Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
B.C. Orff D.E.I. Statement:
The BC Chapter of Carl Orff Canada is dedicated to supporting inclusivity within the classrooms and practices of music educators.
The BC Orff Chapter commits to continuing a process of deep reflection upon our teaching practices and classroom culture as they relate to diversity and in particular, people of all ethnicities and cultures, Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQ2SAI+, people of different abilities, those who are neurodiverse, those who have mental health challenges and people of different socioeconomic status. We are listening, engaged in educating ourselves and our students, and committed to respecting all differences.
*If you feel we have missed you, please let us know so we can include you!
Land Acknowledgement:
The BC Orff Chapter respectfully acknowledges that we are on the unceded traditional shared territories of the 14 Yukon First Nations, Metis and Inuvialuit Peoples*, and the more than 200 distinct Indigenous Peoples of BC**, who are the traditional guardians of this land. It is with gratitude that we live, work and play on this land.
* https://yukon.ca/en/find-out-about-yukon-first-nations
** BC First Nations – Indigenous People Listing
https://www.welcomebc.ca/Choose-B-C/Explore-British-Columbia/B-C-First-Nations-Indigenous-People
D.E.I. Resources:
Activities for the Classroom:
Drum, Move, Play! Digital Resource by Sherryl Sewepagaham – for purchase
Dumela, Drum, Dance! Digital Resource by Garth Prince – for purchase Dumela, Drum, Dance! by Garth Prince
Please go to the Carl Orff Canada Website (COC DEI resources) to access Slideshow presentations on Black History Month, The Metis Nation, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as well as “Indigenous Peoples, Music, and Issues: Considerations for Orff Teachers”
Music and Song Selection Considerations
Link to the AOSA Song Selection Statement AOSA Song Selection Statement
Song selection considerations by the Feierabend Association for Music Education FAME Song Selection
Perspectives:
Sherrly Sewepagaham (U of Alberta)
Russell Wallace (NEC; UBC) Isolation commissions #101; Indian Head
Dr. Kofi Gbolonyo (UBC School of Music)
Jacky Essombe (Artstarts)
Rose-Ellen Nichols (Coast-Salish Opera Singer); Pres des Rampart de Seville
Dr. Jody Stark (U of Manitoba)
Dr. Scott Goble (UBC)
Dr. Laurel Forshaw (Vancouver)
Dr. Anita Prest (U of Victoria)
Dr. Kathy Robinson (U of Alberta)
Maureen Dunn (Nova Scotia)
Dr. Chantal Dubois (Université de Montréal)
Ian Cusson – Métis composer – (Ontario) – https://www.iancusson.com/bio
Andrew Balfour – Cree composer (Ontario) https://deadofwinter.ca/about-us/composer-and-artistic-director/
Dylan Robinson – https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/hungry-listening
Websites
Decolonizing the Music Classroom – Decolonizing the Music Classroom
Global Centre for Pluralism – Resources for Educators on building more inclusive societies – https://www.pluralism.ca/what-we-do-2/education/talking-racism/
Inclusion BC – Resources for enhancing the lives of children, youth, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families by building awareness, inspiring action and advancing rights, responsibilities and social justice. https://inclusionbc.org/resource-types/inclusive-education/
National Arts Centre – NAC French Resource, NAC English Resource
For more resources in French, please visit Orff – Quebec
For other resources, check out the Ontario Orff Anti-Racism Resource page – Ontario Orff (Anti-Racism Resource)
First Nations, Metis
First Voices – Indigenous communities sharing and promoting language, oral culture and linguistic history. Curated by elders. First Voices
Metis in B.C. Voice of Metis in BC website
BC Assembly of First Nations First Nations BC
Black History in BC
Hogan’s Alley – Vancouver’s Hogan’s Alley
Joe Fortes – Animated youtube clip on Joe – 8min
Eleanor Collins – Info: Eleanor Collins
Harry Jerome – Info: Harry Jerome
Mel “Trick” Davis – CBC article on Vancouver legend
Thelma Towns nee Gibson – Vancouver Sun/Province article – Remembering Thelma
Inclusive Education
Inclusive Education Film Series – Inclusionbc.org
“All are Welcome” – book by Alexandra Penfold
“Red: A Crayon’s Story” – book by Michael Hall
“Name Jar” – book by Yangsook Choi
“I Am Enough” – book by Grace Byers
“We’re All Wonders” – book by R.J. Palacio
“Just Ask!; Be Different, Be Brave, Be You” – written by Sonia Sotomayor and illustrated by Rafael Lopez
Articles and Further Exploration
Dismantling Anti-Black Racism in Music Education by Darren Hamilton in French and English CMEA journal article #1
The Sounds of Silence: Talking Race in Music Education, by Deborah Bradley – Article by Deborah Bradley
Understanding Oppression – Article by Leticia Nieto and Margot Boyer
White Fragility – Article by Robin DiAngelo – By Robin DiAngelo
Check out free focus groups offered by other Orff Chapters and the Kodály Society of Canada on their websites
Stark, J. (2021). Reflections of a white music educator on decolonizing music education. Canadian Music Educator, 63(2)
Books
Orff Schulwerk in Diverse Cultures, an Idea That Went Round the World, edited by Barbara Haselbach and Carolee Stewart, Pentatonic Press
Wolfgang Hartmann ‘Looking at the Roots’ is another book by Pentatonic Press
“Mon voisin Oscar”- Biography on Oscar Peterson in French https://www.scholastic.ca/editions/livres/view/mon-voisin-oscar
“Dipnetting with Dad” written by Willie Sellars and illustrated by Kevin Easthope Interview with the Authors – can be accompanied by First Nations song “Lil’wat” taught by Russell Wallace (Lil’wat First Nations). Dipnetting on the Thompson
See “Centering Black Lives – A Reading List for All Ages” under Websites
Books by Chantal Dubois (in French) – Landscapes of Haitian Songs; Paysages de la chanson française Vol 1 and 2 Orffmusiqueenfete
Other Reads
“Everyday Antiracism: Getting Real about Race in School” edited by Mica Pollock
“So You Want To Talk About Race” by Ijeoma Oluo
“White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo