The recent decision by an all-white jury to acquit Gerald Stanley, the killer of Colten Boushie calls on us all to confront systematic racism and demand reforms to Canada’s justice system, which “works against Indigenous people at every level”. The post Why is a quarter of Canada’s prison population Indigenous?
Continue readingTag: Aboriginal Issues
The Canadian Progressive: ‘Clearing the plains’ continues with the acquittal of Gerald Stanley
Last week’s decision by an all-white jury to acquit Gerald Stanley, the killer of Colten Boushie, a young Indigenous man from the Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, calls for an overhaul of Canada’s settler-based legal system, and an investigation into the racism embedded within Canadian society and police forces.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Canada 150: Reconciling who we are with who we want to be
Today, on the occasion of Canada 150, we should be asking ourselves tough questions relating to the role of public policy in Canada’s ongoing efforts at reconciling with Indigenous people. According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives: “Above all, we must deliberately put Indigenous voices and lived experiences at
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Open Letter to Chief Commissioner Marion Buller on National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Read the open letter recently dispatched to Marion Buller, the Chief Commissioner for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, by the victims’ families, advocates, Indigenous leaders, experts and grassroots people. The “inquiry is in serious trouble.” The post Open Letter to Chief Commissioner Marion Buller
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Canada’s vanishing point: Reconciliation and the erasure of Indian personhood
According to Tara Williamson, a singer-songwriter and poet from Manitoba, one of the many problems inherent in Canada’s current effort to reconcile with Indigenous peoples is this: “We must be willing to reconcile, willing to hear apologies, willing to share our trauma with others, willing to heal and willing to
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: What will it take to get Canada’s Arctic off diesel?
The planned Innavik Hydro Electric Project will provide clean energy and propel the indigenous Inukjuak community in Northern Quebec off its dependency on dirty diesel energy. But the project faces serious challenges, including lack of adequate funding, and mega hydro projects’ disastrous legacy of wiping out thousands of caribou and
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Manitoba Chiefs Suing Trudeau Over Enbridge’s Line 3 Pipeline Approval
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is suing the Trudeau government over its approval of Enbridge’s Line 3 tar sands pipeline. First Nations leaders have repeatedly stated that no genuine reconciliation is possible as long as Canada continues to approve fossil fuel-based projects that threaten their communities and the planet. The
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: How a controversial dam threatens rights of Canada’s indigenous Innu people
The controversial Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project in Labrador, Canada, “relies on local Innu people giving up their own lands.” It “joins a long history of dispossession in North America.” The post How a controversial dam threatens rights of Canada’s indigenous Innu people appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: David Suzuki: Confronting the crisis of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada
David Suzuki on the crisis of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada, and the “hard work and leadership of Indigenous women and communities who have spent decades calling for an inquiry.” The post David Suzuki: Confronting the crisis of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada appeared
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Over 1280 archaeologists and historians denounce Dakota Access Pipeline
At least 1281 archaeologists, anthropologists, historians, students and museum directors from the US, Canada and other countries recently signed a letter condemning the destruction of Standing Rock Sioux burial grounds and sacred sites by the Dakota Access Pipeline company. The post Over 1280 archaeologists and historians denounce Dakota Access Pipeline
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: “Indian Givers”: New Neil Young Song Honors Dakota Access Pipeline Resistance
Canadian rock legend Neil Young just unleashed “Indian Givers”, a new protest song honoring the ongoing Standing Rock Sioux Tribe-led protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline.
The post “Indian Givers”: New Neil Young Song Honors Dakota Access Pipeline Resistance appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Court overturns Canada’s approval of Northern Gateway pipeline
In a decision that’s already being hailed as a major victory for First Nations and the planet, the Federal Court of Appeal recently overturned the Canadian government’s 2014 approval of Enbridge’s contested Northern Gateway pipeline project.
The post …
The Canadian Progressive: Squamish Nation files Federal Court challenge against Trans Mountain pipeline expansion
The Squamish Nation has launched a court challenge against the National Energy Board’s approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. The British Columbia-based First Nation filed the challenge in the the Federal Court of Appeal in Vancouve…
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Canada’s progress shows indigenous reconciliation is a long-term process
Australia, which is “being held back by its unresolved relationship with its Indigenous population”, can learn from Canada’s emerging efforts at reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
The post Canada’s progress shows indigenous …
The Canadian Progressive: Olivia Loccisano: Kind like a tree, calm like a river in the First Nations town of Conklin, Northern Alberta
Freelance writer and aspiring filmmaker Olivia Loccisano reflects on her decision to dedicate her life to the First Nations town of Conklin in Northern Alberta, population 350, as a mentor teacher to Aboriginal children.
The post Olivia Loccisano: Kin…
The Canadian Progressive: Supreme Court To Hear First Nation’s Case Against Enbridge’s Line 9 Pipeline
The Supreme Court of Canada has confirmed that it will hear the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation’s challenge to Enbridge’s Line 9 tar sands pipeline.
The post Supreme Court To Hear First Nation’s Case Against Enbridge’s Line 9 Pipeline …
The Canadian Progressive: Truth and reconciliation: First Nations kids won, now it’s time for a better relationship with Indigenous peoples
Kids won when the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled that Canada racially discriminates against First Nations children. Andrea Auger discusses the tribunal’s findings on racial discrimination in Canada’s Indigenous child welfare programs.
The post…
The Canadian Progressive: Canada racially discriminates against First Nations children, tribunal rules
In a landmark decision issued Tuesday, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled that Canada racially discriminates against First Nations children. “This is a great day for First Nations children and all Canadians who believe in justice and fairness,” s…
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Climate Change Threatens Coastal British Columbia First Nations Fishing Traditions
A new study says climate change threatens fishing traditions that have sustained First Nations along Canada’s Pacific coast for thousands of years. The study found that climate change could reduce fish species such herring and salmon, “which are among …
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Alberta Tar Sands Destroying Mother Earth [VIDEO]
This amazing Al Jazeera short documentary describes how the Alberta tar sands operations are destroying Mother Earth and the lives of First Nation communities in the heart of the tar sands.
The post Alberta Tar Sands Destroying Mother Earth [VIDEO] a…