[csaa-forum] VU Seminar on Canadian reconciliation, Wednesday 3 July

[Tom Clark]

Reconciliation, democracy and the challenges for Indigenous-settler engagement

Ravi de Costa, York University
Chair Karen Jackson, Moondani Balluk
& discussant Tom Clark, Victoria University

Abstract:
A major difficulty for the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been in engaging the "mainstream", a task that forms one part of its mandate for reconciliation. Initial interest and media coverage has now subsided and notwithstanding considerable effort, its critical work of reexamining the injustice of Indian Residential Schools is now largely taking place without non-Indigenous Canada "witnessing" its efforts. Could this have been different? And if so, how? These questions shape an essential policy task for reconciliation and the TRC in particular: how to create social and cultural conditions that would prevent such injustice from happening again. In three parts, this paper takes up this discussion, first considering recent debates about deliberative and agonistic democracy and the public sphere, in light of the structure of the TRC as a primarily discursive institution. It then considers the work of the TRC since its relaunch in 2009. Finally, it draws on an ongoing series of focus groups with non-Indigenous peoples that explore how identity and belonging affect attitudes to colonial injustice and willingness to engage with Indigenous peoples in respectful ways.

Details:
3.30pm, Wednesday 3 July
Victoria University, Melbourne
Footscray Park campus, Room A432.

Community, Identity & Displacement Research Network Seminars
More details: http://communityidentity.com.au/?page_id=2327
Contact: CIDRN at VU.edu.au


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Dr Tom Clark
College of the Arts
Victoria University
PO Box 14428
Melbourne    8001
AUSTRALIA

tom.clark at vu.edu.au<mailto:tom.clark at vu.edu.au>
Tel. +61 (0)3 9919 2196
Fax. +61 (0)3 9919 2699
Mob. +61 (0)432 754 238

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