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March 21 marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

This annual occasion recognizes historical and ongoing injustices and prejudices fueled by racial discrimination. In Canada, Indigenous peoples, racially marginalized people, and marginalized religious communities face racism and discrimination regularly. Institutions such as universities are inextricably linked to Canada’s colonial legacy, with racial inequities manifested through policies, practices and culture.

We underscore UM’s fundamental commitments to anti-racism and social justice, outlined in MomentUM: Leading Change Together, UM’s 2024-2029 strategic plan. This includes a call to work together to dismantle systemic racism, to advance Reconciliation for transformative change, and to foster a vibrant community for all.

UM’s Anti-Racism Task Force, established in 2022, gathered voices from across our campuses, while building on decades of community anti-racist activism at UM. It recommended areas for immediate action focused on education, policies and processes, and aimed at eliminating all forms of racism across all areas and levels of the institution.

“This work is not only important; it’s essential.” - President Michael Benarroch

The learning journey on racism and anti-racism

To advance these foundational commitments, UM is providing meaningful learning and engagement for students, staff, and faculty at various stages of their learning journeys about racism and anti-racism.

UM’s Anti-Racism Learning Frameworkhttps://umanitoba.ca/equity-transformation/anti-racism#um-anti-racism-learning-framework outlines an educational pathway to guide us as a community and individually as we work to dismantle racism in all its forms and to foster a vibrant community for all. The Anti-Racism Learning Framework supports and complements the Truth and Reconciliation Framework: Time for Actionhttps://umanitoba.ca/about-um/um-truth-and-reconciliation-framework.

The Anti-Racism Learning Framework is responsive and flexible. It seeks to increase visibility for the many learning opportunities on racism and anti-racism organised by units, groups, and individuals across UM campuses. It also highlights centrally-organised workshops, events, and series with a racial justice lens including the Public Classroom initiative, Indigenous Scholars Series, Indigenous Summer Institute, Fireside Chats, and Data Justice Series.

Starting in April 2025, the framework will include shared foundational learning delivered through annual Anti-Racism Training, as mandated for all public employees by the Manitoba provincial government. We look forward to sharing more information about this course in the coming month.

“A truly great university is one where every person, from every background, feels safe, valued, and supported to contribute and to thrive. Our commitment to anti-racism is a commitment to action, to accountability, and to building a stronger, more inclusive UM.” - President Michael Benarroch

Motivation and experience into action

We each have our own experiences with different racisms that inform and spur us to promote anti-racist work at UM. We invite you to watch the videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bHTpYvYrpE for more about our motivation for this work — and its vital significance to our community.

We invite you to join us in the ongoing learning journey for anti-racism and the collective work of dismantling racisms at UM. Join the work of fostering a vibrant community, advancing reconciliation for transformative change, and building a stronger, more inclusive UM for all.

Sincerely,

Angie Bruce, Vice-President (Indigenous)

Tina Chen, Vice-Provost (Equity)