Blog: Notes from the Field

Indigenous Language Revitalization and Living Well

February 21st observes International Mother Language Day to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. UNESCO initially recognized this day to acknowledge the importance of those who gave their lives for the Bengali Language Movement in 1952. It has since become a beacon for other cultures who risk having their traditional languages taken from them. It is essential to encourage the use and practice of mother languages to preserve and protect them and promote linguistic diversity and cultural understanding.

Navigating Nature and Academia as a Disabled Scientist, a Talk by Dr. Kelsey Byers

January 24th marks International Day of Education, representing education as a human right, a public good, and a public responsibility. The theme for 2024 is "learning under lasting peace" to bring awareness to education's crucial role in countering hate speech. Without inclusive access to academia, many children, youth, and adults will struggle to achieve quality education and opportunities. One such struggle is that of a disabled person navigating the academic field to meet the challenges of receiving quality education and opportunities.

Advocating for Indigenous Persons Living with Disability: An Interview with Evelyn Huntjens

The University of Guelph is celebrating Indigenous Recognition Week from January 15-19, 2024! In support of this event, we are sharing our interview with Evelyn Huntjens about Indigenous Disability Awareness Month (IDAM), which takes place annually in November, and her work in supporting disability services to Indigenous peoples.

The Migration Experience: An Interview with Shruti Nadkarni

December 18 is International Migrants Day, a day set aside to reflect on the prominent contributions of migrants worldwide. Migrants are essential drivers of development in both their native and destination countries, whether workers, students, or families. It is crucial to reflect on these contributions and create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for migrants. To learn more about the barriers to and experiences of those migrating to Canada, we conducted an interview with Shruti Nadkarni.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Indira Naidoo-Harris is the Associate Vice-President (AVP) for the Office of Diversity and Human Rights at the University of Guelph.

Connecting to Community: My Live Work Well Co-Op Experience

Moira Forster completed her summer 2023 Co-op Work Term with the Live Work Well Research Centre. This was her experience.

Activist, Academic… and Target?

Abigail Mitchell (she/her) is a PhD student in Sociology at the University of Guelph and holds an MA in Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy from U of G. Originally from Mississauga, ON, Abigail is a proud bisexual woman who serves on the U of G Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Advisory Committee for Students and the Research Ethics Board. Her research focuses on domestic homicide, sexual femicide, and internet-facilitated child sexual abuse.

The Importance of Listening

Mike Ashkewe is an independent media producer residing in Guelph. As a sixties-scoop survivor, Mike advocates for indigenous and disability-related issues and shares his insights on a wide range of topics through freelance writing, podcasting, and more. He is also the executive producer of This Week in Geek and is a freelance reporter for the Guelph Mercury Tribune.

Leading Change for Future Leaders: Interviews with Regional Coordinators from the CFDC

The Canadian Feminist Disability Coalition (CFDC) is a 30-month systemic change initiative interested in promoting equality for women and girls with disabilities by supporting them in their capacity and advocacy for leadership. Partnered with various organizations, such as the DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada (DAWN), the CFDC addresses the substantive gaps and barriers that currently exist in policy and practice for women and girls with disabilities. For more, see our previous blog post, which contains an Interview with Siobhan Grant, Project Coordinator of the CFDC, or visit the University of Guelph news article introducing the CFDC.

Imagining a More Just University: a Panel Event with the Live Work Well Research Centre

On November 15, 2022, the Live Work Well Research Centre (LWWRC) hosted “Imagining a More Just University”, a panel event that explored how to create more just academic spaces by reducing barriers to access and ensuring equity for all. The panel was moderated by then-Acting Director of LWWRC, and the Co-Lead of the Displacements, Emergence, and Change Cluster, Dr. Leah Levac.