Shauntay’s play is more than a compelling case for bringing animal-themed jumpsuits into fashion. In the Dumps tackles a harsh reality for many Indigenous and Black Canadians living near toxic dump sites. Areas such as these release methane into the atmosphere and pose numerous health and environmental risks.
In the Dumps introduces two important concepts: environmental justice and environmental racism. Environmental justice “guarantees that all people have equal access to a healthy, safe, and sustainable environment, as well as equal protection from environmental harm." (See this definition and more from Greenpeace U.S). Whereas environmental racism “is a facet of environmental injustice, and happens when development, policies or practices intentionally or unintentionally result in more pollution or health risks in Indigenous and racialized communities.” (See David Suzuki Foundation for this definition and more).
In the Dumps also shows us the importance of taking action: figuring out what the most effective forms of action are and working together to take them.
Whether you are hosting a private or public event, consider allowing the audience a few moments to reflect on what they have heard and to quietly organize their thoughts before beginning a discussion. You may provide a general prompt (see examples below) that may support their thinking:
Consider spending a few minutes (3-5 mins) discussing some of the responses to these questions, before transitioning to the discussion prompts below.
To learn more about this issue, check out these resources below: