On this episode of Open Mike, Michael Thiessen tries to sift through the sensationalized rhetoric and common lies pertaining to the history of Canadian Residential schools by talking to former Manitoban Judge, Brian Dale Giesbrecht, author and commentator, and a …
Len Marchand’s Indian Residential School Experience
November 16 marked 88 years since the birth of Canada’s first “Status Indian” Member of Parliament and cabinet minister, Leonard Stephen (Len) Marchand. Elected, then re-elected twice, to the House of Commons, he served as a parliamentary secretary, minister and, …
What is the end Goal of Protests Over Residential School Graves?
In July, the Canadian prime minister denounced the arson and vandalism of Catholic churches across the country in the wake of the discovery of unmarked graves at former residential schools. After more than 1,100 unmarked graves were discovered at schools …
Residential School Graves: Pursuing the Truth is of Utmost Importance
Over the last six weeks or so, popular newspapers in Canada and around the world have been filled with reports and commentaries on the discovery of 215 graves on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School and an …
Residential Schools and Unmarked Graves: Is open inquiry possible?
Rodney Clifton, Brian Giesbrecht and Frances Widdowson discuss the Kamloops Cemetery controversy. Moderated by Paul Viminitz. Saturday, July 10, 2021 Over the last few months, hundreds of unmarked graves of people connected to residential schools have been identified. It …
‘The Eyes of Children’ — life at a residential school
Here is a link to a 1962 CBC documentary about life at a residential school. It shows healthy and happy indigenous schoolchildren going about their day. Nuns and teachers – some of whom are indigenous – are shown interacting with …
Teaching About Residential Schools
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommended that all Canadian children learn about residential schools. This is part of Canada’s history, and is now taught in every classroom. However, there is reason to worry that a fair and balanced view …
Indian Residential Schools
Canadians are constantly being told that the Indian residential school system is at the root of the many dysfunctions in Indigenous society today. Alcoholism, violence, poverty and poor educational attainment are all blamed on these schools, the last of which …
Complexity, Nuance, Truth: The 3:10 to Yuma and Indian Residential Schools
On a Saturday afternoon that presented me with a few idle hours, I sat down on the living room sofa to watch director James Mangold’s 2007 film, 3:10 to Yuma, starring Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, and — oh my goodness! …