College of the Rockies Faculty Association Presents:
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2022 – Strengthening Canada Through Education in Black History and Culture
The College of the Rockies Faculty Association (CORFA) is honoured to present a series of online events celebrating Black History Month for 2022. This is our second annual celebration of Black History Month.
We invite all members of the College of the Rockies Community to partake in these online events over February, 2022. All events have been coordinated by College of the Rockies Student Alumni Michelle Chan and will be facilitated by Michelle Chan, Sajae Jolly and alumni Raj Maru.
Black History Month is observed across Canada every February, providing an opportunity to share and learn about the experiences, contributions and achievements of peoples of African and Caribbean ancestry across Canada and beyond. Black Canadians and their communities have played a significant role in shaping Canada’s heritage and identity making it the nation we know today. A fundamental value of CORFA is solidarity and we stand with all BIPoC peoples, working towards transforming our work and learning environments into safe, thriving spaces for all.
Schedule of Events for Black History Month 2022
Two events will be hosted online via Zoom at this same Zoom link here. Please contact us via email at [email protected] with any questions. Please arrive at least 5 minutes in advance so that we may start each event on time.
- Questions? All questions can be emailed directly to [email protected]. Internal College of the Rockies employees or students may also message any questions on this event to faculty members, Amber Petersen and/or Ben Tippett via Microsoft Teams.
- Social Media! You may also follow our CORFA Black History Month Instagram page for additional resources, inspiration and updates.
Friday, February 4, 2022 @7:00 PM MST – GUEST KEYNOTE SPEAKER ALISON MCLEAN on BLACK IN THE IVORY: A FORM OF BLACK RESISTANCE
- Including introduction to Black History Month by Coordinator Michelle Chan
- Welcome messages
- Ktunaxa opening & land acknowledgment by Cheryl Casimer, Ktunaxa Nation
- Keynote Speaker Alison McLean
- Opportunity for Q&A/Discussion
- Expectation setting – Open for attendees to set intentions and hosts to present the month’s events and activities
ABOUT CHERYL CASIMER
Cheryl Casimer is a citizen of the Ktunaxa Nation and is from the community of ?aq̓am, which is located near Cranbrook in the southeastern corner of BC. Ms. Casimer is a longstanding advocate for First Nations issues and perspectives, and is committed to building better bridges of understanding between neighboring cultures.
Ms. Casimer is a former Chief and Councillor of the ?aq̓am First Nation. She was also previously employed as the Director of Treaty, Lands & Resources for the Ktunaxa Treaty Council.
Ms. Casimer has served on numerous boards and committees over the past 20 years, including one term as Co-Chair of the First Nations Summit (2002-2004) and one term as a board member of the BC Assembly of First Nations. She also previously served as a board member and President of the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Child and Family Services Society (KKCFSS).
Ms. Casimer was elected in June 2019 for a third consecutive three-year term on the First Nations Summit Political Executive, which is mandated to carry out specific tasks related to Aboriginal Title and Rights negotiations with British Columbia and Canada and other issues of common concern to First Nations in British Columbia.
ABOUT ALISON MCLEAN
Alison Mclean is a Researcher on Health Systems as well as anti-blackness and hate. She is also an educator, advocate and consultant on anti-racism, anti-oppression and the effects of colonialism through Sisonke Inc.
Her work addresses racism and equity issues using a human rights and social justice framework that takes intersectionality of identities into account. This work is done through employing the transformative concept of anti-racism whereby racism is consistently identified, described and then dismantled.
Alison also consults and facilitates culturally informed engagement and representation of Racialized and oppressed folks with large institutions and organizations.
* REGISTER HERE TO HEAR ALISON SPEAK *
Friday, February 11, 2022 @ 7:00 PM MST- GUEST KEYNOTE SPEAKER MARIAM OKWENGU on FEBRUARY AND FOREVER: CELEBRATE, NURTURE AND INTEGRATE BLACK HISTORY EVERY DAY + BLACK HISTORY MONTH ONLINE TRIVIA
- Welcome messages
- Keynote Speaker Mariam Okwengu
- Opportunity for Q&A/Discussion
- Black History Month Online Trivia
Join us as we work together to complete a Black History Month Online Trivia event PRIZES and GIVEAWAYS available!
ABOUT MARIAM OKWENGU
Mariam Okwengu is a registered dietitian, project manager and community activator who immigrated from Nairobi, Kenya and moved to British Columbia by way of Saskatchewan and Northern Manitoba.
She has spent a majority of her professional life in healthcare having worked at health authorities in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and most recently in British Columbia. Her areas of expertise include Human Nutrition, Mental Health, Health IT, Health policy and Health Equity.
Mariam believes that equity, diversity and inclusion permeates all aspects of human existence affecting the health, physical and psychological safety, comfort and basic needs of all who live in Canada. While working in the Canadian Prairies, and now in British Columbia, the importance of sharing her experiences and highlighting the richness of Canada’s diversity with the inclusion of voices such as hers have been apparent and especially important to her.
Having lived in British Columbia with her family since 2011, she is grateful. to her earned and unearned privileges as well as to the Indigenous Peoples of British Columbia for allowing her to call this beautiful place home. In her free time you will find Mariam happily walking her mini-Australian shepherd around the many hiking trails of Victoria BC while listening to an e-book or podcast.
* REGISTER HERE TO HEAR MARIAM SPEAK *
JOIN US FOR AN EXCITING TRIVIA & WIN PRIZES FROM LOCAL CRANBROOK BUSINESSES !
Saturday, February 19, 2022 @ 1 :00 PM MST -In-Person Event- Luncheon
*REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS REQUIRED HERE FOR ADMISSION*
- Luncheon at the Cranbrook Campus catered by Ella’s
- Remarks offered by Aleitha Harvey, owner of Ella’s Cranbrook, on Black Entrepreneurship.
* More details to follow *
ABOUT ELLA’S
Aleitha Harvey, pictured, is the owner of Ella’s and a familiar face you will see happily serving and interacting with patrons.
Aleitha is the consummate hospitality professional, contributing to policy directives while getting down in the tourism & hospitality trenches.
Prior to her ownership of Ella’s in February 2020, this 15 year hospitality professional has worked locally within the Food & Beverage Management team at St Eugene Resort, Cranbrook spearheading numerous premier events. Among leading a profitable yet complex department, Aleitha also works with the Ktunaxa Nation Council as their Events Coordinator, flexing between organizing inter-sectional nation events and band events as well as working with industry liaisons to bring nation members event visions & aspirations to life.
Aleitha has managed hospitality entities in Alberta, and across the border in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Aleitha believes in organized transference of knowledge and embraces the principle of corporate and personal social responsibility. She devotes her time to mentoring younger hospitality personnel within her establishment, as she consistently trains and fine tunes their knowledge of the industry whilst providing consultancy to peers and other hospitality entities.
Located inside the Best Western Cranbrook Hotel in Cranbrook, Ella’s opened its doors in 2020 and remains as the only Jamaican & Caribbean restaurant in the East and West Kootenays.
Friday, February 25, 2022 @ 7:00 PM MST- In-Person Event- Documentary Film Screening “Remembering Africville” courtesy of the National Film Board of Canada
*REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS REQUIRED HERE FOR ADMISSION*
- Join us for a movie night with freshly popped popcorn “Remembering Africville” a brief documentary on the Black settlement on the outskirts of Halifax, Nova Scotia courtesy of the National Film Board of Canada.
* More details to follow *
The Zoom link for all online events can be found here.
Supporters of Black History Month for 2022
These events are sponsored in part by College of the Rockies, CUPE Local 2773 & College of the Rockies Students Association.
We would also like to thank local businesses Smitty’s Cranbrook, Columbia Theatre Cranbrook, Dominos Cranbrook & Two Birds Deli for their contributions towards the success of our events.
With immense gratitude for your support and engagement in this important series for 2022!
Black History Month Resources
An initial compilation of resources have been developed for Black History Month by Michelle Chan.
We look forward to this list of resources being available for the College Community as a legacy for learning and engagement throughout the year.
Ujamaa Bursary
To commemorate our first Black History Month series of events, College of the Rockies Faculty Association (CORFA) and Black History Month Organizer, Michelle Chan (2021 & 2022 series), founded the Ujamaa Bursary in February 2021.
“Ujamaa is a Swahili word for ‘cooperative or collective economics.’ It can also be used to define ‘community’, or it can be a neutral term when describing something communal e.g. brotherhood, sisterhood.
Ujamaa is one of the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa (Nguzo Saba). Kwanzaa is such a significant and symbolic holiday for the African and the Black community as it is a chance for us to celebrate ourselves, our unique history and our culture, hence it being a perfect fit for the bursary as well as its introduction during Black History Month.” – Michelle Chan, BBA, Black History Month coordinator – 2021
Amount: $1500 to be split between up to three applicants to be applied to any education-related or living expense. This bursary is available in the fall semester.
Eligibility: The student must be a member of the Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour (BIPOC) Community. Student must have attended classes at the College for at least one semester (on a full or part-time basis) and plan to attend classes at the College in the following semester. Students from ALL program areas are eligible to apply. This bursary is open to both International and Domestic Students.
Selection: Demonstrated commitment to furthering their education. Student must submit a short essay (up to 300 words) stating how this award will benefit them and their community. If there are multiple qualified applicants, grades may be used to determine the recipients.
More information on how to apply for the Ujamaa Bursary can be found here