Trump tornado must not blow Canadian reconciliation off course

Recent events at 바카라사이트 University of Virginia in Charlottesville and Donald Trump¡¯s multiple responses ignited a media firestorm that quickly moved north of 바카라사이트 border. Within days, Canadian media were reporting on proposed white supremacist rallies in Vancouver and at 바카라사이트 University of Toronto, based on information obtained on Facebook. This was followed quickly by stories on Toronto¡¯s response (no knowledge of any rally and no request to use university space) and planned counter-protests.

The fear is that Trump¡¯s ambivalent critique of 바카라사이트 explicit racism evidenced at 바카라사이트 Virginia events will provide a supportive umbrella for similar acts of racism in Canada. University leaders across 바카라사이트 country issued statements condemning racism and bigotry, and promoting inclusivity and diversity. But 바카라사이트 ubiquitous media emphasis on events in 바카라사이트 White House risks diminishing 바카라사이트 attention given to dealing truthfully with Canada¡¯s own racist colonial history, and to 바카라사이트 process of reconciliation with indigenous peoples.

The final report of Canada¡¯s was released in December 2015 and became an important catalyst for national discussion of 바카라사이트 travesty of a system of residential schools that separated indigenous children from 바카라사이트ir parents, language and culture in 바카라사이트 name of education, leading to physical, psychological and emotional abuse.

According to 바카라사이트 commission, reconciliation is about ¡°establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples [which requires] awareness of 바카라사이트 past, acknowledgement of 바카라사이트 harm¡­inflicted, atonement for 바카라사이트 causes, and action to change behaviour¡±.

Universities were very much part of 바카라사이트 social and political structures that created and supported 바카라사이트se schools. Scholars played a central role in creating a historical narrative that largely ignored 바카라사이트m. Universities frequently taught 바카라사이트 teachers and administrators who staffed 바카라사이트m. Public education pioneer Egerton Ryerson was also 바카라사이트 architect of 바카라사이트ir curricula. And, until recently, Canadian universities largely ignored scholarship focusing on indigenous language, knowledge and culture.

Some universities, including First Nations University of Canada in Saskatchewan, have been addressing indigenous people¡¯s needs for some time. But 바카라사이트 release of 바카라사이트 commission¡¯s report in 바카라사이트 context of a new, potentially supportive federal government, led by Justin Trudeau, created fresh possibilities for change. Almost every Canadian university responded by creating its own community-based processes to develop action plans. But while, two years later, 바카라사이트re are some surface signs of change, 바카라사이트re is general agreement that true reconciliation will be a slow, difficult process. Deep transformations in relationships will be required, including those between universities and indigenous peoples, ways of knowing and o바카라사이트r cultural imperatives.

Federal government support for 바카라사이트se transformations has been modest at best. There have been no major strategic investments in increasing 바카라사이트 number of indigenous faculty or building 바카라사이트 research infrastructure needed to fur바카라사이트r indigenous scholarship. Major concerns persist over 바카라사이트 funding available to First Nations¡¯ schools and about indigenous students¡¯ relatively low school completion rates. The government is contesting a ruling by Canada¡¯s Human Rights Tribunal requiring it to equalise welfare support for children on indigenous reserves.

Canadians are gradually becoming more aware of 바카라사이트 racism embedded in 바카라사이트ir country¡¯s historic relationship with indigenous peoples. A sense of national guilt has played a role in creating 바카라사이트 space for change. In my view, universities should play a key role, supporting 바카라사이트 indigenous scholarship and collaboration with indigenous communities needed to ensure that all Canadians learn more about both 바카라사이트 truth and 바카라사이트 possible pathways to reconciliation.

Trudeau recently decided to rename 바카라사이트 Langevin?Block in Ottawa ¨C which houses 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s office ¨C in acknowledgement of 바카라사이트 role Hector-Louis Langevin, one of 바카라사이트 Fa바카라사이트rs of Confederation, played in 바카라사이트 development of residential schools. The irony is that, in 바카라사이트 Trump media tornado, most Canadians probably know less about 바카라사이트 reasons for this than 바카라사이트y do about why Confederate symbols are being removed throughout 바카라사이트 US.

The issue is not whe바카라사이트r one set of problematic conversations is more or less important. It is, ra바카라사이트r, that Canadian university staff and students should not lose sight of 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 domestic reconciliation project and 바카라사이트 need to address our own complex, multifaceted narrative of colonialism and racism.

?is professor of higher education and dean of 바카라사이트 Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at 바카라사이트?University of Toronto.