Can Good People Participate in Systemic Racism?
Can Good People Participate in Systemic Racism? with Cecil Sveinson
Anti-Racism Speaker Series (virtual)
Hosted by the City of Winnipeg
The Manitoba Human Rights Commission’s website defines Systemic discrimination as & practices or attitudes that have, whether by design or impact, the effect of limiting an individual’s or a group’s right to the opportunities generally available because of attributed rather than actual characteristics.”
Systemic discrimination is similarly defined in section 9(3) of The Code, which refers to a mix of rules or practices that may not seem discriminatory when looked at individually, together resulting in discrimination. In this session, participants will be asked to gauge their level of complicity in systemic racism. Cecil will provide concrete, real world examples of systemic racism and the toll it has taken on his community and himself, personally.
Bio:
Cecil Sveinson returned to working at the City of Winnipeg as the Manager of Indigenous Relations in April 2021. His first chapter with the City was as a police officer – joining in 1992 immediately after the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry.
Over the course of that 25 year career, Cecil took over the Indigenous, Diversity and Human Rights training, programming and outreach for the Winnipeg Police. Cecil’s work was held up as a best practice nationally and he was asked to serve as adjunct faculty for the Canadian Police College where he assisted in the design and delivery of Indigenous training for officers nationally and internationally.
After retiring, as a result of his unique skillset and experience, Cecil was called upon to assist Senator Murray Sinclair with his investigation into systemic racism and the Thunder Bay Police Service Board. Cecil is a husband, father and grandfather and is a lifelong resident of Winnipeg but a proud member of Poplar River Anishinaabe Nation.
This event is part of the Anti-Racism Speaker Series.
Registration is not required. Click here to join the event.