'Bluntly honest:' Artists panel talks about multiculturalism

It can be a complex topic to tackle: Multiculturalism and what it means in the year 2017.

But a panel discussion Friday afternoon as part of the Kultrun Festival hoped to scratch the surface using art.

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Laura Mae Lindo, director of the diversity and equity office at Wilfrid Laurier University, moderated the discussion, which included six artists including musicians, actors and poets.

She said this panel, called simply The Conversation, was a "creative discussion around our vision for Canada."

"Leading up to the panel, we've been having some discussions about whether or not multiculturalism is even the right way for us to be thinking about our vision of Canada moving forward," she said.

Art tackles tough issues with hope

Lindo recalled in the 1970s, the way multiculturalism was taught was very different than today. There was a positive spin on it, where now, there's a "recognition of realities of our history."

"If we're honest about the power and importance of the truth and reconciliation report, if we're honest about the importance of folks that sort of push us to think differently about racism, about anti-black racism, and how that's part of our narrative, alongside all of the wonderful, positive things, the desire for inclusion, the work that we're doing towards that," Lindo said.

"I'm hoping that this conversation will bring that nuance and with the arts, you find a way to talk about some pretty hard stuff in a way that actually keeps you hopeful."

Bluntly honest conversations

In a post on the Facebook event page for The Conversation, Six Nations of the Grand River actress and singer/songwriter Cheri Maracle said now is the time for Indigenous people to be "steadfast brave and bluntly honest in our conversations with non-Indigenous peoples immediately-now and for our future generations."

"Too many Canadians do not know the history of their own survival, or the real history of First Peoples and how we ended up in the relations and positions we today find ourselves in. Ask. Listen openly. Understand."

Challenging traditional narratives

The Conversation runs Friday afternoon from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Open Sesame in downtown Kitchener.

Panelists will be asked to talk about one major thing in last 50 years that they want to bring into the future and they'll reflect on it through their art.

Then, the panel will talk about how they feel experiencing how somebody else's art envisions the future. It will be followed by an outdoor performance.

Artists often challenge traditional narratives, Lindo said.

"They use their art to resist, they use their art to talk about stolen narratives that nobody else wants to talk about," she said.

"I think part of the challenge — or the fun, because I think it's important to have fun, it is a festival — part of the fun is to start to envision, imagine what Canada can mean to us, let's say, 150 years from now."