September 2022 Newsletter
The Anti-Oppression Educators Collective (AOEC) is a provincial specialist association dedicated to challenging systemic oppression in education.
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ARE YOU A MEMBER OF AOEC?
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Dear friends!
As we launch into the 2022/2023 school year, we wanted to take this opportunity to invite you to officially become a member of AOEC by registering here. Our organization is member-driven and your commitment to us allows us to continue to do the work that reaches across schools, communities and globally.
What are some other reasons to join AOEC?
1. Become an activist for social responsibility through an anti-oppression framework
2. Receive opportunities for professional development and networking
3. Gain further access to information and resources concerning our profession
4. Participate in an annual interactive conference centered on unlearning colonial structures
5. Join a growing network of amazing teachers with like-minded concerns about social justice
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2022 ANNUAL PSA DAY CONFERENCE IS BACK IN-PERSON!
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The Anti-Oppression Educators Collective presents the 2022 PSA Conference "Talk Back: From Outdated to Liberated". Rooted in anti-oppressive and abolitionist principles, this conference promises a day of deep learning that will provide educators and activists with the necessary skills, resources, and community to disrupt systems of oppression and carcerality in their daily lives. Beginning with a powerful youth panel, participants will have the opportunity to listen to the voices of those most adversely affected by oppressive education policies and practices. With a wide variety of workshop options, participants will be sure to find a session that promotes personal and professional growth, and inspires collective action to challenge the inequities we face in our classrooms and broader community.
To learn more and register, click HERE! Your registration fee will include a selection of over 20+ workshops, catered lunch, a 'swag' bag full of goodies, and an annual AOEC membership!
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AOEC Retreat:
Land-based learning on the unceded Nlaka’pamux territory
By Preet Lidder
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Last month, the AOEC Executive Committee had the honour and privilege to kick off our 2-day retreat with land-based learning on the unceded Nlaka’pamux territory.
We are grateful for the welcome by Hromtik’en Kwakosen, Kukpi7 James Hobart, chief of Spô’zêm First Nation, gateway to the Nlaka’pamux territories of the Lower Fraser Canyon in BC. Chief James graciously shared teachings and stories about the resilience of the people and land and the ongoing struggles for land back. Particularly at a site referred to as Lot 1B – the site of the former Alexandra Road House.
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We learned that this site is of deep cultural and historical importance to Spuzzum First Nation including but not limited to a cemetery that includes the grave of Gladys, a member of the Nlaka’pamux Nation who attended Kamloops Residential School and whose story is central in the BCTF teacher classroom resource: Gladys We Never Knew: the life of a child in a BC residential school. AOEC visited and paid respect to Gladys' grave alongside her nieces, Gail Stromquist, Assistant director for Aboriginal Education at BCTF, Janet Stromquist workshop facilitators and nephew Carl Stromquist artist and Spuzzum First Nation member.
To learn more about the ongoing push to return this sacred land to the Nation, please read the full letter of support by the Union of BC Indian Chiefs here.
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Alongside our learning journey were BCTF workshop facilitators: Carol Arnold, Cheryl Carlson and Brian Coleman. Thank you for being part of this special day which included visiting the site of the 1926 Alexandra Bridge Restoration Project.
AOEC spent the second day of our retreat, drawing on our learning on the land as we delved into rewriting our Constitution & Bylaws and imagining and re-imaging the role of AOEC in the future. We also had a wonderful time relaxing and building stronger bonds with one another as we prepare for another year of anti-oppression work.
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This past year has seen an increased surge of anti-trans state legislation focused on K-12 educators and education across the United States - and some of the hateful discourse also exists in Canada as well. In this panel discussion, speakers will talk about on-the-ground efforts focused on resisting the effects of these proposed bills and signed laws, as well as ways all educators can support and advocate for trans rights. You can register for this online event here.
Panellists:
- Nora, Founder, Texas Trans Futures
- Alexandria Ramírez, Senior Manager, Consulting for TNTP
- Harper Keenan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy at the University of British Columbia & Founder, Trans Educators Network
Moderator:
- Z Nicolazzo, Associate Professor of Trans* Studies in Education, Center for the Study of Higher Education, University of Arizona
This event will be held on 4 October 2022 from 4:00 – 5:30pm PST via Zoom.
Questions about this event can be directed to Z Nicolazzo (znicolaz@arizona.edu).
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Appeal:
Educators’ Call for the Regularisation of Undocumented Migrants, Status for All, and “Education for All”
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As you may know, plans are afoot in the federal government to create a regularization program (which would give permanent resident status to undocumented people). This is happening as a result of migrant organizing. Now it's a question of how many of the estimated 500,000 undocumented people in Canada will be included. Further changes to protect migrant farmworkers, students, and refugees are also on the horizon.
This open letter from educators calls on the federal and provincial governments to regularization all undocumented people without exception and ensure permanent resident status for all 1.7 million migrants.
We need as many educators as possible to sign it quickly by filling out this form.
Please sign it and pass it on to colleagues who you think will quickly sign this letter.
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Find out where you can join the Canada-wide Day of Action on Sunday, Sept 18th by clicking the image above!
In Vancouver, a rally will be held at Grandview Park on Commercial Drive at 2:30 PM!
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The far-right is trying to stack school boards in Canada.
Here is a backgrounder and tools you can use to confront and prevent hate during the upcoming elections.
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Confronting and preventing hate in Canadian schools involves more than just intervening when we see it being spread by youth and staff members. We need to pay attention to the people being elected to positions of power as trustees in our local school boards.
The folks at the Canadian Anti-Hate Network have put together the background and tools you need to confront and prevent hate during the upcoming elections.
Read more here.
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Every person has the right to be free from discrimination whether they are renting or buying a place to live, or participating as a member of a group like a strata or a housing co-op. Check out this interactive session and learn about your rights and responsibilities as they relate to housing.
Registration can be found here.
By the end of this free 90-minute introductory session from BC's Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, participants will be able to:
- situate B.C.’s Human Rights Code within other human rights laws
- recognize terms used in the B.C. human rights system
- identify discrimination under B.C.’s Human Rights Code
- recognize what protected personal characteristics can be used to make human rights complaints
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