The challenges that face society are numerous and complex.
In a time when misinformation and misunderstanding are proliferating, in a province where deep social divides have been exposed, we must work together to cultivate understanding and bridge the divide.
As Saskatchewanians, Canadians, and as global citizens, we need to act on the responsibilities that come with our citizenship. We need to learn about the issues that matter and initiate brave conversations that will have a positive impact in our schools, our workplaces, and our communities.
Since 2014, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission has been hosting its Courageous Conversation Speaker Series. This series was designed to explore issues afflicting our society within a human rights context. Issues pertaining to:
- Racial Discrimination
- Indigenous Cultures and Awareness
- Gender
- Mental Health and Addictions
- Disability, and
- The Holocaust
These six topics were designated as cornerstones of the Courageous Conversation Speaker Series making them more visible and accessible for discussion and action. An understanding of these issues is foundational to the development of a full understanding of what it means to be a responsible, respectful, and participatory citizen committed to justice and equality in a pluralistic Canadian democracy.
With so much at stake, silence is not an option.
The Commission remains committed to holding Courageous Conversations.Where there is division and misunderstanding, it is the Commission’s goal to bring people together to engage in authentic, meaningful, and sustaining dialogue.
2018
Angela Bishop and Doug Cuthand
Angela Bishop and Doug Cuthand
December 6, 2018Angela Bishop and Doug Cuthand visited the Commission to discuss Indigenous experience in rural Saskatchewan. Angela and Doug were featured on CBC’s The Current, and give a unique and informed perspective to the issues facing our province.
Dr. Fatima Coovadia
Dr. Fatima Coovadia
November 22, 2018Dr. Coovadia's talk — "Wearing Many Hijabs: my Canadian Journey" — explored life under Apartheid, immigration, identity, faith, and the experience of being a Muslim during the rise of Islamophobia.
Dr. Alaa Murabit
Dr. Alaa Murabit
October 11, 2018Dr. Murabit regaled the audience at Quance Theatre with her Courageous Conversation titled "Getting Women at the Table: A fireside chat with Dr. Alaa Murabit." Her talk explored the need for gender equality and the importance of female political involvment in today's world.
Betty Ann Adam
Betty Ann Adam
September 27, 2018Betty Ann Adam stopped by the Commission to have a Courageous Conversation about her experience with the Sixties Scoop. Her talk also examined other critical issues facing Indigenous people in today's society.
Adrian Piccoli and Andy Hargreaves
Adrian Piccoli and Andy Hargreaves
August 28, 2018Former Australian Minister for Education, Adrian Piccoli stopped by the Commission while professor Andy Hargreaves of Boston College video-conferenced in to discuss citizenship education and democracy.
Paul Seesequasis
Paul Seesequasis
June 28, 2018Paul Seesequasis visited the Commission to talk about Indigenous history and to share his Indigenous Archival Photo Protect with those in attendance.
Eugene Arcand and Nate Leipciger
Eugene Arcand and Nate Leipciger
June 4, 2018Residential school survivor, Eugene Arcand, and Holocaust survivor, Nate Leipciger, spoke with more than 200 students about their past experiences and their hopes for the future. The Courageous Conversation was held Saskatoon's Cathedral of the Holy Family.
KAIROS Blanket Exercise
KAIROS Blanket Exercise
May 15, 2018Commission staff and other invitees partook in a unique, interactive and participatory history lesson developed in collaboration with Indigenous Elders, knowledge keepers and educators. The event took place at the Gathercole Auditorium in Saskatoon.
Women Entrepreneurs and Innovation
Women Entrepreneurs and Innovation
March 26 + 27, 2018Clare Beckton, Founding Executive Director of the Carleton University Centre for Women in Politics and Public Leadership, and Janice McDonald, founder of the Beacon Agency and award-winning serial entrepreneur, were keynote speakers in town to discuss gender and how female entrepreneurs are driving innovation in Canada.
Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann
Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann
March 22, 2018Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann, the Vice-Provost of Indigenous Engagment at University of Saskatchewan, visited the Commission to discusss Indigenization, Reconciliation and decolonization processes, policies and programming at the U of S.
Angela Davis
Angela Davis
March 8, 2018Civil rights activist, scholar, author and women’s rights advocate, Angela Davis led a Courageous Conversation about gender, class, and race at the Riddell Theatre at the University of Regina. The Commission helped sponsor the event, which was hosted by the University of Regina Women's Action Group and the University of Regina Women's Centre to celebrate International Women's Day 2018.
Eric Howe
Eric Howe
March 8, 2018Eric Howe, a Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Saskatchewan held a Courageous Conversation at the Commission titled “Indigenous Issues and Demographics: an Investment in Saskatchewan’s Future Prosperity."
2017
Dr. Erika Dyck
Dr. Erika Dyck
December 7, 2017Dr. Erika Dyck, a Professor at the University of Saskatchewan and a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in the History of Medicine, visited the Commission to talk about disability, mental illness and the legacy of eugenics in Canada.
Faye Davis
Faye Davis
November 15, 2017Faye Davis, Executive Director of the Saskatoon Sexual Assault and Information Centre, spoke to the Commission about sexual assault and the criminal justice system in Canada.