International Conference / October 24 – 25, 2013

Université de Saint-Boniface / Winnipeg

Transculturality is a term with varied meanings and is associated with a range of related concepts, including métissage. The term enjoys wide application in the analysis of contemporary societies, particularly those—like Canada—that are characterised by a high degree of ethnic and cultural diversity. Despite its presence as a defining feature of Canada's historical development, transculturality/métissage has not always been utilised, or even accepted, as a concept of value for describing and understanding the history of Canada or for theorising the likely trajectory of the country's future. More recently, however, the value of the concept in terms of historical description and contemporary cultural analysis is being re-evaluated. The international conference "Le Canada: une culture de métissage / Transcultural Canada" is intended to contribute towards a more nuanced understanding of the place of the Métis and of Métis culture within Canada and the pertinence of métissage as a concept of value in the socio-historical and socio-cultural analysis of Canada

In the context of the present conference, the concept of transculturality / métissage will be used according to two primary usages in Canada: specifically, in reference to the ethnic community – the Métis – which emerged from contact between First Nations Peoples and Euro-Canadians and, more generally, in reference to the general cultural condition of hybridity or of transculturalism which lead to the creation of new cultural formations.

In the effort to further explore the historical and contemporary presence of the Métis and of transculturality in Canada, the organisers of this conference are soliciting papers representative of a multitude of scholarly disciplines and approaches. Among the various topics open to discussion are:

• a re-evaluation of the historical influence of the Métis and/or of transculturality in the social, cultural and political development of Canada;
• the contribution of the Métis and/or transculturality in the formation of contemporary Canadian identity;
• an analysis of examples of cultural expression that articulate a transcultural or Métis perspective;
• theoretical discussion of the importance and limits of transculturality as an expression of alterity;
• popular culture and transculturality / métissage;
• linguistic manifestations of transculturality / métissage;
• the Métis and the culture of métissage as initiators of social, cultural and political change in Canada. 

Potential participants are requested to submit an abstract of 250 words (for presentations of 20 minutes in French or English) at the following address pdmorris@ustboniface.ca before May 6, 2013. In your abstract, please include your full name, contact information and affiliation.