Skip to main content

Topics: Human rights promotion

Events

Paymatisiwin during the Full Migration Moon 

Saturday, October 24, 2026

Cost: Free, registration required

Location: Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The group will meet in Bonnie & John Buhler Hall, Level 1 and proceed together to Level 6.

A flock of geese, silhouetted in mid-flight against a flat grey overcast sky, scattered loosely across the frame with wings outstretched in various positions.

Be an Upstander with Autumn Peltier Student Event

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Cost: Free, registration required

Location: Bonnie & John Buhler Hall and Museum Galleries

An Indigenous girl is wearing traditional regalia and beaded earrings and her hair is in braids. She is speaking at a podium featuring a logo of the United Nations.

Democracy in Peril: Michael Ignatieff

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Cost: Free, registration required

Location: Bonnie & John Buhler Hall, Level 1, Canadian Museum for Human Rights

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights at night, its blue-lit Tower of Hope rising beside a crescent moon in a starry sky.

Winter Resilience through Balance and Strength

Saturday, November 14, 2026

Cost: Free, registration required

Location: Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The group will meet in Bonnie & John Buhler Hall, Level 1 and proceed together to Level 6.

A dome frame of lashed wooden poles over a central pile of stones, surrounded by trees with water beyond.

The Frozen New Moon and Allyship: Preparing for the Winter Solstice

Saturday, December 5, 2026

Cost: Free, registration required

Location: Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The group will meet in Bonnie & John Buhler Hall, Level 1 and proceed together to Level 6.

Lit candle on a round brass wall sconce, its reflector glowing gold and casting a circular shadow on a textured wall.

For classrooms: Human Rights Day Tour 

Thursday, December 10, 2026

Cost: Free

Location: Virtual

Students walking on ramps that connect various levels of museum galleries.

For classrooms: I Love to Read and Black History Month Tour

Tuesday, February 2, 2027

Cost: Free

Location: Virtual

An adult sitting on the floor reading a book to three children sitting in front of them.

For classrooms: Be an Upstander Kickoff Event

Tuesday, February 23, 2027

Cost: Free

Location: Virtual

A group of students stand around a diorama displayed on a table in a museum gallery.

Stories

What Is Two‐Spirit? Part One: Origins

By Scott de Groot

Discover the history and meaning of Two‐Spirit. The term speaks to community self‐determination, rejects colonial gender norms and celebrates Indigenous sexual and gender diversity.

A poster featuring large artwork depicting two faces in dramatic colours and patterns, with background imagery including hands, standing figures and geometric shapes. A large title at the top reads “The 10th Annual International Two Spirit Gathering” and text at the bottom reads “August 27-31, 1997. Onamia, Minnesota.”

Black Lives Matter and the struggle for racial justice in Canada

By Debra Thompson

Protest movements reveal and resist the injustice of systemic racism in Canada. Black community activism includes public protest, policy change and collective care.

A large group of people holding signs with slogans such as “Black Lives Matter,” “Enough is Enough” and “Your Silence is Betrayal.”

Nursing and Indigenous peoples’ health: reconciliation in practice

By Maureen Fitzhenry

Nurses’ long‐time partnership shows that decolonizing our health care systems is necessary for enhancing respect, fairness and social justice for First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

A group of Indigenous women nurses stand together outside.

Star Trek and human rights

By Alana Conway and Murray Leeder

Star Trek has offered an intelligent, socially conscious approach to science fiction since it debuted in 1966. Current Star Trek series feature complex, nuanced perspectives on important human rights matters such as genocide, migrancy and refugees.

A humanoid alien stands next to a wall.

From refugee to firefighter

By Maureen Fitzhenry

In 1991, Ali and his wife fled a brutal civil war in Somalia, ending up in a Kenyan refugee camp with their 3 children. After a long process, they immigrate to Canada.

A smiling man stands in front of a fire truck.

Drawing the truth: Eight meaningful graphic novels

By Stephen Carney

Eight graphic novels that tell compelling stories about injustice, activism and hope.

The covers of many graphic novels.

Dick Patrick: An Indigenous veteran’s fight for inclusion

By Steve McCullough and Jason Permanand

Patrick was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the Second World War, but back in British Columbia he was refused restaurant service because he was Indigenous. That didn't stop him.

A snow-covered country road with mountains in the background.

Jody Williams and the campaign to ban landmines

By Julia Peristerakis

A woman sitting on a chair with hands clasped looks thoughtfully ahead, as if answering a question.

Resource guides

Music and human rights

Learn more about the connection between music, activism, protest and human rights issues

An antique chrome-plated microphone in the centre of the image is encircled by multicoloured rays over a mottled blue and green background.

Menus