Coming off the sesquicentennial of the Meiji Restoration in 2018, the 2018-2019 Academic Year marks another significant 150th anniversary in Japanese history: that of the settler colonization of the northern island of Hokkaidō, or Ainu Moshir as it was known to the Indigenous Ainu peoples. In the spirit of continuing the national moments of commemoration that occasioned Canada 150 and Meiji at 150, the Centre for Japanese Research proudly presents “Hokkaidō 150: Settler Colonialism and Indigeneity in Modern Japan and Beyond.” This event will mark the 150th anniversary of the 1869 incorporation of the island of Ainu Moshir, by gathering academics, artists, musicians, and community members from Japan, Canada, and the United States to revisit shared histories of settler colonialism. We invite members of the UBC and larger Vancouver community to reflect on the history of settler colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples, while celebrating the local culture, art, and music of BC and Hokkaidō as we renew our mutual commitment to international cooperation and Truth and Reconciliation.
For the full list of events, see the Hokkaidō 150 website.
