This year our theme is (RE)Connect, (RE)Build, Rebel. We want to encourage folks new to social and environmental justice to come out and see what we’re about, as well as welcome those who are familiar and looking to learn more, share knowledge and reestablish connections.
The weekend will showcase the groups that are active in our community, raise awareness about some of the important issues we’re facing, and inspire and bring together people who want to get involved in activism and organizing. We also want to address issues of low capacity, burnout, and alienation, and to encourage people who have drifted away from these movements to come back. We will learn from each other through panels, interactive workshops, and discussions; there will also be organization booths to visit, an art room, and time for informal conversation and ad-hoc planning. The goal is for participants to come out of the symposium feeling connected, energized, and supported in the social and environmental justice work they want to be doing.
Acknowledging the land:
We acknowledge that within Guelph we are currently occupying the ancestral lands of the Attawandaron/Chonnonton, the Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples and the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit. We recognize the significance of the Dish with One Spoon Covenant to this land and offer our respect and gratitude to all of the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island who have stewarded, loved & defended this land for centuries. In stating this, we acknowledge that we are here as a result of blood that has been shed through colonization, which continues to be the lived experience of Indigenous communities across Turtle Island. Colonialism is a current ongoing process, and we need to be accountable for our present participation in that process.
We also offer our respect to all our First Nations, Métis, and Inuit neighbours as we continue our collective struggle against oppressive systems. As an organization, we strive to strengthen our relationships with all such peoples—fostering positive relationships while challenging destructive ones.
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