The board of Algoma University Students' Union voted unanimously today against endorsing or sanctioning any Canada 150-related events on campus or elsewhere in the city.
"We do not want this on our campus," said AUSU president Bushra Asghar.
"We refuse to celebrate nationalistic attitudes in a space and location that has caused such an immense degree of violence for the indigenous peoples of our communities," Asghar said, referring to the university's past as a residential school.
Universities Canada, representing 97 Canadian universities and university colleges, is pushing for activities celebrating Canada's 150th birthday on all its campuses.
But Asghar insists Algoma University is different, with a formal mission to "cultivate cross-cultural learning between aboriginal communities and other communities."
AUSU represents Algoma University's 1,000 full-time and 300 part-time students.
Asghar said the decision to reject Canada 150 activities resulted from a campaign launched by Quinn Meawasige and other members of the community economic and social development class.
"We're in solidarity with the indigenous students who attend this institution," Asghar tells SooToday.
"Our university is constantly talking about decolonising academia, or indigenising academia. How are we actually doing that? We can't be doing that by continuing to perpetuate colonial thinking."
"We've seen how violent our governments can be and how they continue to act in ways that are very colonial. So how are we supporting our indigenous students?"
"The student union made that decision being aware of the violence that can be caused to indigenous learners in our spaces."
"The Canadian government's spending that much money on literally a day, and nationalism, when they could be investing in education and indigenous students."
Celia Ross, the university's acting president, commended the students, describing their decision in this way: "As a university that was formerly a residential school, our approach to this year should be one of thoughtful reflection and debate, marking the occasion but not celebrating it."
"It's a very thoughtful approach that they're taking and I congratulate them on it," Ross said.
"We never planned a full-out celebration or marking of Canada 150. We've taken it rather quietly at Algoma."
The following are listed on Algoma University's website as upcoming or ongoing Canada 150 events:
- Modelled after the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.’s Canada Reads program, Algoma Reads is offered "as part of the university’s celebration of and critical engagement with Canada’s 150th anniversary." Participants are encouraged to read the Canada Read’s five-novel shortlist, and then engage in group discussions and five public talks featuring prominent literary figures
- On Wednesday, July 19 at 7:30 p.m., international concert pianist Jan Lisiecki will perform a Canada 150 solo piano recital at Sault Community Theatre Centre
- Summer camp programs will run throughout July and August. "Camp participants will celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday by taking part in exciting activities and celebrations in the region," the university's website says. "There are so many places to see, people to meet and ways to earn how Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma District help shaped Canada"
Acting president Ross downplayed the connection of some events to Canada 150, indicating they'd been promoted that way simply because they're taking place in 2017.
