For this episode, we are going to reflect about arts-based, community-based work within academia and in communities. We will explore how the arts have been empowering movements and supporting education, activism and advocacy work.

This episode is hosted by Matty Cervantes, and includes conversations with two scholars from the University of Victoria, affiliated to the Centre for Global Studies, Maeva Gauthier and Darlene Clover, and three Indigenous artists, Teresa Vander Meer-Chasse, Rebecca Hass and Alex McCallum.

Teresa Vander Meer-Chasse: [6:23]

Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé is a proud Niisüü member of the White River First Nation from Beaver Creek, Yukon and Alaska. She has resided in Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Territories for the past six years. Teresa is a Dineh (Upper Tanana), Frisian, and French visual artist, Master of Fine Arts graduate from Concordia University in Studio Arts, and the Curator of Indigenous and Contemporary Art at Open Space Arts Society.

Darlene Clover [17:01]

Darlene Clover is a faculty fellow at the Centre for Global Studies (CFGS) and has been a professor at the University of Victoria since 2004 in the Faculty of Education. Her areas of teaching and study are critical and feminist adult education, arts-based research and museums. Darlene’s research focus is women’s and gender museums and how they visualise and tell stories to address the pressing gender and social injustice issues of our time. As part of her feminist research and knowledge mobilisation practice, she develops zines, graphic reports, guidebooks, videos and curates both physical and virtual exhibitions.

Maeva Gauthier [26:33]

Maéva Gauthier, a PhD Candidate in Geography at the University of Victoria's Community-based Research Lab, is deeply invested in community engagement and participatory arts-based research methodologies. Her collaboration with Inuit youth in the Canadian Western Arctic employs Participatory Video to explore community perspectives on climate change and plastics in the environment. In addition, she is a program manager with the UNESCO Chair in Community-based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education for the DECODE Project, amplifying community-led research from around the world. Her research interests include adaptation, resilience, arts-based methods and youth engagement. Advocating for education as a powerful agent of change, she is also the co-founder of Live It Earth, which delivers educational series that connects kids to the real and natural world.

Rebecca Hass [32:23]

Rebecca Hass (Nitaawegiishigok/singing skywoman-Métis, French, English, German) was the inaugural winner of the 2022 Nada Ristich Changemaker Ruby Award from Opera Canada, and represented Canada at the 2024 World Opera Forum. As a Metis woman she lives her culture as a song creator focusing on takeovers of traditional classical repertoire and storytelling, and songs as activism. Focused on singing the land, Rebecca is currently curating and composing new works for choral and art song programs commissioned by Sparks and Wiry Cries and the Newcombe Singers for performances in 2026. An accomplished broadcaster, documentary producer, podcast creator and host (What’s Up with Opera?), she is currently the Director of Engagement and New Works at Pacific Opera Victoria on L’kwungen territory where she tends her garden in the company of her family and rescue pooch RyeRye.

Alex Taylor-McCallum: [42:35]

Alex Taylor-McCallum is a Kwakwakaʼwakw and Nuu–chah–nulth artist working to create more Indigenous representation in Victoria's art scene. Alex is a multidisciplinary artist, he is a muralist, lyricist, M.C., singer, performer, facilitator, writer, painter, muralist, decolonial cook and Father of two Sons. In September 2022, Taylor-McCallum was named the winner of the Victoria ProArt Early Career Artist award.

We are grateful to co-produce this podcast on the unceded lands of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, in conversation with powerful community voices from across Turtle Island.

We thank the participants and their ancestors. We are grateful for the land, waters, sky, humans and non-humans below and above.

We thank CFUV, the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, the Center for Global Studies at the University of Victoria, the Global Pax Collective, and Open Space Art Gallery for their contributions to this podcast production.

Podcast artwork based on a mural made by Carrielynn Victor Xémontalot, Scarlett Gonzalez, Deb Silver, Brismar Arlene Diaz, Marcia Maria and Lindsay Katsitsakatste Delaronde.

Original lyrics and performance by Alex Taylor-McCallum.

Original score in this episode by Matty Cervantes.

Co-production by Matty Cervantes and Nicola Watts