As a child, I was taught to use a knife and fork like this: fork in left hand, securing what you want to cut, knife in right hand, cutting. Put knife down, transfer fork from left hand to right hand, put food in mouth. Repeat. My mother drilled this into
Continue readingTag: Canadian Culture
wmtc: how do you hold a fork and knife? or, in which i discover my table manners are american
As a child, I was taught to use a knife and fork like this: fork in left hand, securing what you want to cut, knife in right hand, cutting. Put knife down, transfer fork from left hand to right hand, put food in mouth. Repeat. My mother drilled this into
Continue readingwmtc: how do you hold a fork and knife? or, in which i discover my table manners are american
As a child, I was taught to use a knife and fork like this: fork in left hand, securing what you want to cut, knife in right hand, cutting. Put knife down, transfer fork from left hand to right hand, put food in mouth. Repeat. My mother drilled this into
Continue readingwmtc: #elxn43: the choice is clear, as always: progressives who vote liberal are not progressive at all
Jagmeet Singh marching with striking hotel workersin Vancouver. For weeks now, I’ve ignored all commentary and punditry about the upcoming Canadian federal election. I feel that literally no one has anything new or interesting thing to say. I ignored polls for weeks, knowing that they are pretty much proven to be
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: awil’gola open house: celebrate first nations communities at the library
On Thursday, October 24, the Port Hardy Library will host Awil’gola Open House, a celebration of local Indigenous cultures. Awil’gola is a Kwak’wala word loosely translated as “in celebration”, “being with one another,” or “all being together”. We will be celebrating beautiful new Cultural Literacy Kits focusing on the Kwakwaka’wakw,
Continue readingwmtc: island day trip with mom: sointula
This week’s day trip with my Mom was the town of Sointula. One of my libraries is located in Sointula, so I’ve been there a couple of times, but had never had an opportunity to explore the town or surrounding Malcolm Island. Sointula has a fascinating history: it was founded
Continue readingwmtc: indigenous canada: online course from university of alberta
This is a detail from artwork thatwas used throughout the course. Earlier this year, I studied and completed “Indigenous Canada“, a 12-week MOOC offered by the University of Alberta. It’s a general overview of Canadian history from an Indigenous perspective. It was a mostly good experience, along with some issues
Continue readingwmtc: walking the walk: if canada is serious about reconciliation, the senate must pass bill c-262
Canadians, contact the Senate. Urge them to work together to pass Private Member’s Bill C-262, “An Act to ensure that the laws of Canada are in harmony with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples“. My own letter included at the end of this post, in the
Continue readingwmtc: 11.11
11 anti-war books, parts 1 and 2. 11 anti-war songs. Robert Fisk: “…Heaven be thanked that the soldiers cannot return to discover how their sacrifice has been turned into fashion appendage.” Why no red poppy, why no white poppy: It’s that time of year again, the week when no one dares
Continue readingwmtc: first nations public library week
Yesterday was Orange Shirt Day. October 1 through 7 is First Nations Public Library Week in Canada. I’ll write more about this soon. For now, a book review from a few years back: what i’m reading: indian horse by richard wagamese, a must-read, especially for canadians.
Continue readingwmtc: happy canada day: a wish for a pledge
One unfortunate result of the current ascendancy of white supremacy in the US is the increase in Canadians’ nationalism and self-love — the strengthening of Canadians’ conviction that our society is peaceful and democratic, our institutions benevolent, our kindness manifest in law. We pat ourselves on the back while Trudeau
Continue readingwmtc: on poppies, veterans, trolls, and doxing
First of all, I do not apologize. I have nothing to apologize for. No one should apologize for having an unpopular opinion, or an opinion that the majority finds offensive. Second, I said nothing disrespectful to veterans. My utter lack of respect — my undying contempt — is for rulers
Continue readingwmtc: things i heard at the library: an occasional series: #28
With apologies to my man C. Dickens, it was the worst of customers, it was the best of customers. Our Children’s Department is short-staffed right now, and although that is stressful in many ways, there is a silver lining for me: I am needed more on the information desk, and
Continue readingwmtc: a must-read if you’re responding to ignorance and bigotry about omar khadr’s settlement
In case everyone hasn’t seen this yet, written by someone named Ben Feral Selinger. July 6 Okay, I’m fucking sick of the idiocy and done with writing a diatribe every single time a friend posts about how they’re upset that Trudeau is giving a terrorist $10m. You people are…. wilfully
Continue readingwmtc: thoughts on canada 150
It’s Canada Day, this year dubbed Canada 150, with its own corporate brand and a carefully worded story of that number 150. We also have Canada 150+, which acknowledges that human cultures and societies have been living in what is now Canada for thousands of years. I have mixed feelings about Canada
Continue readingwmtc: travel safety in egypt vs anywhere else in the world
When I tell people I’m going to Egypt, they are happy and excited for me. Then, almost everyone asks me if it’s safe there, and says, “Be careful.” The recent incident in Berlin has caused me to reflect on why this is. First: I am not complaining about friends expressing
Continue readingwmtc: u.s. iraq war resisters: the struggle continues
Still war resisters. Still in Canada. Still fighting to stay.So far, the change in government hasn’t helped the Iraq War resisters who remain here, nor the ones who were forced out of Canada who would like to return. The Trudeau government could do thi…
Continue readingwmtc: u.s. election circus puts wmtc in the news again
About a month ago, I received an email from a film producer: Netflix is making a documentary about Americans who moved to Canada for political reasons, and asked if Allan and I would be interviewed. We spent a long time chatting with her, before being …
Continue readingwmtc: dispatches from ola 2016, part 1: choosing to walk a path
I attended OLA* for only one day this year, partly because I’m already missing so much work for bargaining and other union business, and partly because one day is often enough. There’s a huge lineup of presentations, poster sessions, book signings, ven…
Continue readingwmtc: truth and reconciliation, past and present: why this matters to all of us
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has just completed its week-long closing event in Ottawa. The Commission was part of the historic settlement between the Canadian Government and the survivors of the former Indian Residential Schools. Its mandate is to inform all Canadians about what happened in Indian Residential
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