Groupe de travail sur la décolonisation
Established: 2018
2026-2027
Co-chairs and members of the CSA Executive Committee:
Terri-Lynn Fox, Mount Royal University
Audrey Medwayosh, University of Alberta
Additional members of the steering committe:
John Hansen, University of Saskatchewan
Jill Rogers, McMaster University
Learn more about engaging with the Decolonization Caucus by contacting the CSA Office.
Mandate:
• Le mandat du groupe de travail comprend notamment :
• Porter les questions courantes ou d’actualité concernant la réconciliation, la décolonisation et le colonialisme de peuplement à l’attention de la société
• Représenter la société dans les comités externes s’intéressant aux questions de réconciliation sur approbation du comité exécutif
• Transmettre les ressources pertinentes aux membres et à la collectivité générale par l’intermédiaire de la société
• Intégrer dans les activités courantes de la société et les conférences annuelles des initiatives sur la réconciliation
Caucus News
Coming Soon
Caucus Activities
2025-2026 - caucus on hiatus
2024-2025
2023-2024
2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
2019-2020
Members:
Yvonne Sherwood, University of Toronto (Co-chair)
Sofia Locklear, University of Toronto (Co-chair)
Paul Pritchard, University of Toronto
Jennifer Adese, University of Toronto
Nichole McNair, McMaster University (Student Concerns Subcommittee Rep)
Over the past year, the subcommittee worked on the following initiatives:
1. DSC self-governance framework established with CSA May 2024
At the end of May 2024, the DSC subcommittee proposed a new membership selection process where nominees would submit a bio and outline their relevant experience to the subcommittee, which would then vote internally to select members. The rationale for this approach is to ensure nominees possess the necessary expertise, particularly in sensitive areas like Indigenous values and ethics, where identity fraud is a risk. The need for the DSC to have a different governance approach was met with general support and approved. Importantly, this follows a model of self-determination and sovereignty. Membership will only open to nomination and votes if the subcommittee is not able to internally recruit members. CSA must ask the subcommittee before doing so.
2. Indigenous Sociology Resource Guide 2nd Edition. Finalized in April 2025
Our committee spent the year meticulously going through, updating, editing, consolidating, and formatting an improved version of the Indigenous Sociology Resource Guide for CSA to share with all members.
3. Publication-In-Progress – edited transcript based on the invited panel we organized at Congress
2023 Accepted by Journal of Canadian Studies (Vol. 60, No. 2)
Manuscript Title: “Treaty Relations and Decolonization: Indigenous Community and Academic
Perspectives”
Authors: Jeff Denis, Robert Greene, Susan Hill, Hayden King, Vanessa Watts, Alicia Clifford, Paul
Pritchard, and Yvonne Sherwood
4. Feedback and Advice to CSA Executive
This year the DSC subcommittee lost many members. Although we had proposed and had two sessions approved for CSA we had to pull them due to the inability to complete the necessary work needed to ensure they ran smoothly. Sofia Locklear met with CSA Chair Liam Swiss in February 2025 to discuss the work that being on the DSC requires like having to then serve on additional committees for CSA (like awards and program committees). Our subcommittee struggled this year with keeping a full committee and many had to step off due to personal reasons. In the conversation it was suggested that a new structure be considered so that the service load is less for people who are wanting to be a part of a subcommittee and so they can focus on the work of the subcommittee itself.
Members:
Jeff Denis, McMaster University (Co-chair)
Yvonne Sherwood, University of Toronto (Co-chair)
Sofia Locklear, University of Toronto
Paul Pritchard, University of Toronto
Jennifer Adese, University of Toronto
Vanessa Watts, McMaster University
Alicia Clifford, McMaster University (Student Concerns Subcommittee Rep)
Over the past year, the subcommittee worked on the following initiatives:
i. CSA Webinars
It's Turtles All the Way Down: The Epistemic and Theoretical Considerations and Impact of
Indigenous Methodologies (October 2023)
Organized by the Decolonization Subcommittee and Student Concerns Subcommittee
Speaker: Margaret Kovach
Moderators: Yvonne Sherwood and Alicia Clifford
Palestine and Critical Pedagogy Considerations for the Classroom (December 2023)
Organized by Anti-Islamophobia Subcommittee and co-sponsored by the Decolonization Subcommittee
Discussant: Yvonne Sherwood
ii. Publication In-Progress
Edited transcript based on the invited panel we organized at Congress 2023.
Manuscript Title: “Treaty Relations and Decolonization: Indigenous Community and
Academic Perspectives”
Authors: Jeff Denis, Robert Greene, Susan Hill, Hayden King, Vanessa Watts, Alicia Clifford, Paul Pritchard, and Yvonne Sherwood
iii. CSA 2024 Conference Sessions
(PEP1) Decolonizing Research Ethics
Invited Panel organized with the Policy, Ethics, and Professional Concerns Subcommittee.
Organizers: Augustine Park and Jeff Denis
Invited Panelists: Chelsea Gabel (McMaster University), Bobby Henry (University of Saskatchewan),
Michael Hart (University of Calgary), Elizabeth Carlson-Manathara (Laurentian University), and
Kahente Horn-Miller (Carleton University).
(DCS1) Concepts in Indigenous-Settler Relations and Decolonization: Building bridges or
perpetuating divide?
Regular Session organized with the Indigenous-Settler Relations and Decolonization Research
Cluster.
Organizers: Alicia Clifford, Kerry Bailey, and J Overholser
iv. Committee Service
Members of the Subcommittee served as DSC representatives on the following CSA Committees;
• Annual Conference Program Committee - Paul Pritchard
• Best Student Paper Award Committee – Paul Pritchard
• Early Investigator Award Committee – Vanessa Watts
• Outstanding Contribution Award Committee – Jeff Denis
v. Indigeneity and Sociology Resource Guide
We are currently updating the Indigeneity and Sociology Resource Guide (first developed in 2020)
and plan to have a revised version ready for the CSA website by Fall 2024.
vi. Feedback and Advice to CSA Executive
Our subcommittee has also provided input and guidance to the CSA executive on various issues,
including the proposed new governance guidelines.
Members:
Jeff Denis, McMaster University (Chair)
Yvonne Sherwood, University of Toronto
Paul Pritchard, University of Toronto
Jennifer Adese, University of Toronto
Vanessa Watts, McMaster University
Alicia Clifford, McMaster University (Student Concerns Subcommittee Rep)
This year, the subcommittee worked on the following initiatives:
1. CSA Annual Conference Invited Panel:
“Treaty Relations and Decolonization: Indigenous Community and Academic Perspectives”
Organizer: Jeff Denis, McMaster University
Moderators: Jeff Denis, McMaster University; Paul Pritchard, University of Toronto
Panelists:
• Susan Hill, University of Toronto
• Robert Greene, Iskatewizaagegan, Shoal Lake 39 First Nation
• Hayden King, Yellowhead Institute and Toronto Metropolitan University
2. CSA Annual Conference Regular Sessions:
“Reckoning Contemporary Settler Colonialism During a Time of Reconciliation” (one session on Theoretical Conversations, another on Applied and Community-Based Dialogues)
Organizers: Alicia Clifford, McMaster University; Kerry Bailey, University of Saskatchewan
3. Review and Feedback: Indigenous Protocols for CSA Conference
The subcommittee reviewed Indigenous Protocols for Congress 2023 and provided feedback on how the CSA could incorporate these into the annual conference.
4.Committee Service
CSA Annual Meeting Program Committee - Yvonne Sherwood
CSA Nominations Committee - Vanessa Watts
CSA Awards Committee - Jeff Denis
5. Advocacy for Honoraria
The subcommittee advocated for honoraria for (invited) CSA webinar speakers.
Members:
Vanessa Watts, McMaster University (Chair)
Alicia Clifford, McMaster University
Rochelle Côté, Memorial University
Jeffrey Denis, McMaster University
Yvonne Sherwood, University of Toronto
Rima Wilkes, University of British Columbia
Carieta Thomas, University of Calgary (Student Concerns Subcommittee Rep)
This year, the subcommittee worked on the following initiatives:
i. Webinar: “Land Back / Land Acknowledgements: Bringing Indigenous Perspectives into the
Institution” (May 2022)
The webinar featured Dr. Hayden King (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Courtney Skye (Yellowhead Institute) and was moderated by Dr. Vanessa Watts (DSC).
ii. Conference Session: “Challenges and Opportunities: Perspectives on Indigenizing and
Decolonizing the Social Sciences in Higher Education”:
Chairs: Yvonne Sherwood, University of Toronto; Rochelle Côté, Memorial University
iii. Review and Feedback: Official Statements by the CSA:
The subcommittee and reviewed and provided feedback for the development a protocol for statements that are released by the CSA executive.
iv. Committee Representation:
• CSA Conference Program Committee - Rima Wilkes
• Awards Committee: Early Career Research Award - Vanessa Watts
• Awards Committee: Global Sociology Award - Rima Wilkes
Members:
Vanessa Watts, McMaster University (Chair)
Alicia Clifford, McMaster University
Rochelle Côté, Memorial University
Jeffrey Denis, McMaster University
Rima Wilkes, University of British Columbia
This year, the subcommittee worked on the following initiatives:
i. Indigeneity and Sociology Resource Guide:
The resource guide was circulated to the CSA membership and promoted on social media platforms. This is a living document, meaning that resources will be continued to be added. We plan to host a webinar in fall 2021 to discuss the resource guide with interested participants.
ii. Publication – Canadian Review of Sociology
The subcommittee published a piece in Committing Sociology on the challenges and
opportunities associated with Indigenization and/or reconciliation efforts on university
campuses: Côté, R., Denis, J., Watts, V., & Wilkes, R. (2021). Indigenization, institutions, and
imperatives: Perspectives on reconciliation from the CSA decolonization sub‐committee.
Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue canadienne de sociologie, 58(1), 105-117.
This piece was also featured as a topic of discussion in the CRStal Radio VIP Series podcast, Reflections on Reconciliation with Dr. Karen Stanbridge.
iii. Consultation and Moderator: Webinar with Dr. Robert Henry
The subcommittee consulted on a speaker for the Association’s webinar series on Canadian
Policing, Colonialism, Racism. The webinar featured Dr. Robert Henry (University of
Saskatchewan) for his talk: “Survivance and Indigenous Street Lifestyles” (January 2021). Dr.
Watts moderated this webinar.
iv. Review and Feedback: Congress Planning Committee
Dr. Rima Wilkes served as the DSC representative for the Congress 2021 Planning
Committee.
v. Virtual Consultation: An equitable, diverse, inclusive, and decolonized Congress
Dr. Watts was the representative for a virtual consulation led by Dr. Wesley Crichlow on how
to facilitate a more equitable, diverse, inclusive and decolonized Congress. The consultation
included representatives from other academic associations, including Dr. Irene Shankar
from the CSA’s Equity Committee.
vi. Mentorship Programme for Black, Indigenous and Racialized Graduate Students
Dr. Rima Wilkes has joined this mentorship programme as the representative for the Decolonization Subcommittee.
vii. Review and Feedback: CSA’s Indigenous Land Acknowledgement
Dr. Watts reviewed and provided feedback for the CSA’s Land Acknowledgement for chairs and moderator to adapt and integrate into sessions during Congress 2021.
viii. Review and Feedback: Protocol for Virtual Event Best Practices & Code of Conduct
The subcommittee reviewed and provided feedback for the proposed best practices and code of conduct for CSA virtual events.
ix. Review and Feedback: Official Statements by the CSA
The subcommittee and reviewed and provided feedback for the development a protocols for statements that are released by the CSA executive.
x. Co-sponsoring panels for the Annual Conference of the CSA
We will be co-sponsoring two of the Equity Subcommittee’s panels during the Annual Conference of the CSA: 1) "Best Practices in Teaching about Racism and Colonialism:
Pedagogies for Pursuing Racial Justice and Decolonization” and 2) "Beyond equity policy:
Searching for institutional procedures and practices that support Black, Indigenous, and
People of Colour (BIPOC) faculty”.
xi. Awards Committee: Best Student Paper Award and Outstanding Contribution Award
Dr. Watts was the representative for the Decolonization Subcommittee for the 2021 Best
Student Paper Award and Outstanding Contribution Award for the CSA.
Members:
Vanessa Watts, McMaster University (Co-chair)
Rima Wilkes, University of British Columbia (Co-chair)
Rochelle Côté, Memorial University
Jeffrey Denis, McMaster University
Zoua Vang, McGill University
1. Indigeneity and Sociology Resource Guide:
The subcommittee has been working on a cross-discipline resource guide for sociologists interested in introducing and/or enhancing Indigenous scholarship in their course syllabi. As part of the subcommittee’s mandate to “communicate relevant resources to the membership and broader community through the Association”, this resource guide is designed to centre Indigenous voices in teaching and learning environments within sociology. These resources may also be relevant to Ph.D. comprehensive examinations.
2. Review and Feedback: CSA Member Demographic Data Collection Form
The subcommittee reviewed and provided feedback to the data collection form that is in development for CSA members. This review was provided along with the Equity Subcommittee.
3. Review and Input: Congress’ Indigenous Protocol (delayed to 2021):
The subcommittee was asked to review Congress’ Indigenous Protocol for the 2020 Annual
Conference and provide input on the CSA’s conference protocol. This work is delayed until the 2021 Annual Conference.
4. 2020 CSA-SCS Annual Conference Delegate Passes (delayed to 2021):
The subcommittee held four delegate passes for Indigenous people to attend the 2020
Annual Conference. Two were allocated at the time of the cancelation announcement.
5. Meeting with Sociology Department Chairs session at 2020 CSA-SCS Annual Conference (delayed to 2021):
Two members of the subcommittee were to join the department chairs session at the 2020 Annual Conference to introduce and provide an overview of the Indigeneity & Sociology Resource Guide. This will be delayed until 2021.
6. Webinar: Indigeneity & Sociology Resource Guide
The subcommittee is currently working towards a webinar in Fall 2020 to provide an overview of the Indigeneity and Sociology Resource Guide to interested participants. A Q&A session will also be facilitated. The subcommittee will connect with the Communications Officer and the Student Concerns Subcommittee to collaborate and coordinate.
7. Publication Submission – Considerations for Indigenization and reconciliation efforts on university campuses:
The subcommittee is currently working on a publication submission on the challenges and opportunities associated with Indigenization and/or reconciliation efforts on university campuses.
8. Congress 2021, Prairie Indigenous Session: The committee will be organizing a special session on the prairies for the 2021 CSA-SCS Annual Conference. The session will draw on community-based experts from local communities/organizations in the Edmonton area. These will include Indigenous people such as policy analysts/makers, grassroots organizers, entrepreneurs and/or people working in Indigenous-based education.