Intersectional Caucus on February 27 and 28, 2021 from 12 to 6 PM. This free online conference was designed to uplift the voices of marginalized individuals across Northern Ontario while educating diverse audiences. With a total of eight panel discussions, the Northern Caucus was developed to provide a safe space and a much needed platform for the voices of educators, scholars, activists, artists, students, and more.

Each panel will be approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes long and participants will have the opportunity to ask questions to the panelists. A moderator will be guiding the discussion and will be monitoring the audience questions.

All panel discussions will include sign language interpreters provided by the Canadian Hearing Services. Francophone participants are encouraged to attend as there will be opportunities to ask questions in french for certain panels.

Individuals wanting to take part in this event can register through the links below. Registered participants will be sent a digital conference booklet prior to the event. The conference schedule will be as follows:

Saturday February 27

12:00 – 1:15 PM: Defund, Decolonize, Dismantle: Policing Marginalized Communities

Tune in for a discussion on Black Lives Matters’ most renowned and contentious demand of defunding the police. Learn from experts on the institutional persecution of marginalized communities at the hands of police, and how they anticipate a future in which law enforcement is defunded, decolonized, and dismantled. 

This panel discussion will have ASL interpreters provided by the Canadian Hearing Services. 

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1:30 – 2:45 PM: Racism-Free by 2023: Anti- Racism Activism in the North

Racism-Free by 2023 features activists of colour from across Northern Ontario. This panel will discuss their work in social justice and how their respective organizations hope to flip the script on racism, oppression and discrimination in Northern communities.

This panel discussion will have ASL interpreters provided by the Canadian Hearing Services. French interpreter will be available to facilitate questions in chat.

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3:00 – 4:15 PM: Let Me Be Perfectly Queer: The Northern Queer Experience

Being queer in Northern Ontario comes with many challenges; isolation, lack of services. Our panelists will address the specific issues that come with living in rural and remote Northern Communities and how from a BLM perspective those issues can be addressed. 

This panel discussion will have ASL interpreters provided by the Canadian Hearing Services. French interpreter will be available to facilitate questions in chat.

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4:30 – 5:45 PM: Naadmaadwin: Black and Indigenous Solidarity

When people come together healing happens which is where Naadmaadwin, roughly translated to the place of helping, came from.This panel highlights the importance and longstanding history of Black and Indigenous solidarity. Tune in for a captivating conversation on how these communities support one another and advocate for systemic change, reform and reparations across Turtle Island.

This panel discussion will have ASL interpreters provided by the Canadian Hearing Services. 

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Sunday February 28

12:00 – 1:15 PM: Neo-Fascism: The Rise of Modern Fascism in Northern Communities

Fascism, white supremacy, and racial hatred have always been a part of Canadian identity. But in recent years, Canada has seen a significant rise in the mainstreaming of extremist voices and racist conversations. Join experts in the discussion of how modern fascism has altered the lives of Northern communities, particularly the lived experiences of marginalized individuals.

This panel discussion will have ASL interpreters provided by the Canadian Hearing Services.  

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1:30 – 2:45 PM: “Parce qu’on vient de loin” : Panel Francophone Sur L’Immigration

They come from diverse settings and backgrounds. Some of them arrived just a few years ago, others have been here over 20 years.  Most of them are multilingual. But they have two things in common: they are Black or People of Color and they have either had to learn or are in the process of learning English, a language they need in order to fully participate in Sudburian life. Tune in to learn about their experiences as francophone Black and People of color and the challenges they have faced as they settled into Northern Ontario.

This panel discussion will have LSQ interpreters provided by the Canadian Hearing Services. English interpreter will be available to facilitate questions in chat.

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3:00 – 4:15 PM: Blackademia: Surviving in Higher Education

Join local Blackademics in a conversation surrounding racism and discrimination in our educational institutions. Tune in for a vibrant discussion in which Black academics share their lived experience and learn how they have paved the way for aspiring scholars of colour.

This panel discussion will have ASL interpreters provided by the Canadian Hearing Services. French interpreter will be available to facilitate questions in chat.

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4:30 – 5:45 PM: Here to Stay: The Birth of Black Lives Matter Sudbury

In the final Caucus event, join the entire board of Black Lives Matter Sudbury to recount the birth of their organization. Panellists will discuss the impact of BLMS thus far in the Greater Sudbury Area and how they anticipate the growth and change of the group in the coming years. 

This panel discussion will have ASL interpreters provided by the Canadian Hearing Services. French interpreter will be available to facilitate questions in chat.

Register Now

Thank you to our sponsors: