Indigenous

The words of truth and reconciliation need to be put into action

Kaitlin McNabb — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 16:10:08 +0000

September 15, 2016

No matter who you are -- Indigenous or non-Indigenous -- the words truth and reconciliation can be hard to swallow.

When you hear the words over and over again, you begin to tire of what can be said, especially when these words seem to be popular in today's politics. These terms, truth and reconciliation, are based upon the actions and words of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission that was put together to deal with Canada's genocidal residential school system and its survivors.

Aside from the work of the actual Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the words truth and reconciliation are now largely used as a tool to get Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to work together.

New collection "In This Together: Fifteen Stories of Truth and Reconciliation" describes what reconciliation can mean to the individual. But are words enough? Our reviewer says it's time for action.

The integral role of Indigenous women's knowledge

rabble staff — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 19:35:53 +0000

July 21, 2016

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Study into the Indigenous ways of knowing and knowledge has been largely conducted from a western standpoint and subsequently focuses on the male point of view. This creates not only a gendered analysis but an incomplete picture that ignores the knowledge traditionally held and communicated by Indigenous women.

'Living on the Land: Indigenous Women's Understanding of Place' examines how patriarchy, gender and colonialism have shaped the experiences and knowledge of Indigenous women. Read an excerpt here.

'Dying from Improvement' exposes the politics of colonial inquests and inquiries

rabble staff — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 16:28:01 +0000

March 10, 2016

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As we shift from a Harper government that denied Canada's history of colonialism to a Trudeau government that has launched an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women, Sherene Razack's new book is a must-read to navigate the changing tactics of the Canadian state and support ongoing resistance.

Sherene Razack exposes the colonial violence that inquests and inquiries ignore and creates a text that is essential to understanding colonialism's tactical variations and ongoing resistance.

'Birdie' soars to new heights with 'bigelegance' and quiet strength

rabble staff — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 21:37:19 +0000

January 21, 2016

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Tracey Lindberg's debut novel Birdie is a celebration of Cree communities centered around the coming of age of a complex female protagonist.

Tracey Lindberg's debut novel Birdie draws inspiration from the Cree author's personal life and addresses the complexities of mental illness, abuse and non-linear narratives. Read this author Q&A!

'Children of the Broken Treaty' exposes Canada's shameful treatment of Indigenous people

rabble staff — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 22:53:24 +0000

December 17, 2015

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Imagine going to a school that is broken. A school that sits on a toxic field of noxious fumes that makes you and your classmates sick.

Author Charlie Angus' detailed account of the deliberate denial of human rights to First Nations communities and Shannen Koostachin's fight for the right to education is stunning and a must read.

'Indigenous Nationhood' speaks a truth that Canada needs to hear

rabble staff — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 20:44:57 +0000

November 12, 2015

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Indigenous Nationhood: Empowering Grassroots Citizens is an interesting read because it is a collection of the best blog posts written by Indigenous activist, lawyer and academic Dr. Pamela Palmater from her acclaimed blog Indigenous Nationhood.

Dr. Pamela Palmater has brought a critical analysis and discussion to issues facing Indigenous populations in Canada like no other writer of her time. Her new book is an absolute must read.

The miseducation of Augie Merasty

rabble staff — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 13:12:33 +0000

July 16, 2015

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At 86, Joseph (Augie) Merasty decided his story needed to be told: a firsthand account of the impact residential schools had on Indigenous children and how this experience shaped his life.

Fractured Homeland recounts Algonquin struggle for identity and nationhood

alex — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 17:30:19 +0000

November 22, 2012

Bonita Lawrence presents to us a labour of devoted love. A book that takes 10 years to write cannot easily be summed up in a few paragraphs, but the lasting impression that it leaves, is a clearer picture of the complicated history of the destruction of Algonquin culture and identity and the current struggle to redefine their communities and reclaim geographic, legal and human rights within a government that once promised, and took, so much and left so little.

Fractured Homeland is Bonita Lawrence's stirring account of the Algonquins' 20-year struggle to reclaim their traditional territories.

Re-envisioning reconciliation: Indigenous peoples and resurgence in Canada

alex — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:37:12 +0000

January 26, 2012

What does reconciliation look like for Indigenous peoples in what is currently Canada? In part, argues Leanne Simpson in Dancing on Our Turtle's Back, it must take the form of the resurgence of Indigenous peoples' political traditions in their nation-to-nation relationships with Canada.

What does reconciliation look like for Indigenous peoples in what is currently Canada? Dancing on Our Turtle's Back re-envisions reconciliation from an Indigenous perspective.

New book reimagines Indigenous networks

alex — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 19:58:47 +0000

November 11, 2010

Lynne Davis's anthology, Alliances: Re/Envisioning Indigenous-non-Indigenous Relationships, brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous activists, scholars and community leaders to reflect on relationship-building/alliance-making in struggle and how such work impacts both the personal and political.

Alliances brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous thinkers to reflect on relationship-building/alliance-making in struggle and how such work impacts both the personal and political.

Artist revisits 500 Years of Resistance

alex — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:46:07 +0000

June 24, 2010

500 Years of Resistance is a comic book depicting a Native American view of colonial history. It seemed somewhat presumptuous of me to review this book, and for this week's National Aboriginal Day, no less. I am not Native American; by some benchmarks, I am not even North American, having moved to Canada less than 10 years ago. And yet. I am from India, the country Columbus set out to discover before he washed up on the American continent, a country intimately acquainted with European colonialism.

Gord Hill's 500 Years of Resistance Comic Book sets out to retell colonial history from a Native American perspective. Excerpt included!