2 responses to “UBC supports art experience with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra”

  1. It was good in terms of education through arts. the lens was very Eurocentric though which doesn’t really facilitate Truth and Reconciliation forward movement that Canada sets out in it’s goals on the political and educational front. It is still teaching students a very Canadian embedded narrative, which continues stories of division. I think that the point in terms of how “Canada” came to be was reached successfully through the eyes of the explorers and the residents of Canada now. But, many people do not have that stance and/or choose not to have that stance so it is excluding when we need to be moving toward inclusivity. The point I think is missing is that, Aboriginal people of Canada are not here to become part of the Nation of Canada and lucky for it, rather Canadians are here to be a part of the land and nations here. It’s like the bullies on the school yard that act like the bullied are lucky they are including them in their part of the field. It’s still an abusive relationship with undertones of epistemic racism/racism of sameness. When they wrongfully call the Okanagan welcome song the national anthem of the Syilx people and then end the performance saying and here’s YOUR National Anthem, it really overtakes and amplifies the dominance of the Nation of Canada. It was cute, artistic, and historically based. But really missed the mark on what we need to be teaching the kids now.

  2. What is important to emphasize is that the curricular conversation has only been initiated—tentatively for sure. But, fostering the efforts of educators and students to enter into re-storying understandings of Canadian history entails much learning and re-learning for all of us. The project as a whole has provided opportunities to do so and the critical and creative thinking that has been generated will be pursued over the next few years. Continuing to converse and extending the conversation is key, in order to enlarge and deepen the conversation already underway with École Glenmore Elementary students and educators.

    Margaret Macintyre Latta
    Karen Ragoonaden
    Kelly Hanson
    Rosemary Thomson
    Rhonda Draper