Convenor: Professor Laura Madokoro
Rewriting Refuge
There are in Canada, as in other countries, many stories about refuge. Some of this history has been used to create powerful nation-building myths, which in turn have facilitated the inclusion of some and the exclusion of others. This edition of the Shannon Lecture Series, “Rewriting Refuge” seeks to explore the history of sanctuary and protection in a new light; by considering the movements of Indigenous peoples, the activism of migrants themselves, the creation of borders, and transnational connections. Featuring scholars working in a range of geographic contexts and temporal periods, the Shannon Lecture Series, “Rewriting Refuge” promises to offer important critical insights into both the past and the present-day.
Refuge histories in Canada and elsewhere are included in nation-building myths – stories that are used to assert who does and does not belong. The 2023 Shannon Lecture Series, “Rewriting Refuge,” explores these histories of sanctuary via Indigenous migrations, migrant activism, creating borders, and transnational connections. Ranging across geography and time, the featured lectures will offer critical insights into the past and present.
The opening event of the series took place virtually on October 16. The panel featured a discussion with Kate Reed, Marcia Schenck, and Gerawok Teferra, who highlight the contributions of refugee and host-community historians through their work in The Right to Research. Additionally, you can explore the insights shared by Dr. Christina Clark-Kazak, the author of Research Across Borders, as she delves into methods that transcend borders and cultures.