Afternoon of Allyship: Building Bridges Through Reflection and Action

afternoon of allyship team Sep 30, 2025
By Diana Corredor

On September 30, the Faculty of Social Science had the privilege of hosting the second annual Afternoon of Allyship, held in the Social Science Centre (SSC 2050). From 12:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., faculty, staff, and students gathered to reflect on what allyship means in our roles as students, supervisors, researchers, and leaders at Western.

This meaningful event was co-organized by the Faculties of Social Science and Science, bringing the community together in dialogue about responsibility, respect, and relationship-building.

The afternoon began with introductory remarks that grounded the session. Amal Elbuluk, Associate Vice-President of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization on the Social Science Students Council, opened with a land acknowledgement. Dean Nicholas Harney of the Faculty of Social Science extended a warm welcome, followed by words from Rick Fehr of the Indigenous Studies Program, setting the tone for the conversations that followed.

The program featured insightful presentations from distinguished speakers:

Dr. Christy R. Bressette (Office of Indigenous Initiatives) and Mariam Hayward (Western Research) shared two new allyship guides, “Braiding Truth Into Action: A Guide Towards Indigenous Allyship at Western University” and "Centering Indigenous Voices: Guide Towards Allyship in Indigenous Research", guiding attendees on practical steps toward authentic allyship.
Drs. Lindsay Bell and Tania Granadillo (Anthropology, Social Science) presented “Availability without Expectation: Allyship in Indigenous Language Reclamation”, emphasizing the importance of respect and humility in supporting language revitalization.
Dr. Desmond Moser (Earth Sciences, Science) delivered “Allying Western Science with Indigenous Priorities”, highlighting ways research can work in alignment with Indigenous priorities.

A light lunch was provided to the first 75 attendees, creating a welcoming atmosphere for conversation and connection before the program began.

The Faculty of Social Science would like to extend sincere thanks to all who made the event possible: Christy Bressette, Mariam Hayward, Lindsay Bell, Tania Granadillo de Español, Desmond Moser, Rick Fehr, Amal Elbuluk, Nicholas Harney, Matthew Davison, and especially Kim Clark for her efforts in bringing everything together.

The Afternoon of Allyship stands as a reminder that allyship is not a single action but an ongoing commitment—one that requires listening, learning, and acting in ways that strengthen relationships across Western and beyond.