Identity & Belonging in Multicultural British Columbia

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Dear School Staff & Faculty,

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The African Ancestry Project brings awareness to the diversity of Black people in British Columbia through storytelling and participatory dialogue. People of African ancestry represent a rich diversity evident in varied histories, identities, and lived experiences. However, Canadian society largely treats them as a monolith, a single homogenous group categorized as Black on account of their darker skin tones. Worlds Within, a report written by the African Ancestry Project team, showcases the diversity of Black people and communities through stories shared by project participants. This report is meant to be a resource for knowledge-sharing and a tool to inspire important conversations around our visions for genuine multiculturalism and social justice in the province.

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The Youth Dialogue Series is a series of three virtual youth dialogues curated to engage 40 BIPOC youth between ages 15 and 19 with the contents of the Worlds Within report. This is a critical demographic. As young people transition to adulthood, they are actively developing their ideas and personal values in search for a sense of place in society. While schools are important avenues to guide young people in this process of reflection, certain topics tend to be left out of classrooms. To combat this, the Youth Dialogue Series will not only engage youth in conversations about the diversity of Black people in BC, but it will also promote their active and engaged participation in understanding and contextualizing Canada’s multicultural values. It will create a youth- friendly space for productive conversations and reflections on the diverse histories, identities, and experiences of people of African ancestry in British Columbia. This project particularly targets Black, and other racialized youth. We recognize that this is a priority population which does not often come together safely to engage on issues affecting them. This series is being directed by Alice Mũrage, implemented in partnership with Dr. Maureen Kihika, the BC Black History Awareness Society, and the SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue.