Federation news
National Indigenous History Month
June is National Indigenous History Month - an important time to learn about the cultures, experiences, and histories of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across Canada.
Here is a selection of Federation-led resources for you to explore:
Blog posts:
- This Land Acknowledgement... – by Ruth Green, Associate Professor, Indigenous Research, Guest and Host Relationships - York University
- Reflections on the practice of reconciliation – by Crystal Fraser, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Classics, & Religion and The Faculty of Native Studies, University of Alberta
- Treaty Relations and Decolonization: Indigenous Community and Academic Perspectives – by Dave Hazzan, Congress 2023 blogger
- Reckonings and Re-imaginings: Confronting the legacy of colonialism and envisioning a more equitable future – by Eric J. Van Giessen, Congress 2023 blogger
- Our data, our voice: Indigenous data sovereignty– by Mitacs
Discover hundreds of blog posts in our Resource Hub.
Big Thinking Podcast episode:
Allan Downey and Janice Forsyth - Is sport a means for Indigenous self-determination in Canada?
Discover more episodes on the Big Thinking Podcast and email us at communications@federationhss.ca to be considered as part of season 3's guest selection.
Scholarly Book Awards reading list:
- Indigenous Celebrity: Entanglements with Fame – Jennifer Adese, Robert Alexander Innes
- Aki-wayn-zih: A person as Worthy as the Earth – Eli Baxter
- We Are The Stars: Colonizing and Decolonizing the Oceti Sakowin Literary Tradition – Sarah Hernandez
- Red Mitten Nationalism: Sport, Commercialism, and Settler Colonialism in Canada – Estée Fresco
- I Will Live for Both of Us: A History of Colonialism, Uranium Mining, and Inuit Resistance – Joan Scottie, Warren Bernauer, Jack Hicks
- Atiqput: Inuit Oral History and Project Naming – Carol Payne, Beth Greenhorn, Deborah Kigjugalik Webster and Christina Williamson
- Wendat Women’s Arts – Annette W. de Stecher
- Upholding Indigenous Economic Relationships: Nehiyawak Narratives – Shalene Wuttunee Jobin
Learn more about the Scholarly Book Awards and follow #BookMarkIt on social media for more scholarly book recommendations.
Congress 2023 Highlights
With over 10,300 attendees, Congress 2023 was one of the biggest scholarly events in Canadian history! This year, scholars, graduate students, policymakers and community members gathered under the theme Reckonings and Re-Imaginings, to hold vital conversations about the most pressing issues facing our world.
Thank you to our 2023 host, York University, for giving Congress such an exceptional home, to the 67 participating associations and their members for entrusting us with convening and promoting your incredible work.
To the Federation’s contractors, volunteers and event technicians, we are so grateful for your work behind-the-scenes that makes Congress magic.
Congress by the numbers
10,300+ participants joining from 83 countries
9,362 joining in person and 805 joining online
303 events open to all attendees
48 exhibitors and 19 Expo special events and book launches
Big Thinking at Congress 2023
The recordings of this year's Big Thinking lecture series are now available!
Thinking across differences: Decolonial, anti-racism, and feminist perspectives
Gina Starblanket, Joyce Green, Rinaldo Walcott, and moderator Christina Sharpe
Thinking across differences: Queer, Two-Spirit, and critical disability perspectives
Therí Pickens, SA Smythe, Alex Wilson, and moderator Sean Hillier
The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean
Congress in the news
We are pleased that our media relations program helped HSS research be spotlighted in the news in print, online, on radio or TV. Here is some of the great coverage we secured:
- Why Michaëlle Jean argues that Haiti’s past holds answers to Black future in Canada – Toronto Star
- Kaitlynn Mendes (University of Western Ontario) and Christopher Dietzel (McGill University) presented with the Canadian Sociological Association (CSA) - Cyberbullying on the rise amid advancing tech – CTV News
- Iqbal Chowdhury (Dalhousie University) presented with the Canadian Sociological Association (CSA) - New Atlantic-based study finds long-residing immigrants have worse mental health than newcomers – New Canadian Media
- Bruce Douville (Algoma University) presented with the Canadian Society of Church History (CSCH) - Monty Python and the last case of blasphemous libel in Canada – National Post
- Madison Moore (Trent University) presented with the Canadian Sociological Association (CSA) - Trent University PhD student examines link between social media, mental health - Toronto Star
- Thaddeus Okon (University of Buffalo) presented with the Canadian Society for the Study of Names (CSSN) - How hockey nicknames and heavy metal band names are chosen, according to linguistic algorithms – National Post
- Madison Robertson (Queen’s University) SSHRC Storytellers Challenge winner - Queen’s PhD student researching impact of spousal separation in long-term care homes – CBC Radio
On the Congress blog
Our Congress team of bloggers covered a number of open events at Congress 2023. Discover them all in our Resource hub, and read a few of our favorites:
Toolkits for equity, diversity and inclusion in scholarly communications - by Dave Hazzan, writer and academic, completing his PhD in History at York University
Five tips on turning your dissertation in a book - by Eric J. Van Giessen, PhD Student in sociology at York University
Reckoning and re-imagining climate anxiety – love like there’s no tomorrow - by Erika Dilling, Global Health and the Environment Honours Major, 3rd year at York University
Congress was made possible with the support of our generous partners and sponsors:
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council in Canada
- Canada Foundation for Innovation
- Universities Canada
- Mitacs
- Sage Publishing
- University Affairs
Congress 2024
The Federation is thrilled to announce that McGill University will host the 93rd annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. Congress 2024 will take place at the McGill University’s Downtown campus in Montreal from May 21 to 29, 2024, and will bring together up to 70 scholarly associations and 9,000 scholars, graduate students, community members, and policymakers to share their research and hold critical conversations that can help shape the world of tomorrow. Read the announcement.
HSS Community News
Ableism in the academy – Disabled scholars say they often rely on ad hoc agreements to get the accommodations they need to do their jobs. The lack of formal recognition has left many feeling unprotected and unwelcome in the academic workplace. Read more.
University of Manitoba aims to clamp down on Indigenous identity fraud – The University of Manitoba aims to introduce a policy in the fall for faculty and students wishing to claim Indigenous identity, sparking discussion about rooting out fraudsters. Read more.
More supports to help people prepare for in-demand careers – B.C. government is funding the Adult Basic Education and English Language Learning Pathways to provide students with the pre-requisites for the post-secondary programs they need to meet their career goals. Read more.
Government of Canada working with Civil Society to strengthen defenses against online disinformation – The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities announced further details into the creation of the Canadian Digital Media Research Network. Read more.
Government of Canada invests $1.4 billion in strategic research at postsecondary institution - The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced an investment of $1.4 billion in support for 11 large-scale research initiatives in strategic areas, through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF). Read more.
From ChatGPT bans to task forces, universities are rethinking their approach to academic misconduct – Postsecondary institutions are playing catch up as generative AI and other emerging technologies make their way into student coursework. Read more.
Research re-imagined – As academics experiment with the graphic novel form, their research is reaching and influencing new audiences. Read more.
From science fiction to classroom reality: How UBC instructors are using AI as a teaching tool – Generative AI has been making waves in many industries in recent months, and education is no exception. UBC has taken an educative approach to AI when it comes to academic integrity. Read more.
UBC launches early childhood education certificate program for deaf and hard-of-hearing people – In British Columbia, roughly 500 children aged five and under are deaf of hard of hearing. The early years are a crucial period for language, learning and social development. Read more.