Joanne Bealy: Hard lessons on race
Poet and writer Joanne Bealy went to the Kent Monkman talk at the Central Library, and learned some hard lessons about white privilege and complicity, not just from Monkman but especially from two Black women.
Residential schools
Weekend Video: Doug Knockwood – Indian Residential School
A short video where Doug Knockwood talks about his father’s determination to get him and and his brother Ralph out of Residential School.
Understanding our story: two books on the Shubenacadie Residential School.
A review of two excellent books on the horrific Shubenacadie Residential School, one, by Chris Benjamin, offering a historical overview, and the other, by elder Isabelle Knockwood, providing a moving eye witness account of the institution in all its horror. This isn’t ancient history.
Weekend video: Rita Joe, two fragments
These two video fragments of the great Mi’kmaw poet Rita Joe are definitely worth a look. Check out the last interview with Rita Joe before her death, and her memories of leaving the Shubenacadie Residential School behind forever.
Truth and Reconciliation in Nova Scotia’s classrooms. We must do better, petition demands
Nova Scotia definitely has made progress in terms of teaching students about Indian Residential Schools, treaties, and the contributions made by First Nations, Inuit and Métis to Canada. But there is much more work to do, and a petition with 1700 signatures delivered at Province House yesterday serves as a reminder. Teaching the teachers would be a good start, says KAIROS Atlantic.
Truth and Reconciliation in Nova Scotia’s classrooms, a progress report
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission called for increased classroom education on treaties, residential schools and past and present indigenous contributions. We take a look at the Nova Scotia response.
Ecology Action Centre challenges staff and volunteers to reflect on legacy of residential schools
The EAC believes we should pay close attention to the work and recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It is starting a monthly reading group to facilitate that effort.