Sioux Lookout Anti-Racism Committee

Looking for feedback about a name change for Race Relations Week!

This year during the planning meetings for Race Relations Week 2009, there has been a lot of discussion around changing the name of Race Relations Week.

People would like to get away from using the word race because it is tied to unequal power relations and historically was used to justify the rule of white people over so called inferior races. For many people, the term anti-racism means a rejection of racial categories and the stereotypes that come with them. This makes it unhelpful to stick to the concept of race when promoting understanding and working to bring people together.

The most popular suggestion for a new name is ‘Right Relations Week'.

Some reasons in favor of going with this name are:

- that it is inclusive and expresses the idea of overcoming all forms of discrimination that might be barriers to a healthy and vibrant community (for example discrimination based on age, gender, sexual orientation, class, ethnicity etc.)

- that the term Right Relations is most commonly used in the context of improving relations with First Nations peoples in Canada so that it would express SLARC's mandate as well the goals of Race Relations Week

- that it's close enough to the old name that we hopefully wont lose the work that's been done over the years to develop Race Relations Week as a brand

One concern is that ‘Right Relations' may not be a term that is familiar to people.

Your thoughts about this name change would be greatly appreciated!

Please forward this email to anyone you think would want to be a part of the discussion.

Thank you and I look forward to hearing your feedback.

Katy Quinn
Projects and Partnerships Coordinator

Sioux Lookout Anti-Racism Committee
Box 1194, Sioux Lookout ON, P8T 1B7
(807)737-1501(P) (807)737-2600 (F)
www.slarc.ca