AGM & Symposium 2021
Event Summary
Centering Reconciliation & Decolonization in the International Cooperation Sector - Beginning September 21-24, 2021
Event Details
Centering Reconciliation & Decolonization in the International Cooperation Sector- Beginning September 21-24, 2021
About this event
OCIC’s Annual General Meeting & Symposium
This year OCIC’s AGM & Symposium and Fall Dialogue Series focusing on ‘Centering Reconciliation and Decolonization in the International Cooperation Sector’ will begin September 21-24, 2021. Taken as a whole, these events will create space to unlearn and relearn, to build capacity as a community, and to recognize the complex and diverse histories, lived experience and systemic power relations experienced at the individual, community, sectoral, regional and global levels. Our AGM will include presentations from our Board of Directors and management on the governance and programs past and upcoming, election of new Board members, ratification of new members, and recognition of key volunteers and contributors to the Council in the past year.
These events also seek to build on the recommendations for ‘Emerging Anti-Racist Practise for Canadian International Cooperation’, 2. Create an enabling environment for productive dialogue within organizations; and 3. Collaborate with international partners in the design, development and implementation of new approaches.
We recognize and thank our members and partners for helping to identify and co-create this program. More details, speaker bios, relevant links or readings and dialogue session registration will be shared in early September. Registration for AGM & Symposium sessions is now open, here.
*Content Warning: Please note that some sessions may deal with difficult content, including the unjust treatment of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, racial discrimination and violence, systemic injustice, sexual harassment and/or violence, and the disproportionate effects of inequality. This content, while necessary to discuss, may demand (significant) emotional labour, distress, or trigger participants. We will make all efforts to warn participants of potentially triggering or disturbing discussions, topics, or conversations during sessions, and also encourage participants to guide their own engagement according to their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Participants are also encouraged to seek additional support from a medical/mental health professional to process their feelings and thoughts in a safe space.
September 21, 2021
Welcome & Symposium Overview
1:00 PM – 1:20 PM ET
A Year of Anti-Racist Cooperation: Where We’ve Gotten, Where We’re Going
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM ET
About a year ago, an informal advisory group convened by Cooperation Canada launched a set of sector-wide consultations to co-develop an anti-racism framework, developed by the sector for the sector. The official framework was launched in January 2021, with 71 signatories providing their surveys and in this way helping a group of sector volunteers produce the first baseline report on anti-racism. The baseline report is now live, helping to inform sector-wide initiatives that are being put in place, as well as inspire organizations to trigger their institutional processes of anti-racist change. This session will provide an overview of lessons learned along the way and offer space for signatory organizations to share their experiences so far.
September 22, 2021
OCIC Annual General Meeting
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM ET
OCIC’s Annual General Meeting will include presentations from our Board of Directors and management on the governance and programs past and upcoming, election of new Board members, ratification of new members, and recognition of key volunteers and contributors to the Council in the past year. Join us for an opportunity to learn about and contribute to our work as a collective!
September 23, 2021
Decolonizing Knowledge: Strengthening Academic-CSO Partnerships Through Community-based Approaches
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
This session will discuss the importance of decolonizing knowledge, drawing upon perspectives, experiences and current research and policy collaborations from panelists working to strengthen academic-CSO partnerships, collaboration and community-based and informed research.
Authentic partnerships with Indigenous Peoples in Canada and Latin America
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET
Canadian Feed The Children invites you to a moderated panel with a focus on sharing experiences, best practices, and learning for authentic partnerships that work towards reconciliation and decolonization. Panelists will share knowledge and experiences from multiple perspectives. A panelist based in Canada will share experiences as a member of a First Nation leading programs in their own community. A leader of a First Nation organization in Canada will discuss their work towards reconciliation in Canada, and how they are supporting Indigenous-led development internationally. A panel member from Bolivia will bring the perspective of a Bolivian organization working with multiple Indigenous communities and with international partnerships.
Canadian Feed The Children takes a community-led approach to development, by working through local partners to help people achieve long-term change for children, families and communities. They focus on food security and education as catalysts of change, and capacity-building that ensures sustainability.
September 24th, 2021
Connecting for Change: Intersections and Opportunities for Leaving No One Behind
10:00-11:30 am EST
Join the Kawartha World Issues Centre for thought provoking presentations on how we connect global issues to local initiatives through an intersectional, decolonial lens. Speakers will present their work on localizing the Sustainable Development Goals through the principles of ‘leaving no one behind’, and centering Indigenous Leadership through community education partnerships and engaging youth in schools. They will also share their work on the Equity Index Project and Black Art Archive to help create a shared understanding of ‘racial equity’ in administrations.
KWIC is a community-based global education centre working in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough since 1989. They connect people to global issues and local initiatives that change how we understand the world and foster equitable and sustainable communities.
All events will be held online with Zoom. Closed captions in English will be available at all sessions.
