Stolen Childhood, Stolen Identity: The Lasting Shadow of Jewish and Indigenous Traumas

4:45 Doors open and Registration " 5:15 Program Starts

For more information contact kmock@sympatico.ca

The panelists will address both the common and unique forms of trauma experienced by their community"s most vulnerable members: the children. Jewish children during the Holocaust, children of survivors, and Indigenous children -- whether in residential schools or victims of the '60s scoop and the ongoing child welfare crisis -- faced similar destinies in the loss of their identities, whether forced to conceal and abandon their religion, culture, languages or traditions. Their vulnerability and suffering continues years after these catastrophic events took place. We all have much to learn by illuminating the shadows.

Frieda Forman (Moderator) has been a researcher, author and teacher in the fields of Women's Studies and Jewish Studies. She directed OISE"s Centre for Women"s Studies in Education for over two decades. Her publications include Taking Our Time: Feminist Perspectives on Temporality, Found Treasures: Stories by Yiddish Women Writers, and Jewish Refugees in Switzerland During the Holocaust.

Dr. Bonnie Burstow is a professor at OISE/ University of Toronto, an anti-oppression educator, and a radical feminist therapist. She is also a leading trauma theorist. Her publications include: Radical Feminist Therapy: Working in the Context of Violence; and Teaching Counter-hegemonic Trauma Courses.

Dr. Ben Carniol is Scholar-in-Residence at the Faculty of Social Work's Indigenous Field of Study, Wilfrid Laurier University. Two Indigenous social work educators are co-authors with Ben in the 7th edition of Case Critical: Social Services and Social Justice in Canada.

Dr. Jennifer Wemigwans is Anishnaabekwe (Ojibwe/ Potawatomi) from Wikwemikong First Nation. She is a new media producer, writer and scholar specializing in the convergence between education, Indigenous knowledge and new media technologies. Dr. Wemigwans is excited by the prospects of teaching and is committed to community empowerment from an Indigenous perspective.