Author: Aviva Lessard

The training is part of the federation’s new anti-harassment and sexual violence policy.

The Arts and Science Federation of Associations (ASFA) will implement mandatory consent and bystander intervention training for the federation’s counsellors. The Dean of Students Office will provide the training at the start of 2019.

Elliott Boulanger, ASFA’s internal affairs and administration coordinator, said the executive team is still sorting out exactly what the training will cover. The training will most likely take place in January and will consist of one two to three hour session. The Dean of Students Office will be covering the newly created anti-harassment and sexual violence policy, which the federation approved earlier this month.

After eight months of research and consultation, ASFA passed a policy to make the process of coming forth with an allegation of discrimination easier for victims. It was approved on Oct. 11.

The training is mandatory for all counsellors. Executives are encouraged to participate, but do not have to. All participants will be trained at the same session. According to ASFA’s bylaws, all of the federation’s executives and employees should “receive adequate training on issues related to harassment.”

“Consent is everything in life,” Boulanger said. They said counsellors need to be aware of the power dynamic they have with the people who use their services. Without the training, counsellors might not know how to react or what to do when intervening in cases of sexual harassment, Boulanger added.

The Dean of Students Office serves as a liaison between university management and student organizations. They already offer risk-reduction training on request to student associations, a service which ASFA has used to train their frosh leaders on consent since 2016.

ASFA has faced two sexual harassment scandals in recent years. Last month, Concordia student Harris Turpin filed a lawsuit against ASFA for allegedly failing to respond to his sexual harassment allegation against its former president, Jonathan Roy. In winter 2015, an ASFA executive, who was referred to by the pseudonym Mei Ling, filed a complaint with the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission for discrimination and harassment within the organization, as previously reported by The Concordian.

According to Boulanger, however, the upcoming consent and bystander training was not initiated in response to any recent incidents of sexual assault. “We want to offer as much as we can to our counsellors,”  said Boulanger, adding that the federation wants its executives “to be aware and to be able to do their jobs properly.”

Graphic by @spooky_soda.

Hundreds gathered to commemorate the lives of Indigenous women and girls who are missing or have been murdered in Canada.

On the evening of Thursday, Oct. 4, Mohawk activist Ellen Gabriel addressed the crowd at Cabot Square by thanking them for their support on “this issue that has been plaguing Indigenous nations, families, women, children, since contact. That’s how long it’s been.” The 13th annual vigil was organized by the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal (NWSM) and Concordia’s Centre for Gender Advocacy.

Jessica Quijano, a vigil organizer and project coordinator for the Iskweu Project at the NWSM, called for a greater awareness of the social crisis. Specifically, she is advocating for more “wet shelters”: places where homeless people can receive services even if they are intoxicated. She is frustrated that The Open Door shelter is relocating, as it served many people who frequent Cabot Square.

Viviane Michel, president of Quebec Native Women, spoke about how there was no mention of murdered and missing Indigenous women in the recent provincial election debates. “It’s like we didn’t exist, it’s like we didn’t need protection, it’s like our women don’t need security,” she said. Her voice rose: “I am furious,” noting that the title of the event, “Love, Rage, and Solidarity,” was fitting. She said Canadians need to join together to mobilize and put pressure on the government.

An RCMP report from 2014 found approximately 1,200 police-reported cases of Indigenous female homicides or Indigenous women still considered missing between 1980 and 2012. Canada’s former Minister of Status of Women, Patty Hajdu, said the numbers could be as high as 4,000, according to the CBC.

After the speeches, attendees marched to Phillips Square, chanting, “Break the silence, end the violence,” and held candles to remember the women who have been lost.

The beat of a drum rang out as powwow performers, the Buffalo Hat Singers, played alongside those who marched. Band member Rick Qavavauq said, “Our women are the most important thing.” He wants to support all Indigenous people and wants the government to really listen. “We have had enough. Even men have had enough.”

Joey David, a Mohawk man who attended the march, is frustrated by the lack of investigation into cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women. He is tired of them being profiled by police and came out to support his people.

Gabriel, the Mohawk activist, highlighted the need to educate each other on the history of colonialism. She said Canadians can only move forward once they understand the oppression and genocide that is embedded in the country’s history. “Every single child, every single youth, every single judge, lawyer, politician [should] understand what human rights are.”

Rosalie Shewchuk, a first time attendee of the march, learned more about the struggles that many Indigenous women face through her volunteer work. “The more I understand, the more I want to be involved,” she said. Shewchuk felt compelled to show her support. “People should stop seeing with their eyes and start seeing with their heart.”

Photo by Mackenzie Lad.