*Notes on repost for Canada Day 2021* With the recent rediscovery of mass graves of Indigenous First Nations Children at former residential schools (this wikipedia page is being updated with the latest findings across Canada) I have decided to repost this blog post from last summer’s Caftans and Cocktails with a Twist. The rediscovery of these graves comes at the same time as increases in hate crimes against Asian communities and Muslim communities. This post contains resources and podcasts which highlight the continued racial issues that are prevalent in Canada and I would encourage all Canadians to take this day to learn more about our history from a variety of sources, in particular from Indigenous First Nations communities. I would also encourage Canadians to consider joining the 215 Pledge and donating to the Indian Residential School Survivors Fund this Canada Day.

Hello Internet Friends!

Today’s post is going to be a bit different from my normal content; instead of being focused on the handmade garment I’ll be discussing some important issues around systemic racism in Canada as part of #CaftansAndCocktails2020

As a POC who was born, raised, educated, and currently living in Canada I have been shaped by a system that simultaneously affords me privileges not afforded by my BIPOC peers while also at the same time denying me privileges of my non-POC peers. This system, deeply embedded in colonialism, has imparted internalized biases though daily interactions and life events as well as through generational biases imparted by my POC ancestors as they navigated both colonialism and immigration to Canada. These biases run deep, in all of us, and it will be hard and life long work to identify and correct them, and this work MUST continue long after the initial ‘shock and anger’ surrounding this current wave of anti-racism awakening has ebbed. This is why I loved the idea that Meg and Loni have incorporated into their planned summer sewing event, caftans and cocktails. You can read more about the idea behind this event and how it evolved into much more on Meg’s blog here. I’m so grateful to both Meg and Loni for the opportunity to talk about the anit-racism work that us Canadians need to do as well as to elevate local Canadian voices.

Hello Internet Friends!

Today’s post is going to be a bit different from my normal content; instead of being focused on the handmade garment I’ll be discussing some important issues around systemic racism in Canada as part of #CaftansAndCocktails2020

As a POC who was born, raised, educated, and currently living in Canada I have been shaped by a system that simultaneously affords me privileges not afforded by my BIPOC peers while also at the same time denying me privileges of my non-POC peers. This system, deeply embedded in colonialism, has imparted internalized biases though daily interactions and life events as well as through generational biases imparted by my POC ancestors as they navigated both colonialism and immigration to Canada. These biases run deep, in all of us, and it will be hard and life long work to identify and correct them, and this work MUST continue long after the initial ‘shock and anger’ surrounding this current wave of anti-racism awakening has ebbed. This is why I loved the idea that Meg and Loni have incorporated into their planned summer sewing event, caftans and cocktails. You can read more about the idea behind this event and how it evolved into much more on Meg’s blog here. I’m so grateful to both Meg and Loni for the opportunity to talk about the anit-racism work that us Canadians need to do as well as to elevate local Canadian voices.