“Colonial Ruptures: A Convergence of Resistance and Renewal”

Hosted by the Centre for Integrative Anti-Racism Studies (CIARS)

The 13th Annual Decolonization Conference invites scholars, activists, educators, artists, Elders, and community leaders to gather, reflect, and mobilize in response to the enduring legacies of empire.

Taking place Thursday, March 12 - Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), this in-person event centers grassroots organizing, critical inquiry, and collective imagination toward decolonial futures.

This year’s theme—“Colonial Ruptures: Unmasking Ongoing Coloniality and Fostering Resistance, and Liberatory Possibilities”—invites us to confront the unfinished business of colonialism—not as a relic of the past, but as a structure that continues to shape our present. Coloniality persists through systems of governance, education, surveillance, and dispossession that disproportionately impact Indigenous, Black, racialized, and marginalized communities. These systems are often masked by liberal discourses of diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation, which can obscure the violence embedded in the status quo.

By unmasking ongoing coloniality, we expose the ways in which power is maintained through racial hierarchies, epistemic erasure, and the commodification of land, bodies, and knowledge.

Resistance in this context is not merely oppositional—it is generative. It includes the reclamation of Indigenous governance, the resurgence of land-based practices, the refusal of carceral systems, and the creation of spaces where community, care, and radical imagination thrive. These acts of resistance are not isolated; they are interconnected, rooted in histories of struggle and visions of liberation.

The conference theme challenges us to think beyond reform and toward liberatory possibilities—to imagine and enact futures that are not defined by the limits of colonial frameworks. It is a call to gather in solidarity, to share strategies, and to build movements that are grounded in justice, accountability, and collective transformation.

We welcome proposals from individuals and collectives working across disciplines and practices. Submissions must include a bio (100–150 words) and follow the guidelines in the official Call for Papers.

• 📅 Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday, November14, 2025
• 📬 Notification of Acceptance: Friday, January 16, 2026
• 🔗 Submit your proposal: https://forms.gle/9GXobf1NK7YzwtVPA
• 🌐 Learn more: www.decolonizingconference.com
• 📄 Download the official conference callout (PDF):CIARS 2026 CONFERENCE CALL FOR ABSTRACTS_Revised.docx (1).pdf

CIARS is committed to fostering an inclusive, low-barrier space. Conference registration includes light breakfast and lunch on all days.

We are pleased to provide:

• ASL interpretation for select sessions
• Wheelchair-accessible venue
• Opportunity to request additional accommodations during registration

Please note: Childcare will not be provided at this year’s conference. If you have questions regarding access or participation, we encourage you to get in touch.

Presenters should bring their materials on USB or ensure cloud access.

Close the conference in community at our Conference Social—an evening of celebration, reflection, and connection featuring light food and dessert.

Note: Social tickets are sold separately from general registration.

Community Support

Show your commitment to anti-racism education & support the delivery of our student-led conferencing! Click here to donate now, or select "Pay it Forward" when buying your ticket and help cover the cost for someone else who is experiencing challenges.

In solidarity,

The XIII Decolonizing Conference Organizers

C IARS OISE

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