The BC Social Studies Teachers’ Association managed to host a successful conference with a fabulous keynote from Anthony Johnson, a Two-Spirit, LGBTQ2, and Indigenous advocate who currently works in Kehewin Cree Nation and Dr. James Makokis, a Nehiyô two-spirit physician from the Onihcikiskapowinihk (Saddle Lake Cree Nation) in Treaty Six Territory and has a transgender health- focused practice in South Edmonton, and SSENC was front and centre providing morning and afternoon workshops and connecting with many of our BC Socials teachers! Despite strike action forcing our last- minute relocation from SFU to Vancouver Technical Secondary School, and a collapse of our online platform provider, we managed to still deliver both in-person and online workshops, speaker series and keynote to our colleagues. Jen Williams and Jen Tweedie hosted an exhibitor table to connect SSENC to BCSSTA members as well as increase interest in the Korean War lessons and the opportunities available with our partner, the Collaborative. Added to this were the connections made as surrounding exhibitors reached out to build relationships, including the National Film Board sharing their focused collections with us. We connected again with Docs for Schools and talked promoting contests with the Legion. Jen Tweedie’s workshop involved a wonderful group of engaged teachers who had on point conversations around Canada's involvement in the Korean War and beyond. There was sharing of both political and personal perspectives and discussion centered on engaging students in the dialogue around Korea. Jen Williams’ session, though a smaller group, had a valuable conversation around the uses of the Collaborative platform connecting teachers to a wider support network and expertise. The workshops and table talks have the potential for our expanded outreach to the greater Social Studies community. The BCSSTA is following up this conference with a partnership with the SFU Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences for a hybrid Developing Minds Conference on February 16, 2024 featuring Peter Ellerton, founding director of the University of Queensland Critical Thinking Project, as our Keynote Speaker and will focus on exploring various disciplinary critical thinking modes. Next year’s October conference is already in the works collaborating with the UBC Faculty of Education and the United Nations Association in Canada, Vancouver Branch themed around Global Affairs. We hope to see SSENC front and centre once again!
