Expectations

A few weeks ago, Canada's History Society invited me to speak about inclusive history at the Governor General's symposium (as part of the GG's history awards festivities this year in Winnipeg).  I was really surprised to be invited to speak because I am not a historian, I am not a history professor or researcher, and I am not specifically a history teacher.  

And then I found out I was going to be the only teacher on the panel.  Surprise turned to anxiety because not only would I be talking to the GG, historians, academics, museum curators, and authors, I was going to be speaking in front of this year's winners of the GG teacher awards. I realized that I could not speak on behalf of all teachers and especially the winners, but I could focus on the little things I do with my elementary classes. 

And then my wife (who was coming with me) showed me that our Governor General, Mary Simon, likes to have these kinds of talks in a circle. I confirmed this with Joanna Dawson, the amazing director of Canada's History, who was the person who invited me to speak at this symposium. No big table at the front? No slides? No Powerpoint? No visuals?  What?!  You just want me to talk? Nooooooo!  I don't like presenting at the best of times, but to do so without my crutches was unthinkable.  By this time though, I could not back out.  The plane tickets and hotel room were booked and paid for, and I had already committed to go. Winnipeg, ready or not (me), here we come.

The night before the symposium, there was a big gala for the history award winners and the amazing young winners of the school heritage fairs. Toward the end of the evening, I was introduced to another person who was going to be on the symposium panel. Despite giving off this aura of gravitas and greatness, she expressed how confused she was to be invited to speak. "Me too!" I said with great shared relief.  Then I made the mistake of asking her why she thought she was invited, and she said, "Well, I did start Black History Month in Canada." I was talking to Rosemary Sadlier who literally wrote the book on Black History in Canada. I think the only reason she was confused was because she had just been on a life-changing trip in Asia, then had been named to the NHL foundation, and was still living out of her suitcase.  We had a great chat and some laughs. For a powerhouse of a person, she was so warm and funny.  

The next day was the symposium.  The panel speakers arrived early at Convocation Hall at the University of Winnipeg.  Sure enough, the panel's chairs were in a circle with the chairs of the Governor General and the moderator (the charming Sophie Gaulin), at the top of the circle.  This year's award winners sat behind the GG and Sophie.  After Mary Simon arrived, the symposium began.  The panel was really engaging.  They talked from their perspectives about how Canada's history could be more inclusive and why learning history helps us lead a better life.   

For my part, I talked about how I try to use history to give my students a sense of identity and empathy.  For identity, we make personal timelines to see what are the important events we choose to remember, and how these events stack up to give us a sense of who was are and where we have come from.  For empathy, I talked about how I use the Scottish Story Wall technique to simulate different communities and replay histories in an immersive way.  Because I could not show pictures or slides, I brought samples of houses, belongings, and the people students had made during the Landscapes of Injustice (Japanese Canadian history of dispossession) lessons. Not having a table or a bulletin board, I had some of my fellow panel participants hold up my student samples as I showed how the avatars moved between different simulated sites. I explained that by having students make, do, think and feel, they get a broad beginning understanding to some fairly complex historical and human concepts.

The Governor General posted pictures on her X/Twitter site.  One of them was when I was presenting.  You can see us having our discussion in the round.  (It was actually a very personal, intimate way to have the discussion, even with an audience surrounding us.)

Me holding the green folder

I love this shot because if you zoom in, you can see the reactions of the audience:  

In this shot, there are the award-winning teachers, professors, historians, museum curators, CHS board members, and moderator Sophie (in the yellow shirt), and they are leaning in and smiling because they are touched by the work my young students can do.  There are similar reactions around the room (including my new friend Zachariah who went to school in my district who happened to be at the U of W researching internments).    

During our discussion, there were so many wonderful thoughts, initiatives and ideas in terms of "Fostering Understanding and Empathy through Inclusive History" (the title of the symposium).   I think Jonathan Lainey from the McCord Stewart Museum in Montreal summed it up best when he brought up the idea of "making space" for diverse voices, from across Canada, with different backgrounds and experiences.  

In this case, even 8 year-olds and their teacher.  


*******
Thank you to Her Excellency, Mary Simon, for hosting the symposium. 

Thank you to Canada's History Society, especially the wonderful Joanna Dawson (and her Dream Team of Brooke, Kylie, and Jean-Phillipe) for inviting me and making arrangements for me to be there.

Thanks to Carla Peck for recommending me.

It was nice to see my old friends, Jennifer, Nancy, and Connie, and meet my new friends, Rosemary, Melony, Sophie, Cathy, and Chantal.

Thank you to the incredibly friendly city of Winnipeg, especially the random lady who kindly offered for us to walk under her umbrella with her.  (You'd think Vancouverites would have an umbrella, but we just have our avocado-toast resistant yoga wear).  

And congratulations to the GG History award winners!  You are all doing amazing work that engages students and the Canadian people with history in new and exciting ways.  I was blown away with your work!