In this short video, author Marlon James asks that question about our stance on racism. James presents "non-racism" as disengagement from the racist actions or words of others, and contrasts that with "anti-racism" which means engaging with the world around us to affect change with an attitude of "what hurts one of us, hurts all of us".

Cross-cultural exchange can be a powerful tool to celebrate creativity and cultural connection, and move toward healing. Spotlighting Indigenous artists and facilitating a platform for this exchange is what the Royal BC Museum has tried to do with their Living Cultures program. Their site has videos exploring the work and process of local Indigenous artists, as well as a facilitator's guide for other organizations that might want to pursue similar projects.

Indigenous women and girls are five times more likely to experience violence than other populations in Canada. That harsh reality is in part what the Moosehide campaign is aiming to shine a light on, and engage men and boys in the work of addressing all domestic and gender-based violence. Getting involved in campaigns such as the Moosehide campaign is one of the ways that people can step into the "growth zone" of advocacy for change. Schools and community organizations will be holding events on May 12th to acknowledge the day and build awareness around this issue. Indigenous women and girls are five times more likely to experience violence than any other population in Canada and this violence tends to result in more serious harm.

Talking to children about racism can be difficult. It can be hard to find age-appropriate ways to convey a challenging topic, and as parents we can feel poorly equipped to discuss such a complex topic. However, evidence suggests having conversations about racism and discrimination early is important.

The linked article from UNICEF highlights the importance of modelling actions that challenge racism, include others, and demonstrate kindness to all. The article also points out that “ignoring or avoiding the topic isn‘t protecting children, it‘s leaving them exposed to bias that exists wherever we live. Children who encounter racism, can be left feeling lost while trying to understand why they are being treated a certain way, which in turn can impact their long-term development and well-being.” 

Click the link on the left to read more about age-appropriate ways to discuss racism.

Talking to young children about race and racism - This PBS hub has many tips and resources for talking to children about racism - including discussion guides, advice about media, and conversation starters (note, this is an American resource).

3 Heart-mind practices for anti-racism - this resource includes things to watch, listen, read, and do together at home that can spark learning and discussion about racism in ways that are appropriate for your child's age.

We've talked about books many times in past snapshots. Their influence is incredibly powerful in shaping worldviews of our young people. Which is why representation of diversity is so crucial in the books we read with our children. The graphic above shows approximate representation levels from an American study in 2018. In that same study animals were represented in greater numbers in books than all of these above groups combined. 

Some dangers of under-representation in books is that the absence of diversity may leave some children with very narrow worldviews and biases toward people or cultures they haven't seen represented, and BIPOC or other under-represented groups may find it harder to engage with the book, so will not have as rich of a learning experience or may have a limited view of what's possible for themselves based on what they see (or don't see) in books.

The beautiful thing about books though, is that we have choices about which book we pick up or give to our children. Here are a couple of guides that can help with selecting books for younger readers:

9 Children's Books by Indigenous Authors - A list of titles curated by Métis writer Cherie Dimaline.

Parents for Diversity: Diversity Library - filter by category, theme, and age range to find the right book for your child!

The Inter-Cultural Association offers a range of services to support immigrants and refugees, and foster inclusive and welcoming spaces in the Victoria area. From their website: 

ICA began in the 1970s as a response to racism in our community and today, we continue that important work by offering wide ranging services including anti-racism programming, youth engagement, mentorship and language instruction. Our staff and volunteers offer employment, education, healthcare and housing, and transportation assistance. ICA‘s arts program helps nurture minds and souls, creating cross-cultural learning.

Click the link for some suggested resources, as well as information about their bystander intervention training and other tools for equity. 

The Resilience BC hub is intended to coordinate efforts to address racism across the province. It offers learning and support resources as well as inspirational stories about the ways that various communities and individuals in BC have taken anti-racist actions.

First Nations are sometimes mistakenly categorized as a homogenous whole, but it is important to understand the diversity that exists between and within First Nations. The First People's Map of BC uses an interactive map to display this diversity visually, by mapping out languages, Nations, and showcasing art and heritage sites from First Nations all across British Columbia.