This project, funded by the University of Manitoba’s Ignite Program at the Centre for Human Rights Research, brings together researchers from seven faculties and ten departments, including social sciences, natural sciences, education, engineering, the humanities, and social work. The project is housed at the Centre for Human Rights Research (CHRR), where Adele is Director. The CHRR has a longstanding interest in issues of water rights and justice.

In speaking with Adele Perry, she emphasizes the importance of continuously growing knowledge through collaboration.

“Working in this kind of interdisciplinary way requires us to not just learn new material or information but to relearn how and why we do the kind of learning we do. The Just Waters project is about creating new knowledge and teaching ourselves and each other.”

Similarly, Kiersten Sanderson, the project’s first research assistant and a participant in the Indigenous Summer Student Internship Program, has also seen positive impacts from this campus-wide collaboration.

“I’ve learned over the past few months that water justice requires us to remember that all living beings are affected by ongoing water crises in various forms. That’s why the diversity of faculties and departments is important.”

As Adele Perry and her team focus on this water justice, it’s hard to miss the connections between human life and water in a place like Winnipeg. In bridging this connection, the project will look at the juncture between society in three ways: climate justice and water, Indigenous people, water, justice and injustice, and the pasts and futures of water. 

With the project underway, the impact Adele hopes to see in this project is a shift in how research around water and what people, including the general public, know about water research.

The event, “Imagining the Peg as a Human Rights City”, takes place on Zoom on Friday, December 9, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. Registration is open to the public. This event is the first of a series of bi-monthly “public policy talks” by the Centre for Social Sciences and Policy, and Director Shayna Plaut will be speaking further about the event with CBC’s Marcy Markusa on Information Radio on Friday.

Guest speakers include Dr. Warren Clarke, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Manitoba, Dr. Nathan Derejko, Assistant Professor and Mauro Chair in Human Rights and Social Justice at the UM Faculty of Law, Reanna Merasty, Artist, Author and Chair of the Welcoming Winnipeg Committee, City of Winnipeg, Dr. Joel Pruce, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of Applied Research and Learning at the University of Dayton Human Rights Centre, and Karen Sharma, Executive Director of the Manitoba Human Rights Commission and member of the UM Master of Human Rights Program Committee.

Introductory remarks (via pre-recorded video) will come from Leah Gazan, MP for Winnipeg Centre, NDP Critic for Women and Gender Equality; Children, Families and Social Development; Deputy Critic for Housing. Gazan, together with Reanna Merasty, has called for a state of emergency in the wake of the recent news of the loss of life of several First Nations women, which has redoubled efforts of the MMIWG2S movement to raise awareness and address the lack of response when Indigenous women, girls or two-spirited individuals go missing or are murdered.

“Human rights are always realized bottom up, largely through the unrelenting work of community groups and civil society. Here it is clear that Winnipeg is home to a diverse, dedicated and vibrant civil society, that is without doubt, the driving force of social justice in Winnipeg.” – Dr. Nathan Derejko, Mauro Chair in Human Rights and Social Justice, University of Manitoba

Participants in the event can expect panellists to examine the question of what Winnipeg might look like if human rights and responsibilities were centred, and if human rights were the guiding principles for the decisions made and strategies undertaken at the city level. Currently, Winnipeg is regarded as ground zero for MMIWG2S and has been labeled as one of the poorest and most racist cities in Canada. Organizers hope to spark dialogue and action in the community to make human rights in Winnipeg a lived reality.

In preparing for the event, Derejko shared some thoughts on the idea of a ‘Human Rights City,’ which he explained means different things to different people, “which is not unlike the concept of ‘Human Rights’ itself,” he said. “While there is no universal definition of a human rights city, nor a single or strict blueprint for building one, one of its defining characteristics is the mainstreaming of human rights within by-laws, policies, and programs of a city. Again, there is no blueprint here, nor a minimum quota that must be reached in order to “qualify” as a human rights city.”

Rather, adopting a municipal ‘human rights charter’ that sets out rights, obligations, and guiding principals is the approach to take, Derejko suggested, pointing to the Montreal Charter of Rights and Responsibilities as an example.

“A city could/should, in my opinion must, take a “Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA)” to its municipal policies and strategies, including on housing, education, health care, transportation, planning and development,” he said. “A city should also apply a HRBA to municipal budgets, not only in terms of budget allocation, but also in terms of a participatory and transparent system of budget allocation and taxation to ensure the municipality has the resources necessary to make rights a reality for all.”

Laws, policies and resources are not sufficient by themselves, however. “Political will is also an indispensable ingredient, and time will tell whether, and if so to what extent, Winnipeg’s new mayor will take the steps necessary to make rights a reality in Winnipeg for all,” said Derejko.

Derejko teaches Human Rights Law at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law and works closely with Canada’s first interdisciplinary Master of Human Rights program.

“Despite Covid — and not being able to work together, in person, in our usual office space — the students worked with me this year “above and beyond” to produce Volume 9,” said Dr. Short. “There is some terrific scholarship, starting with Sean Rehaag & Hilary Evans Cameron’s article, “Experimenting with Credibility in Refugee Adjudication: Gaydar”.

The CJHR publishes quality scholarly papers that make a significant, original contribution to legal scholarship or multidisciplinary fields related to human rights and humanitarian law.

She agreed to spend six months consulting across campuses to come up with a plan. Eleven years later, Busby is stepping down as founding director of the university’s Centre for Human Rights Research, formally established in 2012.

She will continue to teach and research full-time in the Faculty of Law while supporting the centre’s new director Dr. Adele Perry, whose term starts July 1.

The Centre for Human Rights Research co-ordinated proposals that brought the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to the University of Manitoba in 2015 and established Canada’s first interdisciplinary Master of Human Rights program in 2019. Busby also co-edited the first book inspired by the museum.

No wonder she has a reputation for getting things done.

The Centre for Human Rights Research, started by the faculties of Law, Arts, Education and Social Work, fosters the kind of interdisciplinary research that is too complex for individual professors to manage. Its most ambitious research project has been on the human right to drinking water and safe wastewater disposal in First Nations. Busby brought together Indigenous and non-Indigenous scientists, social scientists and community partners who raised almost $2 million from Canada’s three main research granting agencies.

“We were really instrumental in keeping the issue on the table – not letting it get lost,” she says. “At the same time, we helped build capacity in non-Indigenous scholars to work with Indigenous scholars and community workers and vice versa.”

Psychology professor Dr. Kathryn Starzyk’s research explored which types of advocacy messages are most likely to encourage Canadians to care about First Nations water issues. She believes she wouldn’t have been able to progress with that research nearly as quickly without Busby’s support. “The university is so lucky to have had her in this role,” Starzyk says.

“She provides people an opportunity to do work that has relevance outside of academia – to connect people to their community. It’s exactly what a university should be.”

Busby is thrilled that the centre’s research on surrogate mothers and water rights is now being used to help prepare court cases that may advance human rights.

“You don’t publish research and suddenly the law changes,” she says. “You publish an opinion column and that gets an idea out there and other people are attracted to the idea and then other people coalesce around it and come up with new strategies.”

She also recently co-authored a guidebook on how to handle campus sexual violence complaints.

Most years, the Centre for Human Rights Research hires half a dozen part-time student research assistants, while other students volunteer through the centre’s Student Speakers Bureau to deliver human rights presentations in high schools.

“I think we helped train a lot of students,” Busby says.

The centre’s first research assistant, Dayna Steinfeld, is now a lawyer at one of Winnipeg’s top firms. She puts Busby’s human rights training into practice in employment law and with sexual assault complainants, as well as teaching a course on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms at the Faculty of Law.

“Karen really took the time when I was her research assistant to talk through her thinking with me,” Steinfeld says. “She has just done so much to make an impact for me and I think for so many others at the university.”

*****

It’s no surprise that former University of Manitoba provost Dr. Joanne Keselman turned to Busby for advice in 2009 on how to co-ordinate and grow the university’s human rights expertise.

She already had a national reputation as a human rights scholar and advocate.

Busby’s passion for justice was born in a Winnipeg junior high school where she was streamed into non-academic classes because of assumptions based on her family’s circumstances. Her mother had moved the family from Edmonton to Winnipeg to avoid schoolyard bullying after Busby’s father was charged with armed robbery.

The mistaken belief that Busby had little academic potential “made me really aware of systemic inequalities from the tender age of 13 and it also made me a fighter,” she says.

Busby worked part-time to pay for university, including in research assistant positions that were “super influential.”

While in Ottawa clerking for federal Court of Appeal judges, Busby volunteered for the rape crisis centre, giving talks about sexual assault law reform to high schools, Rotary clubs and nursing associations.

She learned how to explain legal concepts in plain language – a skill that keeps her in high demand as a media commentator.

“I think we have an obligation as academics to get our work out there in the public domain,” Busby says, encouraging other researchers to get media training if they’re nervous.

After she became a law professor in 1988, Busby developed a taste for strategic litigation by helping with a feminist intervention in an obscenity case. That set the direction for a career pursuing law reform on emerging and controversial human rights issues.

In 1999, the Supreme Court of Canada quoted Busby’s research on discriminatory use of complainants’ personal records in sexual violence cases. That same year, she argued before the Supreme Court on behalf of a feminist organization challenging censorship of queer literature. Busby then helped win the fights for same-sex marriage in Canada and broad legal recognition of same-sex partners in Manitoba. Those achievements have been recognized by a string of awards.

Starzyk says Busby is a role model for how to be both assertive and graceful in academic spaces that are not always welcoming to women. “I just really admire her.”

Busby is leaving her position as director of the Centre for Human Rights Research before the end of her term to focus on teaching and completing her own research. She is a co-investigator on three large grants funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, including one on why so few sexual assault cases result in convictions. Her energy level has diminished since she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease about a decade ago, so she decided to hand over the idea-generating and network-building work of running the research centre.

Busby is pleased to see the Centre for Human Rights Research taken over by another feminist who already has strong relationships with Indigenous communities and scholars. She expects more Arts students will become involved under Perry’s leadership.

“Anyone drawn into decision-making on a campus sexual violence complaint faces a steep learning curve,” the book description reads, summarizing that the authors “take readers through the procedural, evidentiary, substantive and discretionary legal issues that can arise when these complaints are made.”

The authors explore the interface between the legislative requirements to adopt stand-alone sexual violence policies and other norms, including common law principles and other legislation especially privacy laws. Their survey of 25 sexual violence policies from across the country reveals widely divergent approaches to issues such as the availability of interim measures; whether to suspend campus proceedings if a criminal charge is laid; complainants’ right to participate in the process; and, privacy issues related to disclosure of the existence of a complaint, investigation and other reports and outcomes, and the right to cross examine.

More fundamentally they explore whether the objectives animating sexual violence policy complaint-based processes may be in conflict. Most would say that these policies should be about challenging gender-based violence, encouraging a culture of response, restoring or creating safety, and ensuring that complainants’ needs are met. These are human rights objectives. But, is discussed throughout the book, especially where these policies are grafted onto student discipline policies and focus on individual wrongdoing, their focus becomes disciplinary. Disciplinary objectives may encourage a culture of denial and focus on the procedural rights of respondents.

Amber Harms was one of 40 JD students who attended the CMHR Gala, thanks to the generosity of donors.

Dr. Bruce Curran, Associate Dean of the J.D. program, recognized the impact the donors’ gift had on the students. “The gala was an incredible experience for our students,” he said. “It underscored for them the importance of human rights law, and the prominent role the Canadian Museum for Human Rights plays in promoting it.  The highlight of the night for many was undoubtedly the speech by The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, who has done so much to advance human rights law in Canada, and who serves as a role model for our students. The event provided inspiration to our students that will last throughout their tenure at law school and for their entire legal careers.” 

The director of the M.H.R. program, Dr. Kjell Anderson, reported that the students found it to be an enriching and exciting experience. “Our program is new this year,” he said, “so our students are trailblazers. Much of the energy for our new program comes from the students, who are diverse and highly motivated.”

The current roster of M.H.R. students, he explained, include, for example, a farmer from Canada’s East Coast, committed to ensuring the right to food for Indigenous Canadians living in poverty, Nigerians seeking to end forced marriage, and Americans working to safeguard the rights of refugees, to identify just a few and their areas of study. “The dinner, and particularly the contribution of The Right Honourable Beverly McLachlin, served to remind them once again of the possibilities that their futures hold to make significant contribution to advancing human rights,” said Anderson, adding that the students expressed deepest gratitude for the opportunity.

The 40 J.D. students and 18 M.H.R. students who attended, shared with the Dean’s Office, some of their experiences attending the Gala and having the wonderful opportunity to meet the former Chief Justice. They especially wanted to convey thanks to the Donors for making the experience possible. Below are some of the students’ reactions, comments, and expressions of thanks:

From M.H.R. Students

I am deeply grateful to have had the chance to attend the 5th anniversary gala of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, as the event would not have been accessible to me without the support of generous donors. The evening provided an opportunity to meet people at the forefront of human rights advocacy, and hearing former Chief Justice Beverly McLaughlin speak about her experience and perspective, particularly the hope she espoused about the future of human rights, was immensely impactful. It is my great hope that future Master of Human Rights students can continue to access events of this nature, and that perhaps one day it will be a graduate of our program speaking at such a prestigious event and inspiring the next generation.

Danielle Milln
M.H.R. Candidate

As a woman, attending the Future of Human Rights in Canada Gala with The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, was very inspiring. What resonated with me the most were her comments on giving women a seat at the table. She noted that once women gained meaningful representation and opportunity to contribute in public spaces, the discourse around topics changed completely. This speaks to the importance of listening to not only women, but all groups and individuals whose voices have traditionally been silenced. 

Thank you kindly,
Ashley Haller
M.H.R. Candidate

First of all, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the donor. I normally would never have been able to attend such a distinguished function…. Getting to listen to former Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin’s speech was incredibly meaningful to me. I followed her career as the first female Chief Justice, and consider her to be an inspiration. To hear her speak of her struggles as a woman in a “man’s” field really spoke to me. I am currently working in a male-dominated field, and I hope that distinction goes away in my lifetime. When I graduate with the Master’s degree in Human Rights, I intend to work in the field of women’s rights.

Shelley Smith
M.H.R. Candidate

The dinner was such a phenomenal opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals for the advancement of human rights. In addition, we were able to meet a Canadian icon, former Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin. Throughout my undergrad studies, I had quoted her numerous times, and it was incredible to meet the phenomenal person that embodies the Canadian dream. 

Without your gracious donation, none of this would have been possible. We, the Master of Human Rights students thank you for your generosity and I personally thank you for allowing me the opportunity to meet my Canadian icon.

Patricia Nosal
M.H.R. Candidate

From J.D. Students

Thank you so much for your generosity in sponsoring law student tickets to the CMHR Gala. I feel very fortunate to have been able to attend and witness a human rights icon, former Chief Justice McLachlin, deliver her speech and inspire so many people. I left the Gala feeling privileged to be entering the legal profession shortly. Once again, I thank you for supporting law students at Robson Hall and for giving us the opportunity to attend the Gala.

Lauren Yusim 
JD Candidate, Class of 2020

Thank you for your generosity in allowing myself and others to attend the Future of Human Rights Gala at the CMHR with former Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin. As an aspiring lawyer, the gala helped open my eyes to the many ways lawyers can assist in the promotion of human rights. Whether through smaller acts of assisting in labour disputes, or larger acts of prosecuting genocide, there is fertile ground where the most basic of human qualities can be defended and upheld. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to witness and learn during the gala.

Braeden Cornick
JD Candidate, Class of 2021

I am so grateful for the opportunity to attend the CMHR’s 5th birthday gala. Meeting the Right Honourable Beverly McLachlin was an invaluable experience, and the speech that she gave and the conversation that I was able to witness was incredibly inspiring. Thank you.

Amber Harms, B.Comm. (Hons.)
J.D. Candidate, Class of 2021

Going to the CMHR Gala was truly an amazing experience. I had the pleasure of meeting many different people, including former Chief Justice McLachlin! I found her humility and speech about the meaning of justice really inspiring. Finally, over the course of a delicious meal, I learned more about the Museum, as well as about the effect it has had, not only on Winnipeggers, but on people throughout Canada and beyond.

Adam Lakusta, MSc (Plant Biotechnology)
J.D. Candidate, Class of 2021

The opportunity to hear from the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and first female Chief Justice of Canada Beverly McLachlin, was an experience that I will cherish for the foreseeable future. I extend my deepest and sincerest thanks that your generosity made this event possible. Your support of Robson Hall and the future of the Manitoba legal community is noted and appreciated. Thank you!

David Barbour
JD Candidate, Class of 2021

I was honoured to be in attendance at “The Future of Human Rights in Canada” Gala on November 3, 2019. Not only did the event have the presence of esteemed citizens in our shared community, but it was also very enlightening, shining a light on a fundamental truth we all need to recognize: that human rights are more fragile than we assume them to be, and that we need to defend them.

In short, it was a great event that much like the institution it recognizes, emphasized and energized the importance of its mission. Thank you again for allowing me to attend. 

Michael Badejo
JD Candidate, Class of 2022

I was very honoured to be in the presence of The Right Honourable Beverly McLachlin, at the Future of Human Rights in Canada Gala. She was very inspirational in her speech and shared some of her personal experiences with noticing discrimination and racism within institutions, primarily against Indigenous peoples. It reminded me that, we as a collective, have a long way to go with truth and reconciliation. We are all treaty people and have an unwavering obligation to do better. 

Nikolai Bola
JD Candidate, Class of 2022

Attending the CMHR Gala reaffirmed my passion for human rights and my desire to work in the field. The Right Honourable Beverly McLachlin spoke at length about the injustices she witnessed growing up and how those experiences shaped her career path and her decisions on the Supreme Court of Canada. She has further inspired me to follow my own goals of working within human rights. Thank you for the opportunity to attend. 

Melina Venuto
JD Candidate, Class of 2022

I’m incredibly grateful that myself and my colleagues were able to attend this awesome event! It was a fantastic opportunity that definitely would have been out of reach had it not been for the donors’ generosity. 

The event was an excellent way to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the CMHR. Hearing The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin speak candidly about the state of human rights in Canada was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I felt incredibly inspired by her speech. Her accomplishments — during her time with the Supreme Court of Canada and beyond — are an inspiration for law students like myself. I left the event feeling passionate about my chosen field and hopeful for the future. 

Janelle Gobin
JD Candidate, Class of 2022

I was really grateful to attend the gala. Being in the museum itself and hearing former Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin speak about the importance and power of human rights reminded me that while we may read in the news about many situations where human rights are not upheld, even in Canada unfortunately, there still is a strong community in the legal profession that is working to ensure human rights are protected. As well, I felt encouraged in my choice to pursue a law degree, as she discussed how the law is a vital tool to uphold and pursue the development and implementation of human rights in Canada. 

Anna Siemens
JD Candidate, Class of 2022

It was such a great opportunity to attend the gala and hear The Right Honourable Beverly McLachlin speak. Her speech was quite impactful and just continued to affirm why I chose to study the law, as I want to help correct the injustices going on in our country and around the world. Hearing her story of being a little girl from a rural community to becoming the first female Chief Justice of Canada, has motivated me and made me realize that nothing is impossible if you are willing to work hard and to not allow the views of society to deter you from your goals.

Jill Klassen
JD Candidate, Class of 2022

This event opened my eyes to the fact that there are still issues present in our current legal system in regards to legal education being accessible and encouraged for all. It showed me that as a society, we need to strive for inclusion every day, and tackle the systemic barriers that may disadvantage certain individuals from achieving their dream career goals in the legal field.

Shira Brand
JD Candidate, Class of 2022

They were among thousands of girls kidnapped in northern Uganda starting in the 1990s. When these young women returned home years later with little education, they and their children were often treated with suspicion and struggled to survive without access to land or livelihood.

A documentation project that helped survivors share their stories with each other eventually led Acan and Amony to advocate for reparations.

On June 17, 2019, the Ugandan Cabinet finally signed into law a transitional justice policy after 10 years of activism by civil society groups and activists including Acan and Amony.

What: Advocating for Justice and Reparations in Uganda panel discussion

Who: Grace Acan, Evelyn Amony and Canadian Museum for Human Rights curator Isabelle Masson. Chaired by Prof. Kjell Anderson, director of the University of Manitoba’s new Master of Human Rights program.

When: Thur. Oct. 24, 2019 at noon.

Where: Room 200A, Robson Hall, 224 Dysart Rd., Fort Garry campus, University of Manitoba.

Acan and Amony are the focus of a new exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Ododo Wa: Stories of Girls in War, which opens Oct. 23. Developed in collaboration with York University’s Conjugal Slavery in War research project, this exhibit highlights how abduction for forced marriage is a strategy of war.

The panel discussion is sponsored by the University of Manitoba’s Centre for Human Rights Research and Department of Anthropology, along with the Conjugal Slavery in War research project.

Indigenous and other experts will present case studies from their regions at Robson Hall Jan. 18-19, 2019, to highlight which strategies are most effective.

Speakers include members of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples from Brazil, the Philippines, the Congo and Russia, as well as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. In addition, former Truth and Reconciliation Commission Commissioner Chief Wilton Littlechild and Dalee Sambo Dorough, chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, will also be presenting. Small group discussions will encourage conference participants to discuss implementation challenges and opportunities, as well as collaborate on future research.

“This forum is a rare opportunity for people to engage with the world’s leading experts on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples about an issue that is so crucial to the future of our countries,” said Prof. Brenda Gunn, whose handbook about the UN Declaration is a key resource for Canadians trying to put it into practice here.

Registration is open until Dec. 20.

The main financial sponsors of the Kiskinohamatowin (Cree for “teaching and learning with each other”) conference are the Native Law Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the University of Manitoba.

On Thursday, Jan. 17 at noon, the public is invited to a talk by Erika Yamada in Moot Court, Robson Hall, on implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples from a Latin American perspective.

Blackstock’s First Nations Child and Family Caring Society won a major human rights ruling in 2016 that should have finally brought proper services to First Nation children. Tired of hearing governments say they can’t fix the situation overnight, she asked Thursday’s audience, “Are we so broke as a nation that the only way we can keep our head above water is racially discriminating against little kids?”

In her remarks after receiving the award, Blackstock told the story of her hero, Dr. Peter Henderson Bryce, the medical doctor who tabled a report on the Residential School system in 1907 that criticized the health conditions he found in the schools. He recommended reforms to ensure the children had access to basic human rights.

Where Bryce was silenced and his report ignored, Blackstock’s convictions and tireless advocacy ended up winning a favourable decision from the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. She said she does not want to fight the government in a courtroom. “I’m a social worker,” she said, “I like teddy bears and kids.” But her love of teddy bears and children led her to believe firmly in Jordan’s Principle, named in honour of a Manitoba child with many medical problems who died never having lived in his family home. The principle states that every child in need should have equal access to public services.

For more on the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Award, please read the article Cindy Blackstock receives Mahatma Gandhi Peace Award by Marjorie Roden in Windspeaker.com.