Canadian journalist Tanya Talaga has a new book coming out this summer called “The Knowing.” In this CBC report about it, Talaga is quoted as saying: “We have all heard of someone who didn't come home — this is The Knowing. It is Canada's shame. If every Indigenous...
National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21, is annually marked by many activities across the country showcasing the richness and diversity of Canada’s Indigenous people. As well as celebrating this richness and diversity, there is good reason to celebrate this June 21....
Under section 2 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canadians are guaranteed freedom of thought, belief, and expression. These freedoms are fundamental in our democratic society. In fact, an official government commentary on the Charter states: “In a democracy,...
George W. Bush said famously to Congress after the 9-11 terrorist attack, “Every nation in every region now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.” Similarly, George Orwell said in 1942 that “in practice, ‘he that is not with...
The indictment of former U.S. president Donald Trump for crimes invented by his political opponents is the most egregious example yet seen of the weaponizing of the law. The United States is now full of examples. However, in Canada, we also see the law being...
OTTAWA, REGINA - Last week, two things happened that could have profound impacts on natural resources development in Saskatchewan. One is a hint the federal government might want to take control of natural resources away from the provinces, and the other is the...
I would like to apologize to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for referring to its members as “colored people”. – Steve Martin, Pure Drivel, 1999
Quesnel, Quesnel, Quesnel! My goodness, what in the world are you smoking? I mean, it’s all so great…for so many reasons! And, I fully encourage you to continue on this path. But only because the ongoing grotesque displays of illiberalism, sexism, racism, and general...
The Federal Government released its Budget 2024 last week. In addition to hailing a 181% increase in spending on Indigenous priorities since 2016, “Budget 2024 also proposes to provide $5 million over three years, starting in 2025-26, to Crown-Indigenous Relations and...
In the movie Fargo, the camera captures the horror on the blood-spattered face of one of the characters who, after seeing his psychopathic partner shoot a police officer right before his eyes, murmurs “Whoa Daddy.” Watching the complete breakdown of democracy at the...
On January 11 a few Canadians on awakening will remember that it is Sir John A. Macdonald Day, as decreed by Parliament in an act of March 21, 2002. On that long-ago date Sir John was considered a Canadian hero, worthy of celebration and commemoration but now, of...
The year 2021 was the year of the Kamloops graves. It was the top news story of the year. It was reported by CBC and all mainstream media that ground penetrating radar had detected remains of 215 indigenous children who were found buried in the old apple orchard on...
In a recent Canadian Press story, Kimberly Murray, the government’s special interlocutor on unmarked graves of missing Indigenous children from residential schools, is reported as saying: “We could … make it an offense to incite hate and promote hate against...
What should reasonable people do when schoolchildren are told things that are untrue about Canadian history?
Most of the attention on the subject of indigenous education in the last three decades has been on residential schools. But other aspects of this important topic have been ignored. Quite simply, the real tragedy of indigenous education is not that some indigenous...