How do we live and interact with others in multicultural and multiracial communities in Canada? What is the relationship between settler colonialism and multiculturalism? What is the future of multiculturalism? This study away course is a critical study of colonialism, settler colonialism, multiculturalism, and Canadian nation-making by attending to: (a) the politics of elimination, assimilation, and recognition of Indigenous presence; (b) settler colonial institutions that have sustained racialized and social hierarchies in Canada, and (c) historical and contemporary interactions between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

We will draw upon the work of scholars, community leaders, and artists that critique celebratory perspectives of multiculturalism to identify emerging forms of knowledges and practices that interrogate multicultural values of recognition, tolerance and welcome.

Students will travel to Vancouver, British Columbia where they will experience guided tours of historically Black and Asian neighborhoods, activities involving land stewardship with xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Nation), site visits to Japanese internment camp memorials, and much more! Students will critically engage with memorials, monuments, and convivial multicultural places to untangle the fraught relationship between public memory, “truth” and reconciliation.

Quick Links

• Prepare to Travel Safe
• Funding Opportunities for Study Abroad
• Study Abroad Frequently Asked Questions

Accommodations and Meals

Students will stay in single rooms with shared washroom in an on-campus residence at the University of British Columbia. The residence also provides communal kitchens, laundry facilities, lounge areas. Daily breakfast will be included​. The residence is located in downtown Vancouver and is in close proximity to shops, restaurants, cafes, and bus stops.

Flights

There is no group flight for this course, and all admitted students are responsible for booking and paying for their own flights. If you wish to arrive in Vancouver earlier than the course start date, or stay after the course is complete, you will be responsible for finding and paying for your own accommodations.