Nova Scotia has moved to recognize Mi’kmaw as the province's First Language. While this is not to be confused with an “official language” it is being hailed as an important step. Language and Identity Language is an important part of our identity. In many First Nations communities, the amount …
Indigenous peoples
The Power of an Apology
Last week, Pope Francis apologized to Canada’s Indigenous Peoples for the role of the Catholic Church in Canada’s Residential School system. Here is the excerpt that CBC included in their article. "I also feel shame ... sorrow and shame for the role that a number of Catholics, particularly those …
Searching for Missing Indigenous Children at the Mohawk Institute
Yesterday, I was able to watch part of the live press conference that launched the search for missing Indigenous children at the Mohawk Institute in Ontario. The Mohawk Institute is the longest running Residential School in Canada. It was open for 136 years. Children from 20 Indigenous Nations …
[Continue reading] Searching for Missing Indigenous Children at the Mohawk Institute
Truth, and what now?
Last week was our first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. And on the weekend, I heard a few things on the news that made me pause. I'm writing about one of them today. There is a new cutting-edge community in the making near the shores of Lake Simcoe. The Orbit. town of Innisfil in …
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
Tomorrow - September 30 - marks the first National Day for Truth & Reconciliation in Canada. (If you’re not Canadian, take some time to consider what a day like this could mean in your country and look for resources to raise your awareness about Indigenous issues where you …
Disregard – the manifestation of isms
Disregard… the manifestation of an ism My mother is an environmental activist. At 83, she uses her pen and email to raise awareness and to protest. The local newspaper knows her name, as do local MPs. So this post is thanks to an email from Greenpeace that she forwarded to me …
The Summer of Residential School Graves
As we reflect on the recent discoveries of unmarked and mass graves at the sites of former Residential Schools in Canada, I am pleased to introduce my guest for today's blog, AdéX, to add an international perspective on Canada and Indigenous Peoples. ADÉX - Writer & Visual Artist is a …
Canada – Facing The Truth
Tomorrow is Canada Day. If you’ve received the Inclusion Insight for a while, you’ll know how I feel about it. Canada: 150 years of...? Why I won't be saying Happy Canada Day today. What does Canada Day mean to you in light of the recent discoveries of mass and unmarked graves at …
Heartbreak, Acknowledgement …and Action
The discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children at a former Residential school on the Tk’emlups te Secwépemc First Nation in Kamloops, B.C., Canada is horrific and heartbreaking. My heart goes out to our Indigenous communities and families in Kamloops and across Canada. As I struggle …
“Remembering Colonization” Day
If you’re in Canada, today is a holiday. It’s “Canada Day” – the day we celebrate the official creation of our country. It’s a day that many Canadians celebrate for many reasons: from being thankful to have a day off work to being thankful for arriving and living in a country where there is no …