Social Science Indigenous Studies
Dangling in the Glimmer of Hope
Academic Action on Truth and Reconciliation
- Publisher
- Les Presses de l'Université d'Ottawa/University of Ottawa Press
- Initial publish date
- Oct 2024
- Category
- Indigenous Studies, Research, Activism & Social Justice
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9780776644660
- Publish Date
- Oct 2024
- List Price
- $41.95
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9782760344785
- Publish Date
- Nov 2024
- List Price
- $31.99
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9780776644653
- Publish Date
- Oct 2024
- List Price
- $71.95
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Where to buy it
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age: 15 to 18
- Grade: 10 to 12
Description
Embark on a transformative journey in this compelling narrative that brings together the voices of Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars at Thompson Rivers University. This book is a reference guide for the Canadian campuses’ path towards reconciliation.
Dive into the rich variety of stories that challenge and enlighten, as 14 faculty teaching in Graduate Programs in Education share their insights and experiences.
With a foreword by President Brett Fairbairn, the book sheds light on the university’s commitment to indigenization and offers a unique perspective from Garry Gottfriedson, a proud member of the Secwepemc nation.
Structured in four thought-provoking sections, each introduced with a reflective 400-word positionality statement, the book invites readers to explore the diverse facets of Indigenous identity. It showcases the creative expressions of Canadian Indigenous authors, each piece resonating with the themes of indigeneity that captivate them.
The book concludes with two powerful afterwords, weaving a narrative that is both personal and universal; the first by Garry Gottfriedson and Victoria Handford, and the second by Dorothy Christian and Janice Dick-Billy, both of whom are Elders in the Interior of British Columbia. Dangling in the Glimmer of Hope is more than literature; it’s a step forward in the collective journey of understanding and respect.
Join us in embracing this professional learning opportunity—a milestone for both Thompson Rivers University and the broader Canadian landscape.
About the authors
Gary Gottfriedson's profile page
Victoria Handford is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education and Social Work at Thompson Rivers University. She is also the Coordinator of Graduate Programs. Her research interests include school, and school district leadership, and trust.
Victoria Handford's profile page
Dorothy Cucw-la7 Christian's profile page
Georgann Cope Watson's profile page
Patricia Liu Baergen's profile page
Bernita Weinhold-Leahy's profile page
Nicholas Ng-A-Fook is a professor and director of the Teacher Education Program at the University of Ottawa.
Excerpt: Dangling in the Glimmer of Hope: Academic Action on Truth and Reconciliation (edited by Gary Gottfriedson & Victoria Handford; contributions by Dorothy Cucw-la7 Christian, Georgann Cope Watson, Sarah Ladd, Patricia Liu Baergen, Tina Matthew, Rod McCormick, Gloria Ramirez, Alfred Schaub & Bernita Weinhold-Leahy; series edited by Nicholas Ng-A-Fook & Carole Fleuret)
Dangling in the Glimmer of Hope: Academic Action on Truth and Reconciliation invites and demonstrates actions by academics in relation to some of the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). It does this in two ways. Throughout you will find poetry, short stories, and children’s stories. You will also encounter academic chapters. We hope you will find the mixing of personal and academic voices a challenge and engages you to consider what Truth—and Reconciliation—and the Calls to Action—require of each of us. These voices are used to engage both the head and the heart. Change needs the engagement of both to succeed.
The collection includes six chapters of varying styles and more than 10 poetry contributions, some of which are listed in the Table of Contents, and some of which are internal to the chapters themselves and are therefore listed only in the List of Poems. The actions that are addressed in this collection include “Language and Culture,” “Health,” Education for Reconciliation,” “Business and Reconciliation,” “Commemoration,” and “Newcomers to Canada,” notwithstanding that the cover photo itself is a poignant, emotional representation of “Missing Children and Burial Information.”
[...]
One of the aims of this book is to provoke real change. The Calls to Action, published in 2015, make it clear that colonial thinking and pandering to issues rather than addressing them must stop. To this end, we embrace the Indigenous values of all people. It is the voices of the many, aiming at change, that is going to make this country better for all. For “all” includes beginning, experienced, and expert academics. We invited all: those willing and able to invest the time and energy to learn and to, correspondingly, work. There was vulnerability for everyone in this process. By using the priorities of a university related to research and dissemination, we hope we will change the country! This work is academic, albeit also creative (ideally then—using both sides of the brain, and a level of personalization that is often not part of academic writing). It will take a total investment, including all brain capacity and emotional capacity, to do what needs to be done.
This collection is intended to be helpful, to stimulate creativity, and, most importantly, to encourage all to act according to their abilities, interests, and opportunities, on the actions demanded by the TRC Calls to Action. It may be useful in a college or university classroom. It may be useful for Indigenous communities. And it may inspire other works that expand on this concept. In the end, the goal remains the same—change. Change requires personal commitment. We hope we inspire commitment and actions.
Tk’emlúps
