Category: events

Guest blog by Ana-Maria Costa

The final day of the AGM began with discussions of methods used for each research project and the development of the graphic novels. Duncan McCue, author of Indians Do Cry: A Father-Son Hockey Story, shared both his and Mike Auksi’s experiences throughout the writing and design process. Together they discussed the importance of finding the right artist to accurately portray their story and experiences, and how their illustrator, Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, understood and honoured the story in the way it was intended. The importance of staying true to the story, as well as the details described by survivors, was integral to maintaining the integrity of the work. An example was provided through the methods used by McCue and Auksi, as well as other project teams. Examples reinforcing this claim was of artists who have previously traveled to sites such as to Rwanda, and the Jewish Hospital Berlin. The importance of artists visiting sites highlighted the importance of firsthand observation in ensuring that places, experiences, and stories are represented accurately.

 The day concluded with discussions surrounding human rights education and how to effectively be disseminated in schools. The conversation focused on the work needed to ensure educators are equipped with the appropriate tools to teach students these subjects while also feeling  comfortable with the difficult subject matter. Another important consideration was ensuring narratives surrounding grave human rights violations, such as genocide, are treated with equal care and attention rather than allowing one tragedy to be viewed as more significant than another. Education and knowledge sharing are of the utmost importance in creating greater understanding and awareness of human rights.

As a graduate student with an interest in conflict studies, hearing about the research process and the care and empathy that go into every interview was especially meaningful to me. Ensuring the  safety and well-being of survivors is clearly at the forefront of the research process. The meticulous questions and considerations demonstrate a commitment  to ensuring accuracy and integrity of the stories shared by survivors. What stood out to me was the recognition that research is not only about collecting information but building relationships and creating a safe and comfortable environment for survivors. Having the opportunity to be a part of this year’s AGM deepened my understanding of what it means to approach research with a trauma-informed and survivor-centered perspective. It has also strengthened my motivation as a researcher to ensure that the stories of survivors are accurately collected, represented and shared.

Artist Kara Sievewright joined our AGM remotely to listen to the meeting and summarize highlights through graphic recordings; a collection of hand-drawn images developed in real-time. She created four for graphics for each day, and the images can be enlarged to full size viewing by selecting them.

Guest blog by Ana-Maria Costa

Our Annual General Meeting took place from June 10-12 in Winnipeg, Canada, and was facilitated by local host, Kjell Anderson with the University of Manitoba at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The AGM gathered researchers, students, educators and partners to deepen our shared commitment to human rights through education and visual arts. It also reflected on ethical methodologies, co-create public-facing outputs, and strategize dissemination pathways that honour survivor agency and challenge epistemic injustice. A summary of each day is available on our blog: Day 1  and Day 2, as well as a reflection piece by graduate student Marie-Chantal Plouffe.

Day 1 of the AGM consisted of welcomes, project updates, and an overview of some projects. Much of the discussions focused on navigating challenging and unfamiliar situations, what a care-based approach looks like, and how trauma-informed research and human rights are interconnected. At the center of these conversations was the importance of keeping survivors central to the project and approaching each research project with care and respect. The stories and experiences shared by survivors have the power to shift conversations, build relationships, and foster an environment that encourages greater understanding and knowledge sharing. Survivors are not only participants in the project but are partners in the research process. Throughout the day, conversations began to shift and evolve, the importance of language became the focal point. The graphic novels are published in several different languages , including English and German, each language raising important questions. Translation in research can introduce entirely new research questions all together, as the way something is said in one language does not always carry the same intended meaning  in another.  This makes additional care and attention an important part of the process.

Shayna Plaut (left) and Lise Pinkos(right) in a session exploring Post-Secondary Education, Graphic Novels, and Human Rights. Photo credit: Maddy Nowosad.

Canadian Museum for Human Rights Tour

Following a lunch break, the group went on a walking tour of the Museum of Human Rights. The group received a guided tour through the museum’s major exhibits, providing another opportunity to reflect on the importance of education, storytelling, and knowledge sharing. The visit was a reminder of the immense value of bringing stories to the public. While executing a museum exhibition takes immense effort and requires significant time, sharing these stories creates an opportunity for visitors to learn, connect, and understand the world around them, regardless of when the events occurred.

AGM participants touring the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Photo credit: Jennifer Sauter.

Post-Secondary Education, Graphic Novels, and Human Rights

The museum tour was followed by a presentation from Shayna Plaut, Director of Research at the Museum of Human Rights, spoke to the group and discussed the topic of ‘Content and Context’, highlighting the importance of graphic novels and  the power of visual storytelling. The discussed explored how images can communicate ideas and stories in ways words alone cannot. Several graphic novelists were highlighted for their success in this area such as Marjane Satrapi, Alexander Zograff, and Joe Sacco comics. Alyson Brysk also discussed medium and methods for research acquisition, asking the question: Who is telling what story and to whom?. The discussion focused once more on the power of images as a way to communicate stories and evoke a response. One example used was the photograph taken by Alan Kurdi of the “Boy who died at Sea”, became a powerful symbol of the devastation experienced by Syrian refugees fleeing the war and seeking safety overseas.

Have you ever wondered what makes graphic novels uniquely powerful for telling stories of injustice and human-rights abuse? How do they reach audiences and convey experiences in ways that traditional reports, journalism, or academic writing often cannot?

Join artists, scholars, journalists, and storytellers for a conversation on graphic novels, visual storytelling, Indigenous narratives, and human rights. We’ll explore collaborative, arts-based approaches that center community, lived experience, and survivor agency, and discuss how visual narratives can educate, advocate, and move people to action.

The event is on June 11 from 7-9 at the Agowiidiwinan Centre (located adjacent to The Forks market).  It will be a public event.

Drawing Justice: Graphic Novels and Human Rights
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 pm CST
Location: Agowiidiwinan Centre (15 Forks Market Road, adjacent to The Forks market) 
Event & registration info: https://umanitoba.ca/law/drawing-justice-graphic-novels-and-human-rights

SCVN is excited to announce that Two Roses: A Story of Deception and Determination in Nazi Germany, a collaboration between illustrator Miriam Libicki and Holocaust survivor Rose Lipszyc, has sold out for its first print run of 1200 copies. The book was published by the New Jewish Press with the University of Toronto Press this February. The book is still available for purchase at the following link. A huge congratulations to Miriam, Rose, and the rest of the Holocaust Research Cluster for this achievement!

Cover image for Two Roses (2026).