Between 18–20 June 2025, members of the French Association for Canadian Studies (AFEC) gathered for the 48th conference of our scholarly society in Canadian studies. We were warmly welcomed by members of the Centre d’Etudes sur le Canada at the Université Grenoble Alpes and by a dynamic team of AFEC doctoral students who supervised the program.
As we do regularly, we gave our young doctoral students the opportunity to present their current research. The theme of the conference was about transition and transmission, around the topic “Knowledge, Issues, Practices, and Perspectives of Young Research in Canadian Studies.”
During these three days, the individual contributions addressed contemporary and historical issues facing Canada in relation to environmental and climate issues, including ecological and ecofeminist perspectives; social reforms and political struggles in Canada, particularly those relating to the rights and representation of certain minority groups (Indigenous communities, 2SLGBTQ+,etc.); the circulation of decolonial, postcolonial, and/or feminist theories and practices in Canadian studies research, and linguistic issues, either related to the revitalization and political recognition of Indigenous languages or the evolution of Canadian and Québec language policies.
Several practical workshops were organized to address the issues and needs raised by doctoral students in previous workshops such as “well-being,” “funding, mobility and the circulation of knowledge,” etc.
On the second day, there was also an excellent roundtable and practical workshop co-hosted by Mathieu Boivin (University of Montréal) and Marie Kristine Petiquay (UQAM) on respectful research practices in Indigenous studies entitled “Let them teach you, be vulnerable, string your moccasins”: towards relational research with Indigenous peoples.”
The doctoral students also invited two guest professors to present their research and epistemological reflections on very contemporary topics. We were enlightened by the presentations of Mireille McLaughlin (University of Ottawa) on “Linguistic equality in the context of political transition” and Claire Omhovère (Paul Valéry University – Montpellier III) on “Working from Europe on indigenous literatures in 2025: Some epistemological, critical and ethical considerations.”
Beyond the individual oral presentations and workshops, all of which were highly relevant and fascinating, these three days of conference quickly turned into a safe space for exchange between young researchers at different stages of their careers. We hope to continue supporting this young research and the AFEC network of doctoral students, at our future annual conferences by offering dedicated workshops and supporting the innovative ideas. Stay tuned!
See you in Avignon from 10–12 June 2026. Read more about the upcoming conference at this link.
Our thanks to AFEC President, Françoise Le Jeune, for this report.
AFEC Photographs of: Participants in the roundtable, “Let them teach you, be vulnerable, string your moccasins” (above); Keynote speaker Claire Omhovere; conference attendees.