Report on LAWG’s “Si, Hay Camino” History Project

August 2015

“Reconnecting, Re-Energizing, Realistic – and Fun!”

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This brief report is to let you know we have accomplished a great deal in our first phase of our “Si, Hay Camino” Project. This past year we have established an Advisory Group that meets regularly. We have carried out 14 interviews. We’ve met with colleagues in several ngo’s and academic programs interested in documenting

Canada-Latin America solidarity. We’re making LAWG’s archives at York University and CERLAC more accessible. We’re developing a website. And we’re exploring the early roots and origins of LAWG.

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Also, in June, we held a meeting in Toronto with LAWG colleagues to collectively ponder two questions: “What did we learn from LAWG’s 30 years of work?” And, “Which of these insights might be relevant to social justice activists today?”

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Our June meeting was very successful

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Much of the meeting was spent in small group discussions to maximize people’s opportunity to give input into the project. Dynamic conversations with flip-charting were crucial in helping us to put flesh on the bones of the themes which our Advisory Group had identified from interviews to-date. By the end of the day, we felt we had had a rich and useful discussion.

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While it was affirmed we are on the right path and have enthusiastic support, we know we also have to recognize our limitations. Our continuation means focusing on what is most strategic, carrying out concrete and do-able tasks, such as digitizing LAWG’s publications, and fostering relationships with academics who have capacity to do research and publication.

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Speaking of reality, we also discussed the importance of acquiring some further modest support to keep moving forward. Cheques can be made out to the “Canadian Jesuits International” re “The LAWG History Project”.

[CJI, 70 Saint Mary Street, Toronto, ON  M5S 1J3] Donations are tax receiptable!

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Thanks for your support.

And thanks for accompanying us on our camino,

Solidarity greetings,

Janice Acton, Coordinator

 

LAWG History Gathering

June 12-14, 2015

“This all feels so familiar!”

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On Saturday morning, June 13th, LAWG members met at St. Mathew’s United Church, and happily mingled over coffee before starting the meeting. Socials at Betsy’s on Friday and Saturday nights also offered opportunities to re-connect with old LAWG friends. It was great to reconnect. As several people said: “This feels so familiar, it’s like no time at all has passed.”

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The goal of the gathering was to share our findings to date related to the LAWG “Si, Hay Camino” History Project. Specifically, we met to explore: “What are the top 10 takeaways from our 30 years of LAWG work?”. In keeping with old LAWG tradition – the discussions were full, fascinating and provocative.

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18 Participants

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LAWG members came from Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Coburg, Fredericton, Halifax and Bay St. Lawrence, Cape Breton. These included Advisory Group members (John Foster, Sheila Katz, Betsy Anderson, Suzanne Dudziak, Caese Levo, George Cram and Janice Acton). Also present were Tim Draimin, John Dillon, Virginia Smith, Margrit Gahlinger, Pat Bird, Lyn Centre, Bev Burke, Rick Arnold, Chris Rosene, Sheila Cram, and Judith Marshall.

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Many others wanted to come but were unable to, including Louise Casselman and Nick Keresztesi (also on the Advisory Group), Frances Arbour, Joe Gunn, Suzanne Doerge, Bob Jeffcott, Sandra Sorenson, Michael O’Sullivan, Christine Smillie, Margaret Hilson, Suzanne Rumsey, Jim Sinclair and others.

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A separate labour focus group took place on Monday. Nick Keresztesi, Bob Jeffcott and Janice were present, along with Louise, Sheila and Jim Sinclair who engaged via speaker phone.

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A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who came, and those who tried but couldn’t.

Walking the Camino

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Each participant identified when and how they had been fellow-travelers on the LAWG camino. On a 20-foot roll of paper, people wrote the dates they were involved, whether it was during the “pre-years”, the Brazil era, the Chile Coup and Dirty Wars, the Central America struggles, or LAWG’s final years.

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John Foster and George Cram won the prize as the longest LAWG members present, going back to 1965!

“Where LAWG Came From?

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Over the past few months, John Foster has been diligently sorting through his personal archives to trace the early history of LAWG. With his trademark eloquence and humour, John gave a presentation – “Where LAWG Came From, From Before Conception Through Infancy: The Mid-to-Late Sixties” – offering a tantalizing glimpse into LAWG’s radical Christian left and other political/social roots. John’s presentation will hopefully become the basis of an article or book chapter he has already begun writing.

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Conjunctural, Commitment, Collaborative

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Janice presented a snapshot of the themes emerging out of interviews done to date. These provided a catalyst for small group discussions exploring “our most important learnings”. Betsy then led us through a synthesis or “clustering” process consolidating these hallmarks of LAWG’s work into a few key themes:

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• Sustained collective commitment;

• Trusting relationships in LAWG and with others;

• Action-oriented research

• Experiential learning

• Support to movement-building

• Conjunctural analysis

• Multilateral, collaborative, convoking.

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Future Directions

On Sunday, a smaller, slightly more tired, but still enthusiastic, group met to discuss how to move the Project forward.

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Key points that will guide our work in coming months:

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• First and foremost, the historical reflections are an important thing for us, ourselves;

• It’s impossible to transfer learnings in a vacuum, without clarity on specifically what audience;

• We have no firm conclusion about publication, however, we agree that having our own website will be an important place to share learnings, and resources;

• We should focus on the academic sector as a means of disseminating and publishing – eg CALACS (and other LA and Caribbean) and Social Movement Programs;

• To test whether LAWG’s learnings are of relevance today, we might hold a couple focus groups with younger activists;

• A couple possible themes which activists today might find of interest, growing out of LAWG’s experiences are: “walking the line” (finding a way to work across political differences), and “overcoming the sense of despair”

• We need to write a brief/manageable narrative of the “LAWG Story”, possibly thru the lens of the History Project process, rather than doing a definitive 40 year history of LAWG;

• The Archives is VERY important. It holds the potential of being a crucial compository of information about LAWG accessible to future researchers;

• Enthusiastic support for “work bees” to help people organize their personal LAWG files;

• Digitize LAWG Letters and other publications to make these more accessible to researchers and activists. Does anyone have a complete set of LAWG Letters we could borrow for scanning?

• It would be wonderful to interview everyone involved in LAWG, but limited time and resources means we may have to be “strategic” in terms of identifying research gaps;

• We will hold a follow-up meeting in Ottawa for those who couldn’t come to Toronto;

• Aim at completing this Project in 2 years’ time.

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 We will be seeking $$ and in-kind support for:

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• Project coordination (1 day a week)

• Designing a website

• Digitizing LAWG publications

• Hiring someone to do a Lit Review on Canada-LA Solidarity;

• A temporary ‘holding’ space for Caese to organize files in preparation for the archives;

• An apartment for Margrit to come to Toronto for a month in the winter for an “Archives Holiday”.

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Suzanne Dubeau (York U Archivist) & Caese Levo.

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LAWG’s archives will be a major focus of activities in coming months. This will include the continued organization of materials, digitizing of LAWG publications, and promotion of our archives to key academics. LAWG materials are held at York University Archives and CERLAC, both of whom provide critical support in helping to preserve our history.

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“An Amazing Energy”

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People’s evaluation of our June gathering was very positive:

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“I was really happy to be here. I was looking forward to the reconnection with a number of people. Before I came, I didn’t know if I could remember anything. But as we got talking, things came back. And I’m glad we’ve come out with something that isn’t about changing the world, but is nuanced, and based on the reality of today.”

“I’m grateful that the archival work has been recognized as important. It is really important for the future, and to ‘what was this all about?’”

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“It’s been a very interesting weekend. I’m not involved in the work now. But it was a very important part of my working life in my early days. It would be fascinating to go into it a little deeper but I just don’t have time to commit to it.”

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“The fact that we are working within our limitations, and not trying to over-reach, is really good, and it just feels right. It kind of went to a different place than I thought it was going to go, but it’s wonderful. It feels great. I’m really excited.”

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“I feel there’s an amazing energy still.  I’m going back home feeling quite energized.”

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