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The past year has demonstrated that we still have a long way to go in dealing with racist sentiments and actions. Our neighbours to the south are one year into a presidency that has proven to have many racist overtones that promoted a rise in racist actions. Sadly, here in Canada we too still have a lot to learn. Racist posters and pamphlets continue to be distributed on university campuses and in certain cities and towns with some of the white nationalists having the gall to argue for their free speech rights as they go up against hate laws. Canadian Senator Lynn Beyak posted on her website that First Nations people should become Canadian citizens and trade in their status cards and in March 2017 she said an “abundance of good” had come from residential schools. A UN report on racism in Canada has validated the experiences of many black Canadians and strongly advocates for systemic changes to fix what continues to be an issue in Canada. The UN working group’s recommendations include an apology for slavery as well as creation of a federal department of African-Canadian affairs. They also include changes to the criminal justice system. Not all recent stories are bleak. There are still Good Samaritans willing to step forward when they see racist actions being directed at fellow Canadians as was demonstrated on the Skytrain recently when Jake Taylor intervened on behalf of Noor Fadel.

The BCTF EC is also recommending the following Solidarity Statement Against Islamophobia to the 2018 AGM to further our solidarity with those being persecuted. Solidarity Statement Against Islamophobia 1. The Federation opposes anti-Muslim discrimination, violence, and oppression. 2. The Federation supports schools that are welcoming and supportive to students, families, and

colleagues from all countries. 3. The Federation will demonstrate a commitment to challenge Islamophobia and ensure our schools

are safe for all people regardless of their background. 4. The Federation will demonstrate a commitment through resources and workshops to support

teachers in challenging Islamophobia and promoting a diverse, inclusive and just society. 5. The Federation understands that authentic connection to others is the best inoculation against the

fear and alienation that lead youth towards Islamophobic attitudes and actions.

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The Antiracism Action Group of CASJ is pleased to relaunch the updated Show

Racism the Red Card resource booklet. Teachers and students are

invited to take an active role in learning more about the detrimental effects of

racism and how to move towards systemic change. The BCTF is also

continuing its relationship with the Whitecaps Football Club (WCFC), one of our Advantage partners. The club also subscribes to the Show Racism the Red

Card initiative and is sponsoring an artwork contest for teachers and their classrooms across the province. Please

see the contest poster for details.

During International Women’s Week, March 4 to 10 and International Women’s Day, on March 8, check out the Educator’s toolkit on the Status of Women International Women’s Day webpage. The Status of Women webpage features lessons and resources to use on these dates, including the International Women’s Day Timeline poster, available in English and French, and the International Women’s Day Lesson Plan.

March 16 is Bottled Water Free Day. The BCTF Environmental Justice Action Group’s Bottled Water poster can be used in classrooms to examine the negative impacts of relying on bottled water. Cette affiche est disponible en français. There is also a Bottled Water Lesson Plan available. March 22, World Water Day, focuses on the crisis faced by the over 663 million people around the world who have limited or no access to safe water. Have your class take a closer look at the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal that targets 2030 as the deadline for providing universal access to safe water. Download a factsheet to help focus on this year’s theme, waste water, on the World Water Day website.

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Intermediate teachers can try out the Core Competencies Lesson 1 from the new Climate Change Heroes posters and lesson plans developed by the Environmental Justice Action Group. This lesson examines the amount of water people may waste while brushing their teeth.

March 21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination kicks off the Week of Solidarity with People Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination (March 21–27). Check out the BCTF Antiracism Action Group webpages for resources to use throughout the week, including the newly revised Show Racism the Red Card resource. The UN’s International Decade for People of African Descent recognizes that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected. Many resources are available on the website.

March 31 is the Transgender Day of Visibility. Supporting Transgender and Transexual Students in K-12 Schools is a useful resource from the Canadian Teachers Federation as is Safe and Caring Schools for Two Spirit Youth from the Two Spirit Circle Education Society and Alberta Teachers’ Association. Visit the BCTF LGBTQ resources webpage for links to more resources that will help make schools more inclusive for trans students.

Islamophobia resources are posted on the BCTF Islamophobia webpage. These resources are appropriate for a variety of grade levels and include videos, lesson plans, news articles, reports, and contact information for a help line.

The Beyond the Barriers: March 21 poster is available with other posters and stickers on the Antiracism Poster Resources page. To order hard copies of these and other antiracism resources, email socialjustice@bctf.ca, including the number and exact name of the items needed and the mailing address.

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These examples of poster resources can be found under the posters tap. Shown here are the Timeline of Racism in Canada, Different Colours One Team, and the Silence Promotes Racism posters with lesson plans on the back.

Please visit the BCTF Social Justice Antiracism tabs to access many useful tools and resources for you classroom.

Incorporating Antiracist Education into BC’s Revised Curriculum. This workshop looks at privilege in society and how the legacy of our colonial past has shaped our present. It provides some youth perspectives on racism in schools, and explores strategies to recognize and eliminate racism in society, classrooms, schools, and community.

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Responding to Discrimination in the Workplace and the Classroom This skills-based Antidiscrimination Response Training workshop is a powerful, practical way to promote awareness, and empathy, and to develop the skills to effectively respond to discriminatory remarks and incidents of racism, sexism, and homophobia in the classroom and the workplace.

Assertive Communication This workshop teaches the key principles of communication by exploring the differences between passive, aggressive, and assertive communication styles. Participants will develop skills through a variety of exercises, role play, and practice, in order to effectively communicate in their classroom, schools, union work, or personal lives.

Strategies for Discussing Controversial Issues Discussing controversial issues with students is an important part of social justice, the inquiry process, and building the skills for students to become active, engaged, and critically-minded democratic citizens. This workshop provides practical classroom strategies to discuss controversial issues in a respectful manner.

*Please note that the very popular Bafa Bafa workshop will return next year as we are currently reviewing this workshop.

To request these or other social justice workshops for a school-based, local, or regional professional development day or School Union Representative Training (SURT) day, click on the Book this Workshop link below the workshop description on the BCTF Social Justice and Global Education Workshops page.

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Shoring Up Rights in a Turbulent Time—Amnesty International’s 2018 Human Rights Agenda for Canada “By any measure, 2017 was a particularly tough year for human rights, marked by violent turmoil and hate-filled divisiveness around the world. Against that troubling backdrop Amnesty International’s 2018 Human Rights Agenda for Canada assesses the federal government’s domestic and global efforts to uphold and protect human rights over the past year; and lays out recommendations for law reform, policy initiatives and concrete action to protect human rights in 2018.”

Fresh Voices is an initiative of the Vancouver Foundation and the BC Representative for Children and Youth that provides opportunities for refugee and immigrant youth across the

province to voice their concerns around barriers limiting their full inclusion as equal members of society. Through forums and consultations, youth from these communities developed a list of recommendations that were published in the Community Forum Report and Recommendations. Making schools more inclusive for refugee and immigrant youth is a key focus of these recommendations.

Did you know that SFU has a Centre for the Comparative Study of Muslim Societies and Culture established to encourage the academic discussion and public understanding of the cultures and societies of Muslim peoples in the past and present? For more information, visit the website.

Islamophobia Legal Assistance Hotline 604-343-3828

We are a group of lawyers and legal organizations in Vancouver who have come together to provide our support to Muslims or those perceived to be Muslims in BC who have been or could be the subject of discrimination and attacks. We want those who have suffered from these various forms of discrimination because of their faith and/or racial background to know that there are lawyers in BC who are committed to assisting with the difficult task of holding those who commit such acts to account by our legal institutions. Free confidential legal advice if you feel that you have been discriminated against, harassed, or faced violence because you are Muslim or are perceived to be Muslim.

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The BCTF Equity and Inclusion webpage includes resources to raise awareness of different forms of oppression and support for the development of more inclusive spaces.

Please see the resources under the Visible Minorities section on the Raising Awareness webpage. Here is an example of what you will find: Why Colour Blindness will NOT End Racism

Please see the resources under the Visible Minorities section on the Delving Deeper webpage. Here is an example of what you will find: Out in the open: Black in Canada vs the U.S.

There are still funds available for Ed May Social Responsibility Grants and Local Social Justice Grants for the 2017–18 school year. For more information, see the Social Justice Grants and Funds page. Congratulations to grant recipients. Look for articles describing the outcomes of the projects carried out using these funds in future editions of the Seeds Newsletter.

Todd Patrick

Assistant Director of Social Justice BC Teachers' Federation

100-550 West 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4P2 604-871-2283 Toll free: 1-800-663-9163 local 2283

tpatrick@bctf.ca

TP:tsu/mho:tfeu