This study explores past and present conflict in Northern Manitoba through the lens of the Helen Betty Osborne case. Although Helen Betty was murdered over forty years ago, conflict concerning racial discrimination, sexism, and social injustice continues to impact community members in The Pas, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, the R.M. of Kelsey, and other communities living in the province and across Canada. Her story has also undergone processes of silencing and desilencing over time as conflict over past/present social injustice resurfaces.
Through the use of semi-structured, one-on-one interviews and focus groups, participants were asked to reflect on the impact of the Osborne case, their experiences with racism in the community, and what could be done to improve cross-cultural relationships moving forward. Using narrative inquiry and an Indigenist philosophy toward research, this study incorporates the stories of these individuals and presents them in a timeline: the past, the present, and the future. Drawing on this structure for analysis provides insight into past and present conflict, yet also reveals the presence of community peacemakers who have contributed to the formation and building of cross-cultural relationships in the area. Key findings revolve around participants’ suggestions for what the community needs to do to move forward and improve cross-cultural relationships, which include youth engagement, learning culture, increased cross-cultural interaction and dialogue, establishing safe places in which conflict can be addressed and vulnerable people can go to for help, and finding innovative ways to “celebrate diversity” and “build a human culture” in diverse communities. Ultimately, though, the significant and rising number of Indigenous women who continue to experience unprecedented levels of abuse in Canada warrants further inquiry into the unique challenges Indigenous women continue to face.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MANITOBA/oai:mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca:1993/23927 |
| Date | 02 September 2014 |
| Creators | Ham, Jennifer |
| Contributors | Senehi, Jennifer (Peace and Conflict Studies), Byrne, Sean (Peace and Conflict Studies) Young, May (Education, University of Winnipeg) |
| Source Sets | University of Manitoba Canada |
| Detected Language | English |
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