Webinars from Decol 2020 + 2022

Kaikōrero: Professor Derek Griffith, Professor Chandra Ford Ringa Hāpai: Professor Jennifer Curtin Professor Derek Griffith states the need for us to envision the improved future we want to create by being clear and concrete about exactly what we’re talking about. Social justice is about opportunities and outcomes, ultimately it’s about outcomes because its essentially not equity if it doesn’t produce equal outcomes. This can mean treating people differently because not all people are the same. Griffith outlines many different facets of structural racism and emphasises that simply addressing structural racism does not make a society well, we also have to create the conditions for health and wellbeing by perpetuating positive values and building from indigenous strengths; highlighting the importance of connections between people ‘whanaungatanga’. He explains 4 ways to create structural change: Mitigate, Resist, Undo, and Create. Professor Chandra Ford states that for racism to persist it must evolve. She provides definitions of race and ethnicity as social constructs and describes how these emerge in place; from historical, societal and ancestral elements. Ford illustrates that ‘race’ is not only used to define minority populations but also ‘whiteness’, where the ability to exercise citizenship is the defining characteristic. Racial relations are maintained by a hegemonic system where values are accorded to sub-populations relative to one other and maintained in such a way that these hierarchies remain fixed. In closing comments Griffith suggests that we might counter the anti-equity brigade with a softening of the heart rather than a factual argument; engaging the arts to create space for people to grapple with things that they are holding on to that we know are fundamentally untrue. Ford focuses on the need for us to tell our own stories, providing counter narratives that speak back to society and respond to assumptions. In fact it is these stories policy makers want to hear, they want to hear about lived experiences. Derek Griffith's book Racism: Science & Tools for the Public Health Professional: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/book/10.2105/9780875533049 This webinar was recorded on Sunday 27th March during the Te Tiriti-based Futures & Anti-racism 2022 online conference held 19-28 March 2022, in Aotearoa New Zealand. Website: https://www.tiritibasedfutures.info/ Transcript: Join the conversation in our Facebook group: http://bitly.com/decol2020

Kaikōrero: Colleen Tuuta, Professor Meihana Durie Ringa Hāpai: Glen Bennett Colleen and Meihana share their experiences of the fight for Māori representation and decision making power within the Manawatū and New Plymouth District Councils. They emphasise that this is not simply about Māori Wards but about 200 years of oppression and under representation. They identify a rise of blatantly racist, anti Te Tiriti, anti Māori voices coming up to next year’s election, echoing what underlies the raupatu of the 1800s, and state that every one of us must do whatever we can to stop this. They state the importance of rangatahi being involved so that they can contribute their unique power, messages and perspectives, alongside the power of kaumatua in their prime! The role of mainstream media as an agent of white supremacist delusion to colonise and recolonise is illustrated. Tangata Tiriti are reminded of their roles, obligations and responsibilities. The power of whakapapa, whanaungatanga and kotahitanga are centred and collectively focused on the ultimate goal of true Te Tiriti partnership in the hope that mokopuna will not have to carry the taumahatanga of the impacts of colonisation that have been carried by their elders for the past 200 years. This webinar was recorded on Saturday 26th March during the Te Tiriti-based Futures & Anti-racism 2022 online conference held 19-28 March 2022, in Aotearoa New Zealand. Website: https://www.tiritibasedfutures.info/ Transcript: Join the conversation in our Facebook group: http://bitly.com/decol2020

Kaikōrero: Professor Yin Paradies Ringa Hāpai: Grant Berghan Dr. Yin Paradies is an Aboriginal-Asian-Anglo Australian of the Wakaya people from the Gulf of Carpentaria. He is Professor of Race Relations at Deakin University, where he conducts research on racism and anti-racism as well as teaching and researching Indigenous knowledges and decoloniality. Yin is an anarchist radical scholar and ecological activist who is committed to understanding and interrupting the devastating impacts of modern societies. He seeks meaningful mutuality of becoming and embodied kinship with all life through transformed ways of knowing, being and doing that are grounded in wisdom, humility, respect and generosity. Yin discusses his article Unsettling truths: modernity, (de-)coloniality and Indigenous futures (2020) stating that the unsustainable devastations of contemporary culture have left only radical futures ahead of us. He suggests that we relinquish debt, property, institutions and nation states on a path towards decoloniality that includes land-based re-localisation, revitalised communalism and embodied kinship with all life. Necessitating an Indigenisation in which we collectively embrace fundamentally transformed relationships of mutuality to bring about flourishing egalitarian societies. Link for article: https://www.neweconomy.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Paradies_Yin_Unsettling-truths-modernity-de-coloniality-and-Indigenous-futures.pdf This webinar was recorded on Thursday 24th March during the Te Tiriti-based Futures & Anti-racism 2022 online conference held 19-28 March 2022, in Aotearoa New Zealand. Website: https://www.tiritibasedfutures.info/ Transcript: Join the conversation in our Facebook group: http://bitly.com/decol2020

Gender and decolonisation in Africa Tuesday 22 March 7pm - 8pm Kaikōrero: Professor Elelwani Ramugondo, Professor Eddah Mutua Ringa Hāpai: Sam Patel Rural Women Decolonizing Knowledge: The Case of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya: Wangari Maathai’s reference to Kenya’s rural women as “foresters without a diploma” challenges the Western and modern scientific “systemic sidelining of knowledge from Africa”. Edduh Mutua uses Maathai’s rhetoric to illustrate ways that the Green Belt Movement became a site for transformative legacy of rural women as custodians of local knowledge. Centring African languages to decolonise curricula in health sciences: Whereas both IsiXhosa and Afrikaans have long been part of undergraduate learning and teaching in Health Sciences degrees at the University of Cape Town, the teaching of IsiXhosa has been found to be inadequate. Furthermore, both at University of Cape Town and within academia broadly, there has never been a focus on African languages as cultural capital for learning within professional health sciences degrees, as legitimate tools for scholarship and scientific research, and a resource for communication on health matters. Black students and staff often feel disconnected from their communities as they progress in the academy. Upward mobility often means lesser use of African languages and the ability to link acquired disciplinary knowledge with communities. Meaningful decolonisation of curricula requires direct engagement with communities based on issues that concern them. Professor Elelwani Ramugondo shares their story of a project based at University of Cape Town, focussed on centering African languages to decolonise curricula. This webinar was recorded on Tuesday 22nd March during the Te Tiriti-based Futures & Anti-racism 2022 online conference held 19-28 March 2022, in Aotearoa New Zealand. Website: https://www.tiritibasedfutures.info/ Transcript: Join the conversation in our Facebook group: http://bitly.com/decol2020

Kaikōrero: Emalani Case, Lewis Williams Ringa Hāpai: Kassie Hartendorp Lewis Williams and Emalani Case talk about Indigenous activism in place. Using their own lives and experiences in various locations—both having lived away from their Indigenous homelands—they reflect on positionality and about what it means to protect their worlds while at home and while away from home. Drawing on practice-focused work and research that is intimately tied to community and focused on Indigenous resilience and persistence, they discuss how maintaining connection and nurturing wairua is the anchor for protective and political action for the planet. Lewis Williams’ books are available on her website: http://kalewiswilliams.com This webinar was recorded on Sunday 27th March during the Te Tiriti-based Futures & Anti-racism 2022 online conference held 19-28 March 2022, in Aotearoa New Zealand. Website: https://www.tiritibasedfutures.info/ Transcript: Join the conversation in our Facebook group: http://bitly.com/decol2020

Kaikōrero: Ned Fletcher Ringa Hāpai: Professor David Williams Ned Fletcher addresses the meaning of the English text or draft of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to those who had a hand in framing it. He argues that the English and Māori texts of the Treaty reconcile. The basis of British sovereignty was the Treaty. The purpose of British intervention in New Zealand in 1840 was to establish government over British settlers, for the protection of Māori. British settlement was to be promoted only to the extent that Māori protection was not compromised. Māori tribal government and custom were to be maintained. There was to be plurality in government and law. Māori were recognised as full owners all of their lands, whether or not occupied they occupied them, according to custom. His book on the subject can be found here: https://www.bwb.co.nz/books/the-english-text-of-the-treaty-of-waitangi/ This webinar was recorded on Saturday 26th March during the Te Tiriti-based Futures & Anti-racism 2022 online conference held 19-28 March 2022, in Aotearoa New Zealand. Website: https://www.tiritibasedfutures.info/ Transcript: Join the conversation in our Facebook group: http://bitly.com/decol2020