Latest News

Student Life

Saint–Laurent 101

by Gabriela McGuinty on

More in Student Life:

Whether you are a first year or otherwise, navigating nights out in Montreal can prove to be quite tricky and an honest testament to one’s patience. Home to infamous locations such as Tokyo, Suwu, and Cafe Campus, Saint Laurent tends to be an obvious choice for many McGillians on any given night of the week. While this bustling street’s close proximity to campus seems to fuel a constant flow of students, becoming a Saint Laurent pro takes time and practice. Apart from the obvious must-brings: ID (definitely), money (probaby), friends (hopefully), The McGill Tribune has also compiled a list of the essentials that will make any night out on Saint Laurent a success. 

A good pair of shoes 

Going out at night sometimes inclines students to get out of their school clothes and put on something they deem more appropriate for dancing. Think twice before grabbing those chunky platforms and go instead for a reliable pair of shoes. The floors of Saint Laurent bars, clubs, and restaurants are flooded with substances ranging from garbage to spilled drinks. Not to mention the fact that no venue seems to actually have enough room for its supposed capacity, so consider stepped toes a rite of passage. Advice: Opt for a darker pair of closed toe shoes that are already slightly beaten up. Your feet and bank account will thank you. 

Hand sanitizer 

See the above description of club floors. There are about five million billion trillion bacteria in the world and this city at night is no exception. 

A toonie for 2Chow

2Chow noodles have sustained students on St.–Laurent since the dawn of time—or, for however long it has been a clubbing hot-spot. There’s nothing more distressing than having a nagging feeling of hunger magnify immediately upon exiting a club. Suddenly, the overpriced and undercooked pizza joints seem like a delectable four-course meal. However, there’s absolutely no need to break the bank to satisfy hunger cravings. Head on over to the multiple 2Chow stands nestled along the street and get your dose of a delicious and debatably nutritious snack. 

GPS tracker on your phone 

A downside to a night out in a bustling student town is the unavoidable likelihood that at some point a phone will be misplaced or taken. To avoid having to whine to parents or make the unappealing trek to Best Buy to purchase another costly device, use your phone’s GPS tracker. iPhone and Android users have the luxury of being able to rely on a built-in GPS, namely Find iPhone and Find My Device, respectively. Other phone users might find it useful to download an external GPS tracker so that in the unfortunate case where a phone does goes missing, you can locate it within a matter of a few clicks. 

Your dignity 

Last but certainly not least, this final essential for a night out is applicable to both first years discovering their limits and fourth years attempting to retread familiar mistakes. In an age where social media is as accessible and widespread as it is, one would imagine that people would be more conscious of their actions. However, everyone has made mistakes, and a big part of being at university is learning to confront those mistakes head on, hopefully with an eventual laugh. I recommend following the 75-15-10 method: Keep it 75 per cent classy, 15 per cent sassy, and 10 per cent trashy.

Arts & Entertainment, Music

Carly Rae Jepsen “cuts to the feeling” at her MTELUS show

by Vanessa Barron on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

Once assumed a one-hit wonder and now a cult-status pop queen, Carly Rae Jepsen delivered an unforgettable performance at MTELUS Sept. 12 as part of the Dedicated tour. In recent years, Canadian-born Jepsen has appealed to mainstream and indie listeners alike, first with the release of 2015’s E•MO•TION and now with Dedicated, which dropped in May 2019. Simple, yet melodically rich, retro, but not overly nostalgic, Jepsen’s performance was a vibrant celebration of love in all its forms. 

The concert opened with the pulsing electronic bassline of a recent single off of Dedicated, “No Drug Like Me.” The sultry track marked a significant departure from the staple bubblegum-peppiness of her previous albums. The opening line, “Take me to the limit / hold me down there,” sung in sotto voce, set the tone for the rest of the night, which would crescendo to an explosion of emotion and energy, both onstage and in the crowd.

Fittingly, the next song was the title track of E•MO•TION, followed by “Run Away with Me,” E•MO•TION’s opener. These two songs epitomize Jepsen’s lyrical creativity: Rather than narrating the specifics of a relationship, she calls out to an unnamed love interest, exclaiming “Baby, take me to the feeling.” This direct address expresses her longing for connection, a sentiment that is intimate yet universal. It’s the lyrical equivalent of reading a horoscope: You determine the song’s significance, which makes it even more poignant in application.

Jepsen’s performance reflected the frankness of her music as well. There were no backup dancers, no costume changes—Jepsen herself wore a colourful jumpsuit with glow-in-the-dark plastic barrettes. Accompanying her onstage were three band members providing live accompaniment, a surprising addition considering the predominantly synthy, studio-produced sound of her music. Jepsen kept the commentary in between tracks to a minimum, but she did reveal that “Julien,” the eponymous subject of Dedicated’s opener, is from Montreal, adding, “Julien, if you’re here tonight, please don’t call me.” Considering both the ambiguity and sincerity of her lyrics, this no-frills performance seemed characteristically Carly Rae.

Songs on the setlist ranged from radio-hits like “Call Me Maybe” to lesser-known B-sides like “Store” and “Cry.” Regardless of each song’s popularity, audience members passionately shouted along to the performance. 

Not all of Jepsen’s songs focus on crushes and new love. Towards the end of the concert, she played “Boy Problems” and “Party for One” back to back. Neither song deals with budding romance; rather, the tracks explore the process of overcoming heartbreak with the help of friends and self-love. These songs deliver a beacon of positivity in the midst of loneliness or rejection. As opposed to the longing for romantic affection expressed in many of her tracks, the love Jepsen receives from friends and herself becomes the source of the songs’ optimism. There is certainly some irony to a crowded venue shouting along to “Party for One,” but above all, the song was a highlight of the concert. 

Jepsen finished the concert with “Cut to the Feeling,” one of her most popular songs, released as a single and featured on RuPaul’s Drag Race. It was the perfect ending. A straightforward pop tune in both music and message, the song delivers what it describes: Unadulterated feelings of love, positivity, and joy for everyone in the room. Jepsen’s music is everything right with pop today: No matter the subject of our emotions, Carly Rae Jepsen provides the soundtrack for any moment of love in our lives.

McGill, News

Sackler family accused of instigating the opioid crisis donated $3.9 million to McGill

by Ay Kawasaki & Ezra-Jean Taylor on

More in McGill:

The Sackler family, McGill donors and owners of a pharmaceutical company with ties to the opioid crisis, declared bankruptcy on Sept. 15. Between 2014 and 2017, McGill received a total of $3,888,078 from The Sackler Foundation to advance research and education, including the establishment of the Sackler Program for Epigenetics and Psychobiology. 

After acquiring Purdue Pharma in 1952, the company trademarked OxyContin, the brand name for a powerful pain-killer oxycodone, in 1996. To maximize sales, the company offered benefits for doctors who prescribed the drug to their patients, which contributed to OxyContin’s rise to become the most commonly abused medications in the US. The Sacklers have made an estimated $13 billion off of the opioid crisis, and are currently facing a litany of lawsuits over allegedly disregarding laws to increase their worth.

According to the Canadian government, the opioid crisis took 11,577 lives in Canada between Jan. 2016 and Dec. 2018. 

The Sacklers have made contributions to numerous museums and universities, including McGill, Cornell University, and King’s College London. As of May 2019, major museums such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Tate Modern have refused donations from the family due to their role in perpetuating the opioid crisis. 

Dr. Michael Meaney is the co-founder of the Sackler Program of Epigenetics and Psychobiology of McGill.

“The McGill donation was arranged through Ilene Sackler Lefourt who is a practicing child psychologist and director of the Sackler Lefcourt Centre for Child Development, which employs purely psychological programs for mothers and children to promote optimal early child development,” Meaney wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “It was this interest that prompted the investment in the McGill research.”

Despite the ongoing lawsuits tying the Sackler family to the opioid crisis, Meaney believes in the importance of distancing the family’s charity work from the recent allegations. 

“I know Ilene Sackler Lefcourt to be a person sincerely dedicated to promoting the mental health of mothers and children,” Meaney wrote. “The bottom line here is that we are dedicated to a public mission and promoting child health and development. That priority trumps all other considerations in my mind.”

According to Senior Communications Officer James Martin, McGill has not received further donations from the Sackler Family since 2016.

“The Sackler Program for Epigenetics & Psychobiology at McGill University was established through a donation from the Sackler Foundation and has not now nor ever has had any association with Purdue Pharma,” Martin wrote in an email to the Tribune. 

McGill’s Gift Acceptance Policy outlines the ethical requirements for the school to adhere to when accepting donations. 

“Examples of reasons for the refusal of a proposed gift include: gift could compromise the University’s public image, reputation or commitment to its mission and values; gift is from an individual or organization whose philosophy and values could be considered inconsistent with those of the University; donor applies unacceptable restrictions or conditions on the gift; gift may have come from illegal or unethical activities…” the policy reads.

The Sackler Foundation has now halted philanthropic donations and given up the ownership of Purdue Pharma since the publicization of their connection to the opioid crisis.

Science & Technology

Carbon offsets: A controversial way to fight climate change

by Gwenyth Wren on

More in Science & Technology:

At McGill, a university that boasts a large international student body and faculty, it is no surprise that many people rely on air travel to return for the start of the semester. Globally, the number of annual airline passengers in the past 15 years has more than doubled, increasing from 1.9 billion in 2004 to 4.3 billion in 2018. Worryingly, the transportation sector, particularly the airline industry, is the fastest-growing emitter of greenhouse gases and, thus, a major contributor to climate change.

As individuals and institutions seek to reduce their carbon footprint, many turn to purchasing carbon offsets, sold by independent companies such as Carbon Offset Reserve and Plan Vivo. Carbon offsetting is a way of counteracting carbon emissions: By purchasing carbon offsets, parties provide funding for greenhouse gas reduction projects and activities. Carbon offset projects include renewable energy programs, methane capture from landfills or farms, and carbon sequestration projects such as reforestation. 

While carbon offsetting represents a quick fix to mitigating climate change, McGill Climate Officer Aileen Rivers explained that it should not be viewed as a panacea nor as an excuse to ignore the environmental effects of daily decisions. Indeed, some have even argued that offsetting allows us to consume guilt-free, similar to the Catholic church’s notorious promise to absolve sins through the sale of indulgences.

“It is important to be clear that carbon offsetting brings companies or a person back to the baseline they were already at,” Rivers said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “It does not reduce emissions any further from the level they were at to begin with.” 

Rivers detailed that, while offsetting is a good strategy, it should be used in conjunction with lifestyle changes rather than in isolation. This is especially important because it is not always possible to ensure that the purchased offset will have a beneficial effect since the carbon market varies widely in quality. 

In fact, some offsets are thought to have no net climate benefit. For example, protecting forests in a certain location might simply shift logging to a forest in another area. Among other criteria, high-quality offsets should be accurately quantified, verified by a third party, and involve stakeholders. Certain offset projects are endorsed according to these criteria by organisations like Gold Standard.

McGill recently received $1.8 million in government funding to reduce energy consumption and decrease total energy emissions by 18 per cent by 2022. With the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040, McGill is supporting community members who want to purchase offsets for unavoidable emissions through the creation of an offset selection committee that accounts for the necessary criteria to classify an offset as high quality. In theory, this will ensure that the offset is successful, and that no negative consequences arise. 

Though offsets are important, Rivers suggests small lifestyle changes to reduce environmental impact in the long term, such as using public transport when possible, reducing power usage, and avoiding travelling by plane. If air travel is necessary, however, people should choose economy seating and direct flights, since packing in more passengers and reducing takeoffs and landings increases fuel efficiency. Eating locally and reducing the consumption of animal products are also key to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

“I believe it is a fallacy that individual choices cannot make a difference,” Rivers said. “Little things aggregate and lead to something more significant.” 

Rivers also recommends using a personal emissions calculator to target which lifestyle changes are most needed. By implementing small changes and being held accountable, these small adjustments will accumulate to bigger lifestyle transitions.

Men's Varsity, Sports

McGill men’s lacrosse beats Trent in second OT

by Adam Bell on

More in Men's Varsity:

The Sept. 14 afternoon matchup between the McGill men’s lacrosse team (2–0) and the Trent University Excalibur (2–1) was a thrilling early-season affair. McGill showed tremendous character and perseverance to beat Trent 8–7 in double overtime.

The action started quickly when fourth-year defenceman Connor Plante caught a sailing pass and ran half of the field to open scoring for McGill. The cheers were short-lived, however, as Trent evened the score in the fourth minute. Seconds later, the home crowd was on its feet again when second-year long-stick midfielder Ethan Forgrave converted a passing sequence into another goal for McGill. 

The Trent defence tightened after the excitement of the game’s opening minutes. The rest of the first half favoured the away side as the Excalibur dominated possession, shots, and goals. McGill trailed 6–3 at half-time.

“We came out okay, but then they scored a lot of goals, and it was the first time this year where we had our backs against the wall,” Defensive Coach Nick Soubry said. “It took us a while for us not to overthink things.”           

At the start of the second half, McGill made a substitution in the net, replacing first-year goalkeeper Steven Pelliccione with his older brother, third-year goalkeeper David Pelliccione, to tighten the McGill defence. Second-year midfielder Andrew Chase then eventually scored an impressive goal from a seemingly impossible angle, cutting Trent’s lead down to two. A minute later, third-year attackman Colton Campbell ran over multiple defenders to score with a cannon shot. However, Trent added to their advantage with under two minutes left in the third quarter to make it 7–5. 

McGill started the fourth quarter aggressively with the Campbell-Chase connection making it a one-point margin once again. Chase then completed his hat-trick to level the score at 7–7, while Pelliccione successfully rebuffed Trent’s attack. But, with only two seconds left in the game, Trent scored what would have been the decisive point; however, the referees disallowed the goal due to a crease violation, and the game went to overtime.

“[David Pelliccione] made some really big saves, which gave the guys confidence,” Soubry said, commending the substitute goalie’s performance after the game. “When you get toward the end of the game, and the goalie makes a big stop, the team gets very hyped and energetic.”  

In the first period of golden-goal overtime, Trent dominated the ball, but McGill’s defence did not budge. In the second period, Trent continued to attack, and McGill appeared to be in trouble. But, with a minute left, fourth-year defenceman Tanner Baldin intercepted the ball and darted across the field to score the game-winning goal.

McGill will square off with the Gee-Gees (0-1) in Ottawa on Sept. 21. 

 

Moment of the Game:

In his defensive zone, fourth-year defencemen Tanner Baldin stretched out his stick to intercept a horizontal pass. He then sprinted to the opposite net to smash home the game-winner.

Quotable:

“We’re going to throw a party for the rookies tonight, and then get back to work on Monday.” – Third-year defender Roland Moellenberg on the team’s post-victory plans. 

Stat Corner:

McGill and Trent have finished in the top two of the CUFLA’s Eastern Conference every year since 2016. McGill is now the only remaining undefeated team in the conference.  

McGill, News

Getting to know McGill’s Morgan Arboretum

by Kate Addison & Jackie Lee on

More in McGill:

On Sept. 14, McGill’s Morgan Arboretum forest reserve held its annual open house, giving students an opportunity to experience a unique part of the Macdonald campus. With activities including the monarch butterfly launch and a birds of prey flight show, visitors had the opportunity to learn more about the local flora and fauna found at the Arboretum.

Before being donated to McGill in 1945, the land that the Arboretum occupies today was owned by a famous Montreal family, the Morgans, known for their Quebec department store chain. Today, the Arboretum is maintained and run primarily by operations manager Scott Pemberton. 

“[The Morgans] used the land for recreational purposes, for walks, for horses and buggy trails, to produce firewood for housing, and to produce maple syrup just for fun,” Pemberton said. 

The family donated the land to McGill hoping that it would be maintained by the university. McGill has repurposed  it as a resource for students throughout Montreal with an interest in forestry and conservation, such as Bryanna Pilkington, an environmental geography major at Concordia University and staff member at the Arboretum. 

“[At the Arboretum], we get a diverse view of what nature means in the 21st century,” Bilkington said. “We have these places where you can come and be in the outdoors, but it’s more of this conservationist view where you have humans and nature together.” 

Students involved in field work at the Arboretum remove invasive species and collect samples for research studies. 

“[The Arboretum] is basically a living classroom or a living laboratory,” Pemberton said. “[There is research] across schools, all the major universities have projects and classes here as do all of the CÉGEPs and secondary schools in the area, they all use the arboretum.” 

The forest reserve is also a place for the public to come and interact with a host of interesting plants and animals, many of which are native to the area. Naturalist Sarah Dixon explained how the Morgan Arboretum serves as a unique experience to its visitors.

“[The Arboretum] is big enough to be […] a functional ecosystem,” Dixon said. “There is enough room for animals to behave naturally [….] It’s possible to walk 20 feet and [go from] one habitat to another which means [that] there is just an incredible diversity of animals.” 

The annual open house and other public events such as workshops, astronomy events, and guided walks hosted by McGill provides an opportunities to emphasize the importance of conservation and a chance to show off a unique resource. Pilkington also believes that events such as these are important for educating people on climate change and conserving biodiversity. 

 “It’s a social relationship thing of being able to educate,” Pilkington said.  “If you come at it through this fun event, you have the opportunity to teach people about these things that are a little bit hard to talk about.” 

For those looking to learn more about the local environment or to get away from the city, the Arboretum is open to both volunteer work and visitation year round.

“One of the beautiful things about the Arboretum is that it is a well kept secret,” Pemberton said. “We don’t have thousands of visitors every day, so you can really find some peace and tranquility in the wild nature at the Arboretum.”

 

McGill, News

First wave of students completes sexual violence prevention training

by Tasmin Chu on

More in McGill:

Over the summer, McGill released an online sexual violence prevention course called “It Takes All of Us” to its first wave of students, with incoming first years gaining access as early as June 2019. Eventually, all students and staff will be required to complete the course. 

“”It Takes All of Us” is a learning program that strives to increase awareness of sexual violence, to ensure that [we base our] campus culture [on] respect and consent, and to help create a community free of sexual violence,” Associate Provost (Equity and Academic Policies) Angela Campbell wrote in an email to the McGill Tribune. 

The program consists of four modules, covering topics such as consent, alcohol and drug use, and sexual assault statistics. The course begins by exploring the many ways sexual violence can manifest, followed by a primer as to what genuine consent looks like. Bystander intervention is explored in the third module, and the course concludes by providing resources and advice for supporting survivors.

“I was a little hesitant at first. Generally, I find [that these programs are] very watered-down,” Margaret Askey, U0 Arts, said. “But, I found [that] the way they managed to explain nuanced concepts while also being respectful and mindful of students who have experienced sexual assault […] is a really important part of the program.”

All students who attended frosh, including upper year coordinators and leaders were required to complete “It Takes All of Us” in August.

“It gave me a little peace of mind,” Askey said. “[The mandatory training] means [that everyone at Frosh] at least gets introduced to the concept of consent. I think I can take for granted that most people I interact with in my social circles understand the basics of consent […] but I don’t think that’s the case for most students. And I don’t think that’s the case for students who come from social climates where sexuality is less discussed.”

Still, Askey also felt that drinking culture also had to be addressed for Frosh to be a truly safe environment for first years.

“I think that in tandem with this consent [program], [McGill] could do a lot more work around the drinking culture of Frosh [….] I knew students who attended the Arts Faculty Frosh had rallies at 6:00 am and partied until the wee hours of the morning, only to take a power nap and wake up and do it all again.”

Mengyu Chang, U0 Arts, was concerned that it was easy to bypass the contents of the course. 

“We need to complete [“It Takes All of Us”] to enter Frosh, so some people maybe did not read it very carefully or patiently,” Chang said.

“I heard plenty of other [first year students] talk about how they would play the module, walk into the next room, […] and then come back and guess on the questions,” Askey said.

However, Campbell believes such concerns about students rushing through the course may be unwarranted.

“We have found that McGill students are broadly supportive of and committed to efforts to raise awareness and increase supports for people impacted by sexual violence,” Campbell wrote. “We are aware of the IT issue of ‘fast forwarding’ and we’re examining various solutions to address it. Please note that someone cannot actually leave the room and let the module play since it must be advanced by the user.”

The course is expected to be released Sept. 23 for upper-year students and faculty. Students and staff will receive access to different versions.

“Both [courses] are largely the same,” Campbell wrote. “The staff/faculty version stresses the Policy Against Sexual Violence’s prohibition of romantic or sexual relations between teaching staff and students under their authority or influence.”

Commentary, Opinion

Bill 21: Impractical on paper and in practice

by Sepideh Afshar on

More in Commentary:

Bill 21, a law enacted by the Quebec government that prohibits public sector employees from wearing visible religious symbols, caused public outrage by disproportionately affecting religious minorities such as Muslims, Jews, and Sikhs. Introduced this past May, there was no shortage of speculation concerning how problematic the implementation of this bill would be. Since the law came into effect in September, Montrealers have been faced with the reality of the bill’s consequences: The implementation of Bill 21 has proven to be even more troublesome and divisive than its initial introduction.

Bill 21 did not include a specific plan detailing what enforcement would look like. Catherine Beauvais-St-Pierre, president of the alliance of teachers in Montreal, explained that school boards are learning how to apply Bill 21 day-by-day, as they were not given any instructions. One of the most ambiguous parts of the bill is the ‘grandfather clause’, which permits public servants who wore religious symbols before the law was passed to continue to do so as long as they remain in the same position. This means that there is no room for these people to move up in the workplace or change jobs should they wish to continue wearing religious attire. They are left having to choose between their careers and their right to religious expression.  

Bill 21 was introduced to the people of Québec as promoting secularism and aiming to remove all physical elements of religious belief from the public sector. Unfortunately, the bill’s actual execution has had the opposite effect. As a result, public servants like teachers are put in an uncomfortable position, being asked intrusive questions about their faith. Religious attire has become dangerously political, leaving many Quebecers part of religious minorities constantly aware that they are ‘stuck in the middle of this debate,’ putting them at odds with those who support Bill 21 and creating tension in workplaces.

The discomfort felt in the workplace by those wearing religious attire carries over from the workplace to everyday life. Once exposed to strangers on the street, this discomfort becomes fear. This feeling is best expressed by Amrit Kaur, a Montreal resident and teacher who wears a dastar and feels that people are looking at her differently on the street now, the first time she has ever felt uncomfortable in Montreal due to her religion. 

Hate crimes and xenophobic violence are increasingly being linked to Bill 21. Although Francois Legault, Quebec’s premier under the CAQ, has refused to acknowledge the link between the rise in violence with Bill 21, the two cannot be entirely separated. Bill 21 may not be the sole catalyst, but it has emboldened those who already held racist attitudes. The increasing rate of hate crimes in this province toward Muslims has coincided perfectly with the introduction of Bill 21. In any case, the CAQ’s statements when it comes to the effects of their legislation have been quite ignorant, which was demonstrated when a government agent stated very confidently that Bill 21 has created no tension or division.  

“Although Francois Legault, Quebec’s premier under the CAQ, has refused to acknowledge the link between the rise in violence with Bill 21, the two cannot be entirely separated.”

The administration at McGill has released a meek 125-word statement about Bill 21 simply stating that they welcome diversity and are concerned that the law will affect some students’ lives. They did not mention that there are specific groups of students being disproportionately affected and have yet to acknowledge that the bill has been put into effect. McGill needs to support its students and ensure they are feeling safe on-and-off campus. This message may have been enough to make those in the administration feel better about themselves but it is not enough for students. To quote the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU)’s statement, McGill needs to “publicly condemn the proposed bill and to provide meaningful support systems for the affected students […] to make campus as safe and equitable as possible.”

McGill, News

McGill launches ninth annual Indigenous Awareness Weeks

by Helen Wu on

More in McGill:

McGill’s ninth annual Indigenous Awareness Weeks (IAW) launched on Sept. 16. The theme this year is “matriarchy and Indigenous languages,” inspired partly by the United Nations proclamation of 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages. Indigenous Education Advisor Janelle Kaperski spearheaded the organization of 12 of the 16 IAW events, taking place Sept. 16—27. She explained the lens through which Indigenous languages will be exhibited this year.  

“I believe that Matriarchy and Indigenous languages are inextricably linked,” Kasperski said. “There’s no way you can talk about one without the other as many of us have learned our languages from strong women in our lives.”

IAW 2019 will feature a variety of events including workshops, panel discussions, keynote speakers from across Canada, and the 19th Annual McGill Pow Wow hosted by McGill’s First People’s House. Although IAW provides an opportunity for the McGill community to learn about Indigenous cultures, Kasperski emphasizes that the goal has always been to highlight Indigenous excellence. 

“[The purpose of IAW has] always [been] to celebrate Indigenous successes and provide space and a platform for Indigenous voices, knowledges, sharing, and really to highlight how important [these are] on campus,” Kasperski said. “I believe that’s what [IAW] is and what it always has been and that’s what it will continue to be.”

The Student’s Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) Indigenous Affairs Commissioner Tomas Jirousek pointed out the lack of physical space available for Indigenous staff and students on campus and hopes that IAW can help increase campus expressions of indigeneity. 

“There are very few expressions of indigeneity on campus,” Jirousek said. “IAW helps break that a little bit, whether it’s physically hanging banners, whether it’s actually having the physical spaces occupied by Indigenous knowledge holders, that helps disrupt this type of neoliberal [and] colonial learning environment.”

Jirousek highlights the importance of solidarity by referring to a collaboration with McGill’s Black Students’ Network (BSN) on a panel discussion examining the impact of colonial power on both black and Indigenous students.

“[The event is] speaking specifically to solidarity within colonial context as people of colour,” Jirousek said. “Black students and Indigenous students both face a variety of unique challenges whether it be economic, pedagogically-based, any other conditions which may create barriers to black and Indigenous students accessing post-secondary institutions.”

Founded in  2011 by Associate Director of the First People’s House Allan Vicaire, the McGill IAW started as only four days of celebrations, but has since expanded to two weeks after Kasperski began planning the event in 2018. Although Kasperski hopes for IAW to be a full month, there are challenges that come with extending the celebrations.

“When I first started the position, [IAW] was one week and immediately my thought was that, why don’t I have a month?” Kasperski said. “I know we have Black History Month [and] LGBTQ2I+ Month, but [when I initially] started, it was not feasible to be able to expand [IAW] to a month. To know that it’s in September is really difficult because there has been so much orientation. There were very specific reasons that the people before me chose this month. It is the fall equinox and an important time of year for many Indigenous nations [and] peoples”

Vicaire believes that it is not just about extending the length of IAW, and Indigenous issues should not be limited to set dates, but instead  discussed throughout the year.

“We should be infusing Indigenous people’s issues in all areas during the year,” Vicaire said. “We can’t just stop at one week or two weeks. We always have to be mindful about Indigenous peoples because we are the original peoples of this land.”

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Birds of Passage is a disappointing misrepresentation of Wayuu culture

by Joey Caplan on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

Birds of Passage lives in the moral grey area between cultural accuracy and creative license. On Sept. 20, in conjunction with the Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling, Concordia University screened the 2018 Colombian film, which depicts violence within Wayuu communities, and invited Wayuu leader Jakeline Romero to speak about Wayuu representation in Birds of Passage. 

Birds of Passage provides a hefty dose of violence and tragedy. Based on a true story, the film’s five distinct acts focus on a Wayuu community that becomes involved in international drug trafficking during the ‘90s. The film follows its protagonist, Rapayet (José Acosta), as he is thrust into the daunting role of leading a drug empire. Rapayet must reckon with the constant discord among the Wayuu and the inevitable war that ensues within the formerly peaceful group. 

The narrative is elevated by the beautiful scenery the La Guajira region, featuring sprawling deserts, beaches, and dense forests. Once drug money starts to roll in, however, they erect massive houses in the middle of endless sand. Though entertaining and visually astounding, much of the film’s drama depicts inaccurate and harmful representations of the Wayuu.

“Sometimes people say that reality goes beyond fiction, but in this case it is the opposite,” Romero said in a brief lecture following the screening. “How do I feel? It’s my second time watching [Birds of Passage] and I’m frustrated because the Wayuu is a living culture, [we are] not fiction like Avatar. It’s frustrating because when talking about real people, [the individuals depicted] are affected.” 

Romero explained that, not only are the Wayuu far less violent than they are portrayed, but the film butchers many of the simple facts of Wayuu culture: Since the Wayuu have a matrilineal culture, it would have been impossible for Rapayet to be in power. Furthermore the filmmakers completely misrepresented many of the culture’s wartime codes and rituals. Fundamental plot elements were exaggerated or fabricated entirely.

“This is a historical period that existed, but it was not [true] that [the events depicted were] carried out solely by the Wayuu people. It was much bigger than that, it was just that [the Wayuu] were part of the transit of the drugs,” Romero said. 

Romero expressed satisfaction at seeing some aspects of her culture accurately portrayed, but understands that the details the film succeeded in portraying are not what audiences will remember about Birds of Passage. 

“As a Wayuu I can appreciate many things about the film, but the general audience will not see those things,” Romero said. She observed that even the remarkable beauty of the film could not be attributed entirely to its filmmakers.

“The movie may be beautiful, but that’s because La Guajira is a beautiful place,” she said.

While Birds of Passage succeeds aesthetically, the misrepresentation of its subjects discredits much of the film’s content: Those details that initially seemed illuminating were in fact misleading. Romero’s perspective shed light on the realities of Wayuu life during the period when the film takes place; realities which perhaps would not have lent themselves as well to a Hollywood style movie. 

Considering the level of familiarity most  Western audiences likely have with the Wayuu people, many viewers may take for granted Birds of Passage’s inconsiderate portrayals of the communities it depicts. Despite the aesthetically appealing cinematography and superficially entertaining narrative of the film, Birds of Passage lacks an understanding of Romero’s culture that would have made the plot far more compelling. 

1 … 472 473 474 475 476 … 1,363

Read the latest issue

Read the latest issue