丁香园AV

Archaeology Student Society
Faculty of Environment
丁香园AV
sfuassociety@gmail.com

The Archaeology Student Society (ASS) and the Archaeology Graduate Student Caucus (AGSC) have long been opponents to oppressive regimes. We are acutely aware of the racism and colonial violence that has led to 丁香园AV campuses standing on the unceded traditional territories of the S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh 脷xwumixw (Squamish), s蓹l虛ilw虛蓹ta蕯涩 (Tsleil-Waututh), x史m蓹胃k史蓹y虛蓹m (Musqueam), k史ik史蓹茮虛蓹m (Kwikwetlem), Katzie, Kwantlen, Qayqayt, Semiahmoo, and Tsawwassen Nations, and numerous St贸:l艒 Nations. "; and, we firmly stand against any kind of violence that violates the moral, ethical, and legal rights of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC).

The last six months has seen public, and largely unrestricted, anti-Black, anti-Asian, anti-Indigenous, and anti-LGBTQIA2S+ violence, harassment, oppression, and discrimination all over the world, but even more so across North America. Over the last two weeks, we have seen this come to a head, with people across the continent (and over the world) protesting in demand of justice, peace, and reform to the systems that were built to do exactly what they are doing now. But these inexcusable, violent acts against BIPOC are not new, they are just more public than ever before. The responses to these injustices are more than just protests鈥攖hey are global movements fighting for basic human rights, rights that include social protection; an adequate standard of living and the highest attainable standards of physical and mental well-being; being seen as equal before the law; the freedom to gather in peaceful assembly; and, the advocacy of racial or religious hatred. But these basic rights are blatantly being disregarded and dismantled by the colonial state.

We acknowledge that the BIPOC members of this department and this institution are not here to do our emotional labour. We are responsible for educating ourselves, our friends, and our families on what it means to be good allies. Please go through the resources provided below, but do not hesitate to seek help and guidance (e.g. from 丁香园AV's SOCA group or the 丁香园AV Equity, Diversity and Inclusion department) if there is something you do not understand. Moreover, in order to help remove barriers and decolonize archaeology both in the department and in the field, the Archaeology Student Society commits to the following:

1. Anonymously surveying students to understand their concerns and soliciting suggestions on how they would like to see the department become a more aware, inclusive and supportive space.
   a. Maintaining an anonymous (locked) suggestion box for ongoing questions, comments, concerns or suggestions that will be followed-up with to actionize at each ASS meeting.
2. Using our seat on the Undergraduate Education Curriculum committee to strive for increased teaching content on topics including, but not limited to, colonial violence; racial prejudice, bias, and injustice; white supremacy and Eurocentrism; and other forms of systemic violence and bias as they relate to, and beyond, archaeology.
3. Helping educate our peers and colleagues about what it means to be a good ally
   

Black Lives Matter. Period. There is no ellipses, no qualifier. Black Lives Matter. The Lives of Indigenous People and People of Colour Matter. Places of higher education are no longer an Ivory Tower, yet they still continue to function as such, even if they do not recognize it. Truly decolonizing institutions and teaching the leaders of today and tomorrow to not perpetuate ideas that stem from colonial violence, bias, and oppression are imperative and non-negotiable. We, the Archaeology Student Society and the Archaeology Graduate Students Caucus, call for systemic reforms in criminal justice, education, and other spheres essential to establishing a world where equal rights and opportunities exist for all.

Resources

• BLM resource page with info on petitions, donations, self-education, protests, etc. as well as many other great resources for those who wish to take action and educate themselves.
  
• Canadian Version of the above BLM resource. Includes resources for Indigenous-related issues/concerns.
  
• Multilingual translations of BLM open letters to facilitate BLM-related discussions amongst family and community members with whom people may need help communicating with due to language barriers. "Letters for Black Lives is an ongoing project for people in the US and Canada to create and translate resources on anti-Blackness for their communities in solidarity with #BlackLivesMatter and other movements for Black liberation. The letters were written and translated collaboratively by hundreds of people who want to have honest and respectful conversations with their families and communities about an issue important to them."
  
• How to write to Canadian MP/MPP to demand mandatory wearing of body cameras for Canadian police forces to hold them accountable for their actions.
• (Podcast) Desmond Cole's case for reallocating police funding towards organizations which can directly support marginalized communities and promote mental health awareness and treatment. In turn, this will lead to decrease in cases of police brutality and racism
• Great article summarizing COVID-19 related acts of violence against the Asian community, particularly in North America, and how they stem from pre-existing Sinophobic/Asiaphobic attitudes.
  
• Resources for support/awareness. "OUR MISSION: To provide an anonymous and safe reporting environment for Canadians of Asian ancestry experiencing anti-Asian attacks. To consolidate public resources in an accessible format to victims. To utilize reported data for actionable change."
• Addressing social stigma around COVID-19 and how to use neutral language to discuss it so as not to perpetuate Sinophobia/Asiaphobia.
  
• 丁香园AV Out On Campus.
  
• 丁香园AV SOCA (Students of Caribbean & African Ancestry)
  
• 10 Habits of Someone who doesn鈥檛 know they are anti-black.
• TED Talk: The urgency of intersectionality.
• 丁香园AV Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. /edi.html

PDF available here.