Anti-Oppression Education Program
The program lead, Yahlnaaw, identifies as a Skidegate Haida, queer, transgender woman. Yahlnaaw is wearing her button blanket with two Ravens, a moon, and a cedar woven hat to her graduation ceremony on Lheidli T'enneh Territory.
Equity and Human Rights collaborates with the entire UVic community to combat oppression. EQHR’s Anti-oppression Education Program addresses the intersectional societal and systemic attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate oppression.
Education and creating change is a shared responsibility. Anti-oppression work should not be done solely by those who have been negatively impacted by systemic barriers. EQHR’s Anti-oppression Education Program calls on all UVic community members to engage in anti-oppression action-based frameworks to effectively change systemic attitudes and practices. Start now.
EQHR’s Anti-oppression Education Program is now a 5-part series:
- Kil Daagwiiyaay – “Strong Voice”: Rematriation as Resistance
- Kil KaahlGalangdal – “Hear Someone’s Voice Before You See Them”: Anti-Oppression Key Principles, Knowledges, and Equity-Focused Action-Based Frameworks
- Gaayinxal – “Come Closer on a Boat”: Deconstructing Colonial Power Structures
- MaahlGa Sdiihlga GawGa – “Returning Missing Seeds”: Reclaiming Indigenous Power Structures
- Xidsii, K’iiwaat’as, Tlay.yad – “Under, Over, Everywhere”: Centering 2LSGBTQIA+ Knowledges in Anti-Oppression Work
These training sessions will be offered once every semester for faculty, staff, students, and community members on Learning Central. Sessions are best completed in order but can be completed as stand-alone sessions. For community members external to UVic, please sign up by emailing Amy at eqhr@uvic.ca.
Explore Learning Central and register for courses
If you would like to register your group or unit independently, please contact Yahlnaaw, Indigenous Rights and Anti-Racism Officer at iraro@uvic.ca.
Recommended Actions
The Equity Action Plan acknowledges present barriers to equity on campus and provides targeted actions—with accountability to leaders in the work—to meet our commitments to meet our equity and belonging goals on campus for all marginalized communities. Consider reviewing the reflection and action guides tailored for UVic students, employees, educators, researchers and campus leaders to get ideas on how you can support our shared goals.
The Office of Student Life (OSL) offers to students an Anti-Racism Grant to address racism and engage anti-racism strategies. You can apply for the grant or find more information at OSL Grants.
The Learning and Teaching Support and Innovation Office (LTSI) offers an Anti-Racism Initiative Grant to engage faculty and staff to embed anti-racist practices in teaching and learning with a focus to improve the student experience.
Review UVic Libraries' guide on Anti-racism and Anti-oppression to access more learning resources.