Reconciliaction: Reconciling contestation in the academy

Abstract

This article emerges from an analysis of the data from a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada-funded research project that examined the ways two universities were taking up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its Calls to Action. This article focuses on reconcili action as critical social action. A multi-levelled analysis of the data revealed that colonialism and violence in the academy was a theme of critical importance to research participants. This article concludes by making recommendations for ways universities can unpack and address violence and contestation to move reconciliation forward in meaningful and respectful ways.