An Evening on Cuban-Canadian encounters through music, art, politics and more with Karen Dubinsky and Jorge Nállim
October 29, 2025
Centre for Human Rights Research
On October 24, 2025, the CHRR, in collaboration with McNally Robinson Booksellers and the UM Institute for the Humanities hosted historians Karen Dubinsky and Jorge Nállim for an evening on Cuban-Canadian encounters through music, art, politics and more at the Atrium in McNally Robsinson Booksellers – Grant Park. This evening included a reading from Dubinsky’s latest book, Strangely, Friends: A History of Cuban-Canadian Encounters (Between the Lines Books) and a Q&A with the audience, followed by a book signing. Watch a recording of the book launch below.
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November 04, 2025
Universal Human Rights: The case for strengthened domestic implementation in Canada with Alex Neve
In collaboration with the Masters of Human Rights (MHR) program, the Centre for Human Rights Research (CHRR) will be hosting Alex Neve for a lecture titled Universal Human Rights: The case for strengthened domestic implementation in Canada.
The event will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 2:00 pm in 108 St. John’s College, University of Manitoba. For information on getting to the University of Manitoba, see: https://umanitoba.ca/about-um/our-campuses/getting-here
This is a free event. No registration is required.
About the lecture:
There is a tendency, certainly on the part of governments, to downplay the relevance of international human rights obligations within Canada. The norms are instead primarily seen as being applicable to other countries and therefore part of our foreign policy. As a result, the domestic framework for implementing those obligations by federal, provincial and territorial governments is notoriously ineffective. Alex Neve will consider the implications of that “implementation gap” and why Canada’s international human rights obligations can and must be taken seriously.
In collaboration with:
About the Presenter
Alex Neve is a renowned human rights advocate and the former Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada. He has a Masters of International Human Rights Law, With Distinction, from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom and a Bachelor of Laws Degree from Dalhousie University in Canada.
Alex is presently an adjunct professor teaching in the area of international human rights with the law faculties at the University of Ottawa and Dalhousie University, a Senior Fellow at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, and a Fellow with the Atlantic Human Rights Centre at St. Thomas University. He is a Barrister and Solicitor, and member of the Law Society of Ontario. Since June 2022 he has been serving as a Commissioner with the Ottawa People’s Commission on the Convoy Occupation.
He has worked extensively for Amnesty International in Canada and globally in a number of different roles. He has served as a Member of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board; worked at the Centre for Refugee Studies at York University in Toronto, Canada; been a visiting professor at Osgoode Hall Law School at York University; practiced as a lawyer, primarily in the area of refugee law, in private practice and as staff lawyer with a community legal aid clinic; and was a member of the inaugural staff team that established the Sojourn House shelter for refugee claimants.
Alex has honorary Doctorate of Laws Degrees from the University of New Brunswick, University of Waterloo and St. Thomas University in Canada. He has served as a Trudeau Foundation Mentor and has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Alex is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
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Becoming Kin: A Discussion with Patty Krawec
Becoming Kin: A Discussion with Patty Krawec
October 4, 2024
Patty Krawec
On October 4th, 2024, the Centre for Human Rights Research (CHRR) and Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture (CCWOC) welcomed Anishinaabe-Ukrainian writer Patty Krawec to discuss her book Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future (Broadleaf Books).
Patty weaves her story with broader themes of settler colonialism, Indigenous survival, and Indigenous thriving in Canada and the United States. She argues that Indigenous kinship systems can help everyone imagine and move toward a just, livable future for all. She examines the idea that we live in relationships and considers how we might live as good relatives by taking the lead from Indigenous peoples and philosophies.
This event was funded through CHRR’s Outreach and Events Support Initiative, which was made possible by the University of Manitoba’s Strategic Initiative Fund.
A Discussion on Indigenous Water (In)Security – HWISE-RCN
A Discussion on Indigenous Water (In)Security - HWISE-RCN
April 2022
HWISE-RCN
With the Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) – Research Coordination Network (RCN), Dr. Nicole Wilson chaired a panel discussion in April 2022 on the many complexities of water (in)security for Indigenous peoples. Panelists engaged with the ways that water (in)security is (re)produced by jurisdictional and regulatory injustices and the broader political and economic asymmetries created by settler-colonial water governance. They also explored the distinct understandings of security and well-being that flow from Indigenous relationships to water as a living entity and the ways they shape desirable water futures. View the discussion below.
My Body, My Choice, Our Struggle: A Conversation on Reproductive Justice
My Body, My Choice, Our Struggle: A Conversation on Reproductive Justice
February 28, 2025
Angela Ciceron
On Thursday, February 6th 2025, the Centre for Human Rights Research and the International Human Rights Clinic at the University of Manitoba hosted a webinar titled “My Body, My Choice, Our Struggle: A Conversation on Reproductive Justice.”
Focusing on the struggles and movements for reproductive justice, this panel discussion featured Kemlin Nembhard (Women’s Health Clinic); Jacquie Nicholson (Feminist AF Marching Band), Harlie Pruder (Northern Reproductive Justice Network), and Linda Taylor (Founding Board of Directors of Women’s Health Clinic).
Pride in Health 2024: Two Spirit History and Health — Graphic Recording
Pride in Health 2024: Two Spirit History and Health -- Graphic Recording
October 25, 2024
Miranda Maslany, Drawing Change
As part of Pride and Health 2024, we were honoured to host a panel on Two Spirit History and Health with Elders Albert McLeod and Charlotte Nolin. Elders Nolin and McLeod shared the history of Two Spirit and how that identity intersects with the health and healthcare needs of Two Spirit people. This panel, moderated by Community Health Sciences graduate student Danielle Hart, provided an opportunity for Two Spirit teachings to be shared, and centers the Two Spirit experience with healthcare, which is fraught with homophobia/transphobia in addition to racism.
This panel was held on the land colonially called Winnipeg, where Two Spirit was gifted to Elder Myra Laramee in a dream, 34 years ago in 1990. The gift of Two Spirit was introduced in 1990 at the third annual international LGBT Native American gathering in Winnipeg.
This event is funded in part by 2SLGBTQIA+ History Month Canada, the University of Manitoba Office of Equity Transformation.
A graphic recording of the Conversation was created by Miranda Maslany from Drawing Change.
The British Empire & the Culture War: When Colonial History Becomes Politics with Prof. Alan Lester
The British Empire & the Culture War: When Colonial History Becomes Politics with Prof. Alan Lester
December 11, 2024
Prof. Alan Lester
On Wednesday, December 11th at 2:00 pm, the Centre for Human Rights Research welcomed Prof. Alan Lester from the University of Sussex for a lecture on “The British Empire & The Culture War: When Colonial History Becomes Politics.”
Alan Lester is Professor of Historical Geography at the University of Sussex. He has held visiting lectureships at Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare, an Erskine Fellowship at the University of Canterbury and an inaugural fellowship in humanities at La Trobe University. He has also been Research Professor (Historical Studies) at La Trobe. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the co-editor of the Manchester University Press Studies in Imperialism series. Alan’s most recent edited collection The Truth About Empire: Real Histories of British Colonialism features a chapter by CHRR Director Dr. Adele Perry, CHRR Research Affiliate Dr. Sean Carleton, and CarletonU’s Dr. Omeasoo Wahpasiw titled “The Misuse of Indigenous and Canadian History in Colonialism.”
Pride in Health 2024 Drag Show – Graphic Recording
Pride in Health 2024 Drag Show - Graphic Recording
November 21, 2024
Miranda Maslany, Drawing Change
In October 2024, the Centre for Human Rights Research (CHRR) supported and co-coordinated the inaugural Pride in Health conference with the Queer and Trans Graduate Student Group (QTGSG). Pride in Health is an interdisciplinary health research conference focused on the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. This year, the conference was held on October 24 and 25. The first day of the conference was held on the Fort Garry Campus, and the second day was held on the Bannatyne campus.
On the second day of the conference, a drag show was held featuring Orion Sbelt, Special K, Skirt Browning, and Vida Lamour to celebrate the 2SLQBTQIA+ community in Manitoba and beyond. The drag show was coordinated with Synonym Art Consultation. A graphic recording of the drag show was created by Miranda Maslany from Drawing Change.
Resisting Anti-Queer and Anti-Trans Hate: Lessons from 1970s Toronto with Dr. Tom Hooper
Resisting Anti-Queer and Anti-Trans Hate: Lessons from 1970s Toronto with Dr. Tom Hooper
October 31, 2024
Angela Ciceron
On Friday, October 11, 2024, the CHRR supported the 2SLGBTQ+ Histories Series at the University of Manitoba for a lecture with Dr. Tom Hooper from the Department of Equity Studies in York University who spoke on “Resisting Anti-Queer and Anti-Trans Hate: Lessons from 1970s Toronto”.
About the lecture:
In January 1978 anti-Queer and anti-Trans activist Anita Bryant brought her “Save Our Children” campaign to Toronto. The previous year Bryant had organized against a Miami-Dade, Florida ordinance that protected against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Bryant’s central argument was that this ordinance protected Queer and Trans people from discrimination in employment, including teachers and others who worked with children. The campaign to define Queer and Trans people as a threat to children worked, the Miami-Dade ordinance was repealed. Bryant was emboldened and embarked on a cross-continent campaign that also included a brief time Canada. Queer and Trans communities resisted these campaigns with various tactics. In this presentation I argue that studying our communities’ resistance to Anita Bryant could be useful as our communities rally to resist anti-Queer and anti-Trans hate today.
An Evening with Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel & Sean Carleton (When the Pine Needles Fall)
An Evening with Katsi'tsakwas Ellen Gabriel & Sean Carleton (When the Pine Needles Fall)
October 30, 2024
Katsi'tsakwas Ellen Gabriel, Sean Carleton, and Kiera Ladner
On Wednesday, October 2, 2024, the Centre for Human Rights Research (CHRR) and McNally Robinson Booksellers hosted Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel and Dr. Sean Carleton for a special evening to discuss their new book, When the Pine Needles Fall: Indigenous Acts of Resistance (Between the Lines). The event was hosted by CHRR Research Affiliate Dr. Kiera Ladner.
On When the Pine Needles Fall:
There have been many things written about Canada’s violent siege of Kanehsatà:ke and Kahnawà:ke in the summer of 1990, but When the Pine Needles Fall: Indigenous Acts of Resistance is the first book from the perspective of Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel, who was the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) spokesperson during the siege. When the Pine Needles Fall, written in a conversational style by Gabriel with historian Sean Carleton, offers an intimate look at Gabriel’s life leading up to the 1990 siege, her experiences as spokesperson for her community, and her work since then as an Indigenous land defender, human rights activist, and feminist leader. Gabriel’s hopes for a decolonial future make clear why protecting Indigenous homelands is vital not only for the survival of Indigenous peoples, but for all who live on this planet.
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