This meeting was held at 12:00 PM via Zoom webinar.
Guest Speakers
Bevann Fox
Michelle Casavant
Presentation
CBABC Women Lawyers Forum held a book club meeting to discuss Genocidal Love: A Life After Residential School by Bevann Fox
Presenting herself as the character “Myrtle”, author Bevann Fox weaved fiction and truth together in her novel Genocidal Love: A Life After Residential School, a powerful retelling of her experience at a residential school as a child and an exploration of the long-lasting consequences of the residential school system, colonization, and resulting childhood trauma on Indigenous families and their communities.
Having recently observed the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, the WLF Education Committee wanted to continue the discussion about that dark period in Canada’s history by creating a space to educate members, bring awareness to the history and legacy of the residential school system and honor the survivors, families, and communities.
It was an honour to have Bevann Fox join us for a discussion about Genocidal Love and her experience as a residential school survivor and Indigenous woman trying to heal, pursue justice, and reclaim her voice and identity along the way.
The book club featured a Q&A between the author and Michelle Casavant. Michelle is the current Vice-Chair of the Aboriginal Lawyers Forum and the Co-chair of the DOJ BC Region Diversity and Inclusion Action Committee. In addition to moderating the discussion, Michelle shared some of her experiences as an Indigenous woman lawyer practicing in BC.
We encourage you to read Genocidal Love but this isn’t required. The book is available on Amazon.
About the Speakers
BEVANN FOX is a member of Pasqua First Nation, originally from Piapot First Nation. In 2012 she received her Bachelor of Arts in Arts and Culture and in 2018 her Master in Business Administration, Leadership from the University of Regina. In 2014 she was honoured with the YWCA Women of Distinction Award—Arts, Culture and Heritage. She is the founder, producer, and co-host of Access TV's The Four. Her 2020 book, Genocidal Love, won an Indigenous Voices Award and a Saskatchewan Book Award.
MICHELLE CASAVANT has a mixed heritage, Cree-Métis, French, and Irish from central Saskatchewan. She has been a visitor on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations since 1997. Michelle has a background in fine arts, education and law. She has worked for the federal government for 12 years in numerous roles involving the advancement of and Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and communities. Michelle is a very active volunteer providing Indigenous perspectives to policies and programming. She also hosts Indigenous authors book clubs, cultural competency training, community engagement, and cultural workshops.
Duration of meeting was 1.0 hour. Of this, 0 hours can be counted towards CPD.