants diplômés, mettant en vedette des PANDC

Session / Séance 17.1

CSSE-SCÉÉ

Special Event / Événement spécial

Town Hall / Discussion ouverte

A Town Hall on creating meaningful, systemic change: How do we challenge and confront systemic issues within CSSE-SCÉÉ, particularly issues of anti-black racism, colonialism, accessibility, and cost?