Equity, diversity and inclusion symposium in Yellowknife: a transformative gathering for inclusion and diversity

From December 4 to 9, 2023, Yellowknife hosted a major event: a symposium on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) organized by Collège Nordique.

The goal of this event was to bring together experts in EDI, the Franco-Tenoise community and Francophones across Canada, to discuss the challenges of EDI. A unique opportunity to connect knowledge, deepen understanding and share realities.

At the heart of this enriching week, we had the privilege of exchanging views with Ingrid and Jessica, experts in EDI. They shared the benefits of exploring familiar concepts in a new context, such as inclusive communication in the workplace and developing strategies for inclusive communication. According to Ingrid and Jessica, this experience has profoundly influenced their perspectives and will continue to influence their future research and practice.

Both speakers also spoke enthusiastically of the idea of exploring how IDT comes to life in the Far North and in Francophone minority contexts. As a testament to this fruitful collaboration, Ingrid will be teaching a course at Université de Hearst during the winter season, in French. This promising initiative illustrates the richness of the exchanges that took place during this remarkable event.

Speaker testimonial

Jessica Lontsi: "The symposium gave me a different perspective on EDI. I was able to rethink my way of thinking, and that enriched me a lot.What struck me most during the symposium was the willingness to include an Aboriginal perspective, but also to include the Franco-Tenoise community."

Ingrid Lathoud "From collaboration to organization, the Collège Nordique ÉDI colloquium was a major event in the year of IRIPII's Défi 50-30 team. It gave us the opportunity to become aware of the very specific context of the Northwest Territories in terms of population and employment.

From a personal point of view, the symposium enabled me to learn more about this Territory, whose strengths and challenges I had heard little about. I also made a number of connections with people committed to their missions and deeply attached to the NWT. As well, the Aboriginal Perspectives conference, a visit to the museum and additional research and reading gave me a better understanding of the diversity and certain realities of the NWT's Aboriginal communities.

Further on, she underlines the professional importance of the symposium: "From a professional point of view, this symposium offered me the opportunity for new collaborations (high school, course on EDI and NWT identities, etc.) and opened up the possibility of other projects to be explored or developed in the future. The northern context is undoubtedly rich in particularities and a fertile ground for the development of joint projects to support organizations' efforts to implement inclusive practices. I, we, would be delighted to continue and extend our collaboration.

These testimonial underline the necessity and relevance of organizing an IDS symposium in Yellowknife, while also highlighting the significant impact that collaboration with Collège Nordique can have on researchers who are open to new contexts and realities.

The EDI approach in Yellowknife transcends mere verbal exchange. It's an experience that goes beyond discussion to shape perspectives, stimulate future action, and pave the way for new collaborations. Collège Nordique is resolutely committed to promoting practices of equity, diversity and inclusion, thus contributing to the creation of a more inclusive world.

An intensive 36-hour course delivered online, to introduce students to understanding how diversity, equity and inclusion can be advanced in an offbeat context such as Yellowknife, will be available from February 2024.