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.
Water Justice is Menstruation Justice: A Conversation with Co-Resistors– Graphic Recording
Water Justice is Menstruation Justice: A Conversation with Co-Resistors-- Graphic Recording
February 20, 2025
Roxanne Balan
In February 2025 Just Waters and the Centre for Human Rights Research hosted a panel on the topic, “Water Justice is Menstruation Justice: A Conversation with Co-Resistors.” We were honored to open the event with a Water & Tobacco Ceremony with Knowledge Keepers Ramona Milliea and Bill Milliea.
Following a presentation from Veronica Brown of Moon Time Connections, a panel discussion moderated by Chrstine Cyr (University of Manitoba) and Dr. Lisa Smith (Douglas College) explored the intersection of water justice and menstruation justice in Canada. Panelists included Emma Cowman (University of Manitoba), Alicia Horton (Douglas College), and Janessa Roy (MTC).
A graphic recording of the discussion was created by Roxanne Balan.
History in the Hot Seat: Colonialism and the Knowing and Teaching of Canada’s Past – A Final Report
History in the Hot Seat: Colonialism and the Knowing and Teaching of Canada’s Past - A Final Report
2024
Hannah Belec, Katja Buchholz, Jamie Nienhuysen, Adele Perry, Sean Carleton, Jocelyn Thorpe, and Pauline Tennent
In recent years, we have witnessed a sustained questioning of how we understand, remember, and celebrate Canada’s past in light of ongoing histories of colonization, dispossession, and systemic racism. In conventional scholarly publications, grey literature, and popular media, we can see a reconsideration of Canada’s past and how it should be taught, understood, and marked within and beyond academia. This reckoning with imperial and racial pasts is global in scope but has had a particular trajectory and impact within the context of Canada. Canada’s past has been in the hot seat. The History in the Hot Seat Knowledge Synthesis project identifies and assesses the state of current English-language knowledge in Canada that has been produced since History in the Hot Seat works to provide knowledge that will be valuable for academics, public history professionals and organizations, educators and others working to develop and sustain visions of Canada’s past that recognize the role of colonization, dispossession, and systemic racism in Canada’s past.
History in the Hot Seat is part of the 2024 Knowledge Synthesis Grant Competition, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) in partnership with Canadian Heritage, Genome Canada, and UK Research Innovation’s Arts and Humanities Research Council (UKRI-AHRC). The theme of the 2024 Knowledge Synthesis Grant Competition, “Evolving Narratives of Cultures and Histories,” aims to assess and mobilize the existing knowledge on how factors such as globalization, war, colonization, racism, slavery, climate change, technology, social media, and more have shaped or changed cultural and historical narratives.
Connecting Gender and Water Justice: A Zine
Connecting Gender and Water Justice: A Zine
March 21, 2025
Just Waters
Created by the student research assistants in the Just Waters project, this zine is in commemoration of Women’s Month and World Water Day in 2025, with the aim of connecting water justice and gender equality. The pieces included in the zine were created to celebrate the role of women in protecting water systems, and to call for stronger connections between environmental and gender advocacy.
This zine features the work of the Onaman Collective, which is formed by Indigenous artists Isaac Murdoch and Christi Belcourt. These banners were created for use in actions related to water and land protection. Read more about the banners here.
The Lake St. Martin Story
March 12, 2025
Cameron Armstrong
Water control structures have disempowered and displaced First Nations, destroying livelihoods in the name of development, upholding colonial systems and perpetuating environmental racism. One such case is that of Lake St. Martin and the Lake St. Martin First Nation.
As part of the Just Waters project, student RA Cameron Armstrong wrote a plain language summary giving an account of 50+ years of artificial flooding that have impacted the Lake St. Martin First Nation in a myriad of ways, including long term evacuation. Download the resource to find out more.
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 Interconnections of Water and Menstrual Justice in Canada
The Interconnections of Water and Menstrual Justice in Canada
February 6, 2025
Emma Cowman
As part of the Just Waters project, researchers, students, and co-resistors from the University of Manitoba, Douglas College, and Moon Time Connections are coming together to explore the interconnections between water and menstrual justice in Canada. Check out this primer to learn more.
University of Manitoba Period Supply Access Map
University of Manitoba Period Supply Access Map
January 29, 2025
Centre for Human Rights Research
As a part of CHRR’s Period Poverty and Equity, On Campus and Beyond project, a list of places to access period supplies on the University of Manitoba campuses was created to help promote equitable access to period supplies for menstruating individuals at the university.
“Period Poverty and Equity, on Campus and Beyond” utilizes a menstrual justice lens to bring together faculty and staff, with students and organizations, to address period poverty (the increased economic vulnerability resulting from the financial burden posed by the need for menstrual supplies) and promote period equity.
If you know any additional places to access period supplies on the University of Manitoba campus, please contact us at chrrman@umanitoba.ca.
Fort Garry Campus
Centre for Human Rights Research, 4th Floor Robson Hall
UMSU Women’s Centre, 190 Helen Glass
Armes, Room 104 (women’s/accessible)
Armes, Room 106A (gender inclusive/ accessible)
UMSU University Centre, Room 231 (women’s/accessible)
Elizabeth Dafoe Library
Fletcher Argue Building, ASBC Health and Wellness Centre
Machray Hall, Room 204 (women’s/accessible)
Migizii Agamik (gender inclusive and women’s)
Student Wellness Centre, 162 Extended Education
Tache Arts Complex, Room 116 (gender inclusive/accessible)
Tache Arts Complex, Room 316 (gender inclusive/accessible)
Tache Arts Complex, Room 416 (gender inclusive/accessible)
Bannatyne Campus
Basic Medical Sciences, Room 228 (women’s)
Pathology, Room 307 (inclusive multi stall)
Apotex Centre (women’s)
Chown Building, 1st floor (men’s and women’s)
William Norrie Centre
History in the Hot Seat: The Teaching and Knowing of Canada’s Past
History in the Hot Seat: The Teaching and Knowing of Canada’s Past
July 18, 2024
Hannah Belec
The “History in the Hot Seat: The Teaching and Knowing of Canada’s Past” Project is part of the 2024 Knowledge Synthesis Grant Competition, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) in partnership with Canadian Heritage, Genome Canada, and UK Research Innovation’s Arts and Humanities Research Council (UKRI-AHRC). The theme of the 2024 Knowledge Synthesis Grant Competition, “Evolving Narratives of Cultures and Histories,” aims to assess and mobilize the existing knowledge on how factors such as globalization, war, colonization, racism, slavery, climate change, technology, social media, and more have shaped or changed cultural and historical narratives
Following the theme and goals of “Evolving Narratives of Cultures and Histories,” the “History in the Hot Seat” Project, in collaboration with the Centre for Human Rights Research and 101.5 UMFM, has produced a podcast series that explores what it means to learn and teach Canadian history, considering ongoing histories of colonialism and Indigenous dispossession
Episode 1
In the first episode of the “History in the Hot Seat: The Teaching and Knowing of Canada’s Past” Podcast, Dr. Adele Perry, Dr. Jarvis Brownlie, and Dr. Jocelyn Thorpe discuss the project’s objectives, outcomes, and impacts with interviewer Hannah Belec. The group also reflects on historical education and commemoration in Canada before and after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 2015 Report
About Phyllis Webstad and the Orange Shirt Society: https://orangeshirtday.org/phyllis-story/
Whitfield, Harvey Amani. North to Bondage: Loyalist Slavery in the Maritimes. UBC Press, 2016.https://search.lib.umanitoba.ca/permalink/01UMB_INST/1f1g7b3/cdi_proquest_ebookcentral_EBC5331322
Herstein, H.H., L.J. Hughes, and R.C. Kirbyson. Challenge & Survival: The History of Canada, 1970. https://search.lib.umanitoba.ca/permalink/01UMB_INST/gnigpm/alma99122656420001651
Menchú, Rigoberta and Elisabeth Burgos-Debray. I, Rigoberta Menchú: An Indian Woman in Guatemala, 1984. https://search.lib.umanitoba.ca/permalink/01UMB_INST/gnigpm/alma99118874220001651
Frankenburg, Ruth. White Women, Race Matters, 1993. https://search.lib.umanitoba.ca/permalink/01UMB_INST/1f1g7b3/cdi_proquest_ebookcentral_EBC5298946
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Volume One, Summary: Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future, 2015. https://search.lib.umanitoba.ca/permalink/01UMB_INST/gnigpm/alma99148985229201651
Episode 2
In the second episode of the “History in the Hot Seat: The Teaching and Knowing of Canada’s Past” Podcast, Métis educator and administrator Kim Dudek and interviewer Hannah Belec discuss Kim’s evolving approach to teaching social studies in Manitoba; the relationship between curriculum mandates and classroom practice; recent updates to and the shortcomings of the curriculum that addresses Canada’s history of Indigenous dispossession; the role and availability of professional development for teachers to decolonize education; the importance of student activism; and the role of administration in advancing decolonization efforts in schools.
Episode 3
In the third episode of the “History in the Hot Seat: The Teaching and Knowing of Canada’s Past” Podcast, host Hannah Belec speaks with Dr. Lindsay Gibson, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Gibson discusses his research on commemoration controversies in Canada, exploring how historical figures and events are remembered in classrooms and the challenges educators face when teaching commemoration controversies that broach sensitive topics like colonialism and racism. The conversation delves into the role of teacher education programs in addressing these issues, how commemoration aligns with Canada’s current history curricula, and the broader debates surrounding statues and public memorials. Listeners will gain insight into the complexities of teaching history in an era of evolving public attitudes and the significance of pedagogical methods, historical thinking, and technology in navigating these controversies.
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