Friday, April 16

Towards Shaping an Ethical Artistic Community

EMILY SQUIRES, SADIE RED WING, MELANIE HOPE

Melanie Hope will share the principle and priority of Ontario College of Art and Design University's (OCAD U) Academic Plan. The first principle is decolonization. The art and design disciplines historically and contemporaneously perpetuate structures of colonialism. The first step is to acknowledge these colonial practices that have manipulated design education and alienated communities and cultures. This involves “shifting our thinking around curriculum, how it is structured and how it has come to be." The first priority of OCAD U’s Academic Plan is Indigenous learning (Nothing about us without us). Such an aspiration brings lived experience to the forefront and ensures that Indigenous people are engaged in decision making within the university. This creates a space that builds mutual respect, establishes a level of trust that supports open dialogue, welcomes diversity and equity, and ultimately benefit the students.

In this presentation, Sadie Red Wing will define how designers demonstrate decolonization for Native American tribes fighting for their land treaty rights. She will give insight to the graphic designer’s role when providing identity to sovereign nations. Also, she will highlight how Native American higher education advocacy organizations are developing resources for students to practice their tribal sovereign rights.

Emily Squires will share reflections on the messiness of what she learned (and didn’t learn) in MFA graduate school alongside her ongoing experiences as a white racial justice facilitator.

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Students Roles in Shaping an Antiracist Art School Environment

ANTIRACIST CLASSROOM WITH MELISSA FERNANDEZ

The Importance of Community and Using Your Collective Voice: In this workshop, we will explore the different strategies in finding your community, holding abundant love, support and healing and sustaining your role for justice and liberation.

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What Have We Learned and Next Steps

DR. AME LAMBERT

For the last 90 minutes together, Dr. Lambert will lead the school in a facilitated discussion of what our future looks like together continuing this work.

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