Centre for Human Rights Research marks the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Adele Perry<https://chrr.info/blog/author/perrya/> | September 29, 2022
One of the Centre for Human Rights Research (CHRR) areas of focus is Indigenous peoples and human rights<https://chrr.info/chrr-themes/indigenous-peoples-human-rights/>. As we approach Canada's second official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Friday, September 30th, 2022, how do we understand and engage with the shifting and contested conversation about residential schools and its meaning for Canada's past and present? More important, how can we, as a university-based research centre support engaged, ethical research on Canadian colonialism, and work to communicate it to the public?
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was created by an act of parliament passed in 2021<https://parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-2/bill/C-5/royal-assent>, following renewed public attention to the history and ongoing impact of the Indian Residential School System. In May of that year, Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation announced that research with ground penetrating radar found 215 possible unmarked graves near the former Kamloops residential school. The months that followed were punctuated by more solemn announcements from First Nations across western Canada about unmarked graves, including an estimated 751 potential unmarked graves of both children and adults near the Marieval Indian Residential School on Cowessess First Nation in southern Saskatchewan.[1]<https://chrr.info/blog/centre-for-human-rights-research-marks-the-second-na…>
These findings were hardly news to many First Nations whose oral histories had long spoken of widespread undocumented deaths at residential schools. These announcements were also not much a surprise to those who had read the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released in 2015 - an entire 255-page volume was devoted to the subject of "Missing Children and Unmarked Burials."<https://collections.irshdc.ubc.ca/index.php/Detail/objects/8788>
But the revelations of 2021 still prompted a widespread renewal of attention to Canada's colonial history in general, and to the history of residential schools in particular. Eva Jewell and Ian Mosby note that in a context of widespread failure to meaningfully enact the Calls to Action, Canada completed three Calls to Action, all in the month of June. This included creating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.[2]<https://chrr.info/blog/centre-for-human-rights-research-marks-the-second-na…> The creation of a holiday responded to Call to Action 80, which asked Canada to establish a day to "honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process."<https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-rec…>
In practice, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation has revealed persisting limitations to Canada's commitment to addressing the harms that residential schools have done. The prime minister's decision to take a surfing holiday on the first National Day confirmed the suspicions of those who doubted the substance of his commitments to reconciliation and Indigenous people. The response of provincial and territorial governments, who regulate the vast majority of Canadian workers, was mixed in 2021, and it is perhaps even more mixed in 2022. So far, only PEI, New Brunswick and the Northwest Territories recognize the day as a statutory holiday. Indigenous Studies professor and CHRR Research Affiliate Niigaan Sinclair explains that the response to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation has been "uneven, confusing and indecisive,"<https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2022/09/16/reconciliation-is…> particularly in comparison to the quick action honouring the Queen's death.
[Book cover for Lessons in Legitimacy by Dr. Sean Carleton]<https://chrr.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Lessons-in-Legitimacy.jpg>As governments waffle about 30 September, what CHRR Research Affiliate and historian Sean Carleton calls 'residential school denialism' circulates online, in print, and in conversations. Arguments that deny the corrosive impact of residential schools in favour of a flattering story about the schools and Canada are hardly new. But these arguments have taken on a new tenor in the last year. Daniel Heath Justice and Carleton identify some of the core shaky claims that residential school denialists make<https://theconversation.com/truth-before-reconciliation-8-ways-to-identify-…>: that international legal definitions of genocide do not apply to Canada, that residential schools are comparable to boarding schools in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, that Indigenous children learned valuable and transferable skills in residential schools, that school officials and architects had good intentions, that residential school students learned valuable skills, that there were positive student experiences, that residential schools were in keeping with the times, and that Indigenous people must express their experience in specific ways if they are to be included in mainstream conversations.[3]<https://chrr.info/blog/centre-for-human-rights-research-marks-the-second-na…>
What is at stake in these arguments is not simply how we understand histories of residential schools, but it is also about how we understand Canada's past and present of colonialism. In the last year, the blow-back has increasingly focused on the specific terrain of unmarked graves. In both niche publications and mainstream media, authors have raised alarm about both the evidence and how it is being interpreted.[4]<https://chrr.info/blog/centre-for-human-rights-research-marks-the-second-na…> In response, University of Alberta archaeologist Kisha Supernant and Carleton explain that "Residential schools are not fake news," but rather a long, carefully documented story of dispossession, destruction, and enduring loss.[5]<https://chrr.info/blog/centre-for-human-rights-research-marks-the-second-na…>
The CHRR takes seriously the need to investigate and explore that difficult history of dispossession, destruction, and loss, and to do so in ways that make this ethical research and thinking available to as wide a public as possible. There are events and programming exploring the history of residential schools across Canada this week. One of these is a day of programming<https://www.wag.ca/event/national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation-2/> in which we are collaborating, hosted by National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. This will include screening of Truth & Reconciliation Week program episodes as well as the NCTR's national broadcast Remember the Children. At 1:15, you can learn about Carleton's new monograph, Lessons in Legitimacy: Colonialism, Capitalism, and the Rise of State Schooling in British Columbia (UBC Press, 2022). Public discussions will follow exploring "Language Revitalization, Intergenerational Learning and Reconciliation" with Pat Nadeau, Maeengan Linklater, and Aandeg Muldrew; and "How to be a Good Ally" with Erin Millions and Carleton. Family friendly craft areas will also be set up throughout the day.
The day's events at the WAG are one of the many events being held across Canada on the 30th, and a reminder of the importance of people and organizations continuing to do the work<https://chrr.info/blog/doing-the-work-what-settlers-need-to-know-about-the-…>, even when governments drop the ball or lose interest. It is also a reminder of the importance of research, and communicating that research well and broadly, to change the conversation about Canada's ongoing history of colonialism, and the role that residential schools have played within it.
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[1]<https://chrr.info/blog/centre-for-human-rights-research-marks-the-second-na…> For an accounting as of September 2021, see: Rachel Gilmour, "Mapping the missing: Former residential school sites in Canada and the search for unmarked graves," 15 September 2021, Global News, https://globalnews.ca/news/8074453/indigenous-residential-schools-canada-gr…. Also see Doug Cuthand, "A Legacy of Unmarked Graves; Delving into the Hidden History of Canada's Residential Schools." The Vancouver Sun, Jun 16, 2022. https://nationalpost.com/special-sections/national-indigenous-peoples-day/a….
[2]<https://chrr.info/blog/centre-for-human-rights-research-marks-the-second-na…> Eva Jewell and Ian Mosby, "Calls to Action Accountability: A 2021 Status Update on Reconciliation," Yellowhead Institute, 2021, https://yellowheadinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/trc-2021-account…, 2, 23.
[3]<https://chrr.info/blog/centre-for-human-rights-research-marks-the-second-na…> Daniel Heath Justice and Sean Carleton, "Truth Before Reconciliation: 8 ways to identify and confront Residential School denialism," The Conversation, 5 August 2021, https://theconversation.com/truth-before-reconciliation-8-ways-to-identify-….
[4]<https://chrr.info/blog/centre-for-human-rights-research-marks-the-second-na…> See, for a range, Jacques Rouillard, "In Kamloops, Not One Body Has been Found," Dorchester Review, 11 January 2022; Terry Glavin, "The Year of the graves: How the world's media got it wrong about residential school graves," National Post, 27 May 2022; Dana Kennedy, 'The biggest fake news story in Canada': Kamloops mass grave debunked by academics," New York Post, 25 September 2022.
[5]<https://chrr.info/blog/centre-for-human-rights-research-marks-the-second-na…> Kisha Supernant and Sean Carleton, "Fighting 'denialists' for the truth about unmarked graves and residential schooling," CBC Opinion, 3 June 2022, https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/opinion-residential-schools-unmarked-graves….
[Centre for Human Rights Research logo at the University of Manitoba]
Hello!
As part of the ongoing “Methods & Mediums” series, the Centre for Human Rights Research<https://chrr.info/> at the University of Manitoba will be hosting a roundtable on Research in the Age of COVID on Sept. 21, 2022 from 12:00–1:30pm.
Join researchers from a variety of disciplines to discuss their experiences – good, difficult, confusing, surprising – conducting research related to human rights in the age of COVID. This is an opportunity to reflect, learn, grow and move forward as we figure out how to do research in the middle of a pandemic with far reaching and long lasting human rights implications.
This is hybrid event.
* Bring your lunch and join us in person at 201 St. John’s College, University of Manitoba. Please note, masking is required.
* Join us via Zoom by registering at: https://bit.ly/3xrsjOs
Please share with your networks!
[cid:image001.png@01D8C9D7.2971B8E0]
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Pauline Tennent, PhD (she/her/hers)
Manager, Centre for Human Rights Research
The Master of Human Rights program is hiring a Professional Development Coordinator. It is a great opportunity to have one foot in the theory and another in the practice of human rights, not to mention also working with amazing individuals & inspirational organizations within/across Winnipeg and beyond. Full details of the position can be found here: https://viprecprod.ad.umanitoba.ca/DEFAULT.ASPX?REQ_ID=23470.
Regards,
Kjell
_______________________________
Dr. Kjell Anderson (he/him)
Director, Master of Human Rights
Assistant Professor of Law
University of Manitoba
+1 (204) 474-6157
New book: Researching Perpetrators of Genocide https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/5833.htm
A message from Centre for Human Rights Research<https://chrr.info/>, University of Manitoba director, Dr. Adele Perry:
This week, CHRR manager Dr. Pauline Tennent is returning to the office. Her email is pauline.tennent(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:pauline.tennent@umanitoba.ca>. Dr. Shayna Plaut, who has been serving as acting manager for the last year, will remain a part of the CHRR as a Research Affiliate, and is taking on a new position as Director of the Centre for Social Science Research and Policy<https://umanitoba.ca/arts/centre-social-science-research-and-policy.>.
Welcome back Dr. Tennent, and thanks and congratulations on the new position to Dr. Plaut!
Adele Perry
Adele Perry, FRSC
Director, Centre for Human Rights Research: https://chrr.info<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchrr.info…>
Distinguished Professor, History and Women’s and Gender Studies
Senior Fellow, St John’s College
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Treaty One
Manitoba, Canada, R3T 2M5
adele.perry(a)umanitoba.ca<mailto:adele.perry@umanitoba.ca>
English follows.
[Dark and pale blue green and off-white circles highlighting the 40th anniversary of the uOttawa Human Rights Research and Education Centre. Cercles vert foncé, vert pâle et blanc cassé pour le 40e anniversaire du Centre de recherche et d'enseignement sur les droits de la personne de l'Université d'Ottawa.]
Bonne rentrée universitaire!
Il nous fait plaisir de vous présenter les nouvelles et les événements à venir du Centre de recherche et d’enseignement sur les droits de la personne (CREDP).
Le CREDP a un nouveau site web!
Notre nouveau site qui s’arrime à celui de l’Université d’Ottawa, met de l’avant un design visuellement attrayant, fonctionnel et compatible avec les principaux navigateurs (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, etc.) ainsi que tous les appareils (téléphones, tablettes, ordinateurs). Il offre également une meilleure accessibilité, une navigation simplifiée, un contenu convivial, facile à trouver, à lire et à utiliser!
Jetez-y un coup d’œil : https://www2.uottawa.ca/recherche-innovation/credp.
Bienvenue Ashley Barnes!
Joignez-vous à nous pour accueillir Ashley Barnes, nouvelle stagiaire postdoctorale Gordon F. Henderson 2022-2023! Ashley est une avocate et une universitaire dont le travail porte sur l'accès à la justice et aux recours en droit international. Au cours de son séjour de recherche au Centre, elle élargira son travail à de nouveaux défis en matière d'accès à la justice, notamment la question d'actualité de l'indemnisation des personnes directement lésées par le changement climatique dans les forums nationaux et internationaux.
Lisez la nouvelle Le CREDP accueille Ashley Barnes<https://www2.uottawa.ca/recherche-innovation/credp/nouvelles/credp-accueill…>.
Bienvenue à Olha Chernovol!
C’est avec plaisir que le CREDP héberge la stagiaire postdoctorale Olha Chernovol qui se joint à Jennifer Quaid, professeure agrégée et vice-doyenne à la recherche de la Section de droit civil, dans le cadre d’un projet de recherche sur le règlement hors tribunal des poursuites en matière de corruption. Cette bourse lui a été octroyée grâce à un fonds d’urgence destiné à la communauté de recherche ukrainienne, créé par le Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines (CRSH), qui s’ajoute à une subvention Savoir accordée à la chercheuse en 2020.
Lisez la nouvelle De Kyiv à Ottawa : Olha Chernovol trouve un nouveau foyer d’accueil au pavillon Fauteux<https://www2.uottawa.ca/faculte-droit/droit-civil/nouvelles/de-kyiv-ottawa-…>.
Événements
28 SEPTEMBRE | Projection
17 h 30
* Projection du documentaire The Cost of Freedom – Refugee Journalists in Canada. Plus de détails bientôt!
1er OCTOBRE | Conférence Germain-Brière
13 h à 16 h| Inscription requise pour assister à la conférence.
* La guerre en Ukraine & le droit international humanitaire<https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/billets-conference-germain-briere-2022-40590872…> – La Conférence annuelle Germain-Brière porte sur une question juridique d’actualité. Elle a été instituée en 2008 afin d’honorer la mémoire de Monsieur Germain Brière, professeur émérite à la Section de droit civil où il a enseigné pendant une trentaine d’années. Rejoignez le professeur Jabeur Fathally (Directeur par intérim du CREDP) et ses invité.e.s : John Packer (Professeur Neuberger-Jesin), Sophie Rondeau (Conseillère juridique principale DIH), Pacifique Manirakiza (Professeur agrégé, Section de Common Law) et Muriel Paradelle (Professeure agrégée, Section de droit civil).
Cette conférence est organisée en partenariat avec la Faculté de droit, Section de droit civil de l’Université d’Ottawa.
Nouvelles
* Viviana Fernandez à la conférence 2022 de l'AHRI en Afrique du Sud<https://www2.uottawa.ca/recherche-innovation/credp/nouvelles/viviana-fernan…>
* Opinion | Mona Paré dans le CBA/ABC National : Les cours ne sont pas des substituts aux tribunaux des droits de la personne (en anglais)
* Félicitations à notre membre Adam R. Houston!<https://www2.uottawa.ca/recherche-innovation/credp/nouvelles/felicitations-…>
* Opinion | Professeur John Packer et collègues dans The Hill Times : Cinq ans après l'exode de 2017, des mesures concrètes sont nécessaires pour les réfugiés rohingyas (en anglais)
* Opinion | Ravi Malhotra, membre du CREDP, et sa collègue Jacqueline Moizer dans le Ottawa Citizen : Construisons un Canada post-pandémique accessible (en anglais)
* Commentaire | Notre membre universitaire Meredith Terretta sur les refus de visa du Canada aux chercheurs africains dans le Globe and Mail (en anglais)<https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-canada-faces-criticism-for-vi…>
* Blog | Notre membre Scott Simon dans le Blog du CÉPI : L'héritage d'Abe Shinzō (en anglais)<https://www.cips-cepi.ca/2022/07/11/the-legacy-of-abe-shinzo/>
* John Packer à Barcelone<https://www2.uottawa.ca/recherche-innovation/credp/nouvelles/directeur-cred…>
* Jabeur Fathally devient directeur du CREDP pour une période d’un an<https://www2.uottawa.ca/faculte-droit/droit-civil/nouvelles/jabeur-fathally…>
* La lauréate du Prix des droits de l’homme de l’ambassade du Canada au Venezuela 2019 en visite au CREDP<https://cdp-hrc.uottawa.ca/fr/laureate-du-prix-droits-lhomme-lambassade-du-…>
* Le CREDP et CONTEKST apportent les arts et les droits de la personne au Sénat<https://www2.uottawa.ca/recherche-innovation/credp/nouvelles/le-credp-et-co…>
* Le CREDP organise une session avec l'ambassadrice des Pays-Bas pour les droits de la personne<https://www2.uottawa.ca/recherche-innovation/credp/nouvelles/le-credp-organ…>
Ensemble pour un meilleur futur
Depuis 40 ans, le CREDP réunit des communautés pour explorer et promouvoir les droits de la personne dans notre monde complexe et interconnecté. Nous avons une vision de renforcer l’impact de nos activités de recherche, d’éducation et de promotion des droits, tout en contribuant aux progrès nationaux et aux développements mondiaux en matière de droits de la personne. Nous demandons l’aide de notre communauté pour renforcer notre fondation et à étendre nos capacités.
Merci de prendre quelques minutes pour en savoir plus sur notre vision de l’avenir grâce à l’Appel pour le 40e anniversaire du CREDP<https://cdp-hrc.uottawa.ca/sites/cdp-hrc.uottawa.ca/files/hrrec-credp_casef…> et envisagez de faire un don au Centre de recherche et d'enseignement sur les droits de la personne<https://alumni.uottawa.ca/formulaire-don?fid=Qu4aOAYCyl4%3d&fdesc=SwRBSZHoH…> dès aujourd’hui. #CREDP40HRREC
________________________________
Welcome back to university!
We are pleased to bring you news and upcoming events from the Human Rights Research and Education Centre (HRREC).
HRREC has a new website!
Our new site, which is linked to that of the University of Ottawa, highlights a responsive web design that is visually appealing, functional, and is compatible with the main browsers (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, etc.) and all devices (phones, tablets, computers). It also offers improved accessibility, simplified navigation, user-friendly content that is easy to find, read and use!
Have a look at it: https://www2.uottawa.ca/research-innovation/hrrec.
Welcome Ashley Barnes!
Please join us in welcoming Ashley Barnes, new Gordon F. Henderson Postdoctoral Fellow 2022-2023! Ashley is a lawyer and scholar whose work focuses on access to justice and remedies under international law. During her fellowship at the Centre, she will be expanding her work into new access to justice challenges, including the timely issue of compensating those directly harmed by climate change in domestic and international forums.
Read the news item HRREC welcomes Ashley Barnes<https://www2.uottawa.ca/research-innovation/hrrec/news/hrrec-welcomes-ashle…>.
Welcome Olha Chernovol!
The HRREC is pleased to host postdoctoral fellow Olha Chernovol who is joining Jennifer Quaid, Associate Professor and Vice-Dean Research within the Civil Law Section, on a project exploring non-trial resolutions in anti-corruption prosecutions. Funding for the fellowship was made possible through a special response fund for researchers from Ukraine created by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) – a supplement to an Insight Grant awarded to Dr. Quaid in 2020.
Read the news item From Kyiv to Ottawa: Olha Chernovol finds a new academic home at Fauteux Hall<https://www2.uottawa.ca/faculty-law/civil-law/news/kyiv-ottawa-olha-chernov…>.
Events
SEPTEMBER 28 | Screening
5:30 p.m.
* Screening of the documentary The Cost of Freedom – Refugee Journalists in Canada. More details soon!
OCTOBER 1st | Germain-Brière Conference
1 to 4 p.m.| Registration required to attend the conference.
* The war in Ukraine & international humanitarian law<https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/germain-briere-conference-2022-tickets-40590957…> – The Germain-Brière Conference is an annual conference that touches on a current legal issue. It was instituted in 2008 to honour the memory of Mr. Germain Brière, emeritus professor at the Civil Law Section where he taught for over thirty years. Join Professor Jabeur Fathally (HRREC Interim Director) and his guests: John Packer (Neuberger-Jesin Professor), Sophie Rondeau (Senior Legal Advisor IHL), Pacifique Manirakiza (Associate Professor, Common Law) and Muriel Paradelle (Associate Professor, Civil Law).
This conference is organized in partnership with the Faculty of Law, Civil Law Section at the University of Ottawa.
News
* Viviana Fernandez at the 2022 conference of AHRI in South Africa<https://www2.uottawa.ca/research-innovation/hrrec/news/viviana-fernandez-20…>
* Opinion | Mona Paré in the CBA/ABC National: Courts are not substitutes for human rights tribunals
* Congratulations to our member Adam R. Houston!<https://www2.uottawa.ca/research-innovation/hrrec/news/congratulations-memb…>
* Opinion | Professor John Packer and colleagues in The Hill Times: Five years since 2017 exodus, concrete action is needed on Rohingya refugees<https://www.hilltimes.com/2022/08/22/five-years-since-2017-exodus-concrete-…>
* Opinion | HRREC Member Ravi Malhotra and his colleague Jacqueline Moizer in the Ottawa Citizen: Let's build an accessible post-pandemic Canada<https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/malhotra-and-moizer-lets-build-an-accessi…>
* Comment | Our academic member Meredith Terretta on Canada's visa denials to African researchers in the Globe and Mail<https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-canada-faces-criticism-for-vi…>
* Blog | Our member Scott Simon in the CIPS Blog: The Legacy of Abe Shinzō<https://www.cips-cepi.ca/2022/07/11/the-legacy-of-abe-shinzo/>
* John Packer in Barcelona<https://www2.uottawa.ca/research-innovation/hrrec/news/hrrec-director-barce…>
* Jabeur Fathally appointed Director of HRREC for one year<https://www2.uottawa.ca/faculty-law/civil-law/news/jabeur-fathally-appointe…>
* 2019 Embassy of Canada in Venezuela Human Rights Award winner isited HRREC<https://www2.uottawa.ca/research-innovation/hrrec/news/2019-embassy-canada-…>
* HRREC and CONTEKST bring Arts & Human Rights to the Senate<https://www2.uottawa.ca/research-innovation/hrrec/news/hrrec-and-contekst-b…>
* HRREC hosts session with the Netherlands Ambassador for Human Rights<https://www2.uottawa.ca/research-innovation/hrrec/news/hrrec-hosts-session-…>
REACHing for a brighter future, together
For 40 years, the HRREC has brought together communities to explore and promote human rights in our complex, interconnected world. We have a vision to elevate the impact of our research, education and advocacy while adding value to national progress and global developments on human rights. We are looking to our community to help strengthen our foundation and expand our capacity.
Please take a few minutes to learn more about our vision for the future through our HRREC 40th Anniversary Appeal<https://cdp-hrc.uottawa.ca/sites/cdp-hrc.uottawa.ca/files/hrrec-credp_casef…> and consider making a gift to the Human Rights Research and Education Centre today<https://alumni.uottawa.ca/donation-form?fid=Qu4aOAYCyl4%3d&fdesc=UxeTQd0%2f…>. #CREDP40HRREC
TWITTER @uOttawaHRREC<https://twitter.com/uottawahrrec?lang=en> | FACEBOOK @uOttawaHRREC<https://www.facebook.com/uOttawaHRREC/> | LINKEDIN HRREC - Human Rights Research and Education Centre<https://ca.linkedin.com/company/human-rights-research-and-education-centre> | YOUTUBE HRREC uOttawa<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCfldcVEEMX09Yg4x5HsaTA>
Centre de recherche et d’enseignement sur les droits de la personne | Human Rights Research and Education Centre
Université d’Ottawa | University of Ottawa
Le CREDP a 40 ans (1981-2021)<https://www2.uottawa.ca/recherche-innovation/credp/a-propos/CREDP40HRREC> | HRREC is 40 (1981-2021)<https://www2.uottawa.ca/research-innovation/hrrec/about/CREDP40HRREC>
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