Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Early Years Conference 2025 Inclusion: Creating spaces of belonging

Conference Focus

In response to the alarming rise in the exclusion of children and families from classroom spaces, the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Early Years Conference 2025 will address what we consider an urgent crisis affecting children and their families. Our conference theme, Inclusion: Creating Spaces of Belonging, underscores our commitment to the right of every child to feel a sense of belonging within early childhood classrooms and to supporting educators in their pedagogical ability to hold space for complexity (ECEBC position paper, Feb 2022).

We recognize the challenges of working within the complexities of children’s lived experiences and realities.  As early childhood educators, scholars and professionals working with children and families within our communities, we aim to bring together a community of educators and scholars to explore these challenges.   With a commitment to creating more inclusive spaces for all children to learn to live well together, we invite presenters and delegates to join us in dialogue, to listen, to be open, to be challenged to think otherwise, and to consider how we can better respond to the complex and situated needs of the children and families with whom we work.