Decolonizing Collaboration Learning Series - White Noise: Unveiling Cultural Norms

How do we strengthen collaboration? How do we tackle the big, complex issues we are all facing?

We believe that we must first come into right relationship with ourselves and each other. We see a way forward that involves deep work to establish a Network culture that is very much about building genuinely respectful, reciprocal relationships between people who are committed to change by decolonizing the ways we work.

Decolonizing requires us to closely examine or “unpack” the ideas or concepts in the process of colonization in Saskatchewan and around the world. ‘Whiteness’ is deeply embedded into the process of colonization. The construction of “whiteness as superior” continues to negatively impact our minds, our bodies, our psyches, our spirits and our emotions as well as the land, the water, the sky and the air we breathe. This way of being tells us who has value, who doesn't, what has value, what doesn't in ways that reinforce a racial hierarchy of power and control.

Decolonizing collaboration requires exploration of how implicit biases and colonial conditioning shape our relationships and engagement styles—unpacking our ‘white as superior’ cultural beliefs, followed by actively constructing safeguards, accountability tools, and tangible antidotes. Understanding white privilege is a vital step that can direct our efforts to develop systemic change.

Through a trauma-informed, anti-racist lens, we will explore how whiteness influences and impacts collaboration within a Saskatchewan context. Exploring whiteness helps us look at the value that is assigned to and endorsed by aligning with the dominant culture. We will reflect on the dominant cultural norms that influence and impact us daily.

This three session learning series will be delivered online. Active participation will set the foundations for a personal exploration and reflection on our participation in the values and ideals of whiteness and white supremacy culture. Through this work, we will offer experiential learning and dialogue to uncover how whiteness and white supremacy culture impact each of us within the constructs of professionalism and work ethic.

This course is for people who want to deepen their personal and organizational commitments to decolonization. We welcome anyone from a broad range of disciplines including community development, health, social work, policing, economic development, housing, culture, recreation, sports and government.

This virtual learning series offers a certificate of completion. Participants are required to attend all 3 sessions.

Session Leaders: Becky Sasakamoose Kuffner and Lorie Harrison Visit our website to learn more about them!

Hosted by STOPS to Violence

Happening on Thursdays from 1-2:30 pm


Two session options:

November 21, 28, December 5 - 2024 (visit our events page to register for these dates)
OR
January 30, February 6, 13 - 2025 (current registration).