Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

BC Orff DEI 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

DEI 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
Perspectives:
Websites
First Nations, Metis
Black History in BC
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
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