This episode is being released on the day before Canada Day. Traditionally, a day full of fireworks, food, and hot weather. However, Canada Day for Indigenous peoples specifically, and also Black and racialized people, is directly connected to trauma and cultural genocide. 

As many people are going into this day with a newfound awareness of the extent of racism, colonialism, and white supremacy that has taken place throughout history and is present in the daily lived experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, it’s important to dismantle the idealism that we may feel around Canada Day and unlearn our understanding of Canadian history on this stolen land.

The discovery of the bodies of Indigenous children at multiple Residential School sites, alongside the Black Lives Matter protests, and a rise in Muslim and Asian hate crimes, has many white Canadians re-examining their understanding of Canadian history and their relationship with race and privilege.

Given this recent news and the broader conversation about racism, we think there is no better time to hear from someone working within this field. 

We are so thrilled to be chatting today with Selam Debs - the creator of the Antiracism course, an antiracism and anti-oppression educator, and yoga studio owner. Her Antiracism Course looks at ways to dismantle unconscious bias, address white privilege, uncover systemic racism, and learn how to centre the experience of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour individuals. 

We started this podcast with the goal to listen - and especially - to learn from others. We love chatting with diverse voices and hearing unique perspectives about their lived experiences and knowledge. We know we still have a lot to learn on this subject, so we were very excited to chat with Selam.

In this episode, we dug in to unlearn, unravel, and dismantle systems of privilege, have a discussion about the concept of happiness, and what it means to be truly antiracist. 

As always, thank you for listening.