Annual Forums
ARF THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
aNTI-RACIST FORUM 2016: the first of its kind
The very first Anti-racist forum was a joint effort by different groups and organisations in the field. The event was motivated by the thought that a space for critical dialogue and networking among anti-racists is important. Each organisation planned and carried out their own panels and workshops.
The panel by RASTER focused on anti-racist activism and challenging normative whiteness, the panel funded by RASMUS dealt with the question of white privilege and anti-racism. There were three workshops on different themes: Pysäytetyt project’s workshop on ethnic profiling; NuMu’s (Nuoret Muslimit ry) workshop on Islamophobia in Finland; and Keppihevoset rasismia vastaan group’s workshop on many faces of anti-racism It was also one of the first times we got to hear a spoken word performance by Laura Eklund Nhaga.
Find the stream recordings on our facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/ARFFinland/videos/579502085568280 https://www.facebook.com/ARFFinland/videos/579505812234574 https://www.facebook.com/ARFFinland/videos/579541842230971
https://www.facebook.com/ARFFinland/videos/579556325562856
arf 2017: silenced histories
The following year the forum developed into an event that shed light on a specific theme. The idea however remained the same, gathering different voices around the field of anti-racism.
As it was Finland's 100th anniversary, we wanted to focus on history. The event offered an opportunity to hear and learn about the silenced histories of Sámi and Roma, that were neglected in the official narrative of anniversary celebrations. Panelists Petra Laiti, Päivi Majaniemi and Leif Hagert talked about for example forced assimilation, discrimination, violation of rights and how it is to live in a society where ones history is not acknowledged with Michaela Moua. Maija Baijukya gave a performance on another neglected viewpoint, Afrofinnish history. We also offered a reclaiming history workshop.
Arf 2018: visible voices
The questions in 2018 focused on who speaks, who are seen, and what kind of representation is needed for assuring voice and visibility in Finland?
Panel discussions on Marginals of youth work, young people and racism with Liban Sheikh, Sophia Wekesa, Anne Olli, Vanessa Daniel and Riikka Jalonen https://www.facebook.com/ARFFinland/videos/250122325607829 https://www.facebook.com/ARFFinland/videos/2219390621719746
and The Effects of Racism and Discrimination on Mental Health with Michaela Moua, Shadia Rask, Ewan Kunchev, Siria Lemma, Hunderra Assefa, Hibo Abdulkarim https://www.facebook.com/ARFFinland/videos/178675446390454
We watched the short film "Morit Elena Morit" a depiction of the effect of colonisation on the Sámi people, environment and traditions, directed by Inga-Wiktoria Påve & Anders Sunna. https://www.facebook.com/ARFFinland/videos/339924873240238
There were workshops on “Power Dynamics in Social Justice Work” by Esra Ozkan (Network Development Officer in ENAR) and “Wearing the respectability mask, playing the model minority part” by Maija Baijukya and Arvind Ramachandran, in conversation with Vidha Saumya and Carmen Baltzar.
ARF 2019: NO single struggle
In 2019 the theme was 'No Single Struggle', where we explored how different forms of marginalisation and different systems of oppression intersect in the context of Finland. In our collective fight against racism, how are we taking into account our positionalities and the diversity of life realities, and in what ways are we fostering inter-community solidarity and cooperation so that no one gets left behind? At the same time, how can we ensure that our demands for racial equality are not diluted or ignored in existing and future diversity strategies and policies? What do the youths have to say about the future of anti-racism work in Finland?
The panel discussions theme was "My Activism Is Better Than Yours…" -- an intergenerational dialogue on anti-racist activism in Finland with Laura Eklund Nhaga, Leif Hagert, Stina Aletta Aikio and Päivi Majaniemi, moderated by Maryan Abdulkarim. The Keynote was given virtually by Dr. Emilia Roig from the Center for Intersectional Justice.
There were workshops Indigenous / immigrant/other - together against white Finnish Hegemony? by Arvind Ramachandran, Maija Baijukya and Stina Aletta Aikio; and a comics workshop: draw black/blackness by Warda Ahmed. Laura Eklund Nhaga gave a spoken word performance: https://www.facebook.com/ARFFinland/videos/1271193233073891
ARF 2020: dismantling anti-blackness
In 2020 we went fully virtual and we narrowed our focus on anti-Blackness. After all, racism feeds on hierarchies and those hierarchies build on anti-Blackness. We wanted to discuss its manifestation in Europe, and more specifically, in Finland. One of the questions was also How can non-Black communities be better allies in the common struggle against racism?
The forum was divided in two parts with the Keynote by Henrie Dennis, AfroRainbows Austria: Anti-Blackness in Europe on the first day followed by a discussion facilitated by Michaela Moua and a panel discussion on the second day on Anti-Blackness in Finland: Lessons Learned From BLM with Suldaan Said Ahmed, Fatima Verwijmen, Liban Sheikh, Leif Hagert and Akunna Onwen.