Written by Lisa Kariuki.
On June 14, 2022, members of the public alongside UBC students, faculty, and staff gathered at UBC Robson Square for a free screening of All Our Fathers Relations. The 2016 documentary follows the journey of the Grant siblings from Vancouver to China to rediscover their fathers’ roots. The Grant siblings were raised primarily in the traditions of the Musqueam people and their story reveals the shared struggles of migrants and Aboriginal peoples today and in the past. The screening was followed by a panel discussion with Elder Larry Grant, Alejandro Yoshizawa (film director) and Sarah Ling (co-producer), and was moderated by UBC students Kira Doxtator, Raiyana Alibhai, and Nadia Walji.
This was the second event in a special speaker series co-created by the Ismaili Centre, Vancouver and the University of British Columbia to explore ways of thinking about reconciliation and pluralism under ongoing conditions of settler colonialism. Furthermore, this event was done in special partnership and collaboration with the AMS Indigenous Committee.
“This series invites participants to explore what migrant communities need to consider when they think about solidarity with Indigenous communities in a time of ongoing settler colonialism.”
Dr. Renisa Mawani, UBC Sociology Professor
The idea for this speaker series was raised by the Joint Liaison Committee, which is composed of members of the Ismaili Council for BC and UBC faculty and staff. This committee, organized by the UBC Community Engagement Office, meets annually to consider common priorities and opportunities to collaborate and further the longstanding relationship between UBC and the Ismaili community.
UBC Sociology Professor Dr. Renisa Mawani and Dr. Zahra Rasul from the Ismaili Council for BC spearheaded this series. Dr. Mawani came up with the series theme and title: Reconciliation, Pluralism and Settler Colonialism. “The title was intended to bring the concept of pluralism, which is a touchstone in the Ismaili community, into conversation with the public discourse around reconciliation. This series invites participants to explore what migrant communities need to consider when they think about solidarity with Indigenous communities in a time of ongoing settler colonialism,” Dr. Mawani shares.
From initial planning to moderating the event, student leaders collaborated with faculty, staff and Ismaili Council for BC members and were a significant driving force of the success of this event and its goals. UBC students Raiyana Alibhai, Nadia Walji, Kira Doxtator and Kleo Skavinski worked together to create the questions for the Q&A session.
Kira is a fourth-year Oneida and Dakota student majoring in Film Studies with a minor in First Nations and Indigenous Studies. “Working with this team was a great experience,” she says. “Coming from very different backgrounds, we were able to draw on our own histories and identities to make this a meaningful event. As a film student, I’m always looking for ways to understand how filmmakers draw on sensitive topics to make a narrative that the audience can empathize with. It was amazing to speak not only to the film’s subject, Elder Larry Grant, but also to hear the impact the story had for filmmakers Alejandro and Sarah.”
“Coming from very different backgrounds, we were able to draw on our own histories and identities to make this a meaningful event.”
Kira Doxtator, fourth-year UBC student
Raiyana, an Ismaili student entering her fourth year at UBC, says that “it was very impactful to hear Elder Grant speak on his past experiences, and the adversity he still faces today. Watching this documentary was a meaningful experience for myself, and for the audience members, who had many insightful questions and thoughtful conversations after the event.”
Close to one hundred people attended the screening and engaged in the post-viewing discussion. Elder Larry Grant alongside the filmmakers engaged with the audience’s broad array of questions and gave their own words of wisdom on the importance of the story and what it means to them.
“The Ismaili Council of BC is excited to continue actively collaborating with UBC students, faculty, and staff to host important educational events like this.”
Farouq Manji, Member for Community Relations for the Ismaili Council for BC
“I am proud of the outcome of this event and the important truths and lessons regarding reconciliation, pluralism and settler colonialism that audience members got to walk away with.” says Farouq Manji, Member for Community Relations for the Ismaili Council for BC. Looking ahead, Farouq shares, “The Ismaili Council of BC is excited to continue actively collaborating with UBC students, faculty, and staff to host important educational events like this.”
Planning and hosting of this event was greatly supported by UBC Connects. UBC Connects at Robson Square is a new initiative that is aiming to provide more equitable access to knowledge created by the university community. UBC Connects lowers financial barriers in accessing space at Robson Square and provides faculty, students, and staff with the support needed to collaborate with community partners in delivering innovative, community-focused programming.