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 …
Indigenous peoples
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
When Does History Start?
On Monday I was a tourist in my own city (Toronto), and I stumbled across the South Liberty Trail. There was a sign detailing the history of the area, starting in the 1880s. Although it was interesting, it made me wonder about what came before the industry. Signs like this - while interesting …
More than what you know – Reconciliation Part 4
Last week I wrote about cultural appropriation. I hope you were able to notice and discover some of the ways we do that with Indigenous cultures. This week is about knowledge, exposure and awareness. Most of the items on the 150 ways list are about information and learning. They include …
[Continue reading] More than what you know – Reconciliation Part 4
Cultural Appropriation…?
Part 3 in the Reconciliation Series. This week I’m thinking about cultural appropriation as I consider reconciliation. Obviously, these two don’t mix. First of all, what does it mean to appropriate a culture? It means we are taking something and using it as if it were ours. In so doing, we …
The Impact of Discomfort
I happened to be listening to G98 on the radio this weekend, and I caught an interview with Jully Black – the Canadian R&B singer. The topic was the Canada Reads and how it got “heated” between Jully Black and Jeanne Beker in the final episode. They played it on the radio, and I have since …
Proud Boys – when private views make it into the public domain
I'm watching an interview with a leader from the Maritime Forces Atlantic (the Navy) about the Proud Boys "interruption" of an Indigenous ceremony in Nova Scotia on Canada Day. You can google the footage of the disturbance and the troubling comments made by the Proud Boys. I'm not going to link …
[Continue reading] Proud Boys – when private views make it into the public domain
What’s in a Sign?
This morning I woke up early and was fortunate to catch the sunrise as I walked along the lakeshore. It’s one of my favourite places. As I walked, I came across this sign. It’s not the first time I’ve seen it, but it caught my attention today again, especially since I’ve been thinking a lot about …
The Ugly side of Diversity
It intrigues and saddens me to notice how often celebrations of diversity result in xenophobia.One of this year's Superbowl ads is a shining example of this.Coke ran an ad featuring the song America the Beautiful, sung in seven different languages and featuring a diversity of cultures and people. …