Columbus is no hero of mine
Italian-North Americans — especially those of us with roots in the Mezzogiorno (and I include the Ciociaria and Abbruzzo here) — don’t need a Genoese genocidal rapist as our hero.…
indigenous
Mohawk Institute: the "Mushhole"
My class toured this historical "museum of conscience" with a survivor of the school as a guide. It operated as a residential school from 1828 to 1970. We weren't in…
Mohawk Institute: the "Mushhole"
My class toured this historical "museum of conscience" with a survivor of the school as a guide. It operated as a residential school from 1828 to 1970. We weren't in…
On bell hooks
I came across a bell hooks essay about writing with passion, as a "space of transgression," which I like very much. And then PEL (The Partially Examined Life - a…
On bell hooks
I came across a bell hooks essay about writing with passion, as a "space of transgression," which I like very much. And then PEL (The Partially Examined Life - a…
Curating the North: Documentary Screening Ethics and Inuit Representation in (Festival) Cinema
Documentary festivals are certainly not immune to scandal and controversy, and this year’s RIDM, which took place in Montreal in November 2015, was no exception. Following on the heels of…
Settlers, Oppressed Nations, Indigeneity
A friend recently wrote me, asking me “after how many years/generations do new settlers become Indigenous to a land? So, for example, are the Boers descendants today in S. Africa,…
Podcast: Truth, reconciliation and restitution
https://politicalehconomy.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/podcast150612-reconciliation-restitution.mp3 The summary report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada was released last week. The work of the Commission took seven years, gathering public and private testimony from…
Industrious immigrant vs idle Indigenous meets reality
Here’s a familiar trope: immigrants are industrious and hard-working. Here’s another, opposite trope: First Nations are idle and lazy. And here’s a graph that beautifully calls into question this neat…
Planning the Metropolitan #Vancouver Region: A Critical Perspective
Here is a review of the Planning the Metropolitan Vancouver Region: A Critical Perspective- Thank you to AY for inviting me- great catching up with SCARP people and making new…
Loretta Saunders is not a singular case: Inappropriate and inadequate responses from Harper Government
… Let me be clear: Aboriginal women are TARGETS of violence because they are treated as disposable objects. How many ignored Pickton concerns were there before someone decided to take…
Countering Colonization (and other great books)
So University of California Press has just made 700 of its books available for online reading (to read on a tablet you have to copy paste into some other program…
Are We Good Allies to First Nations?
This is what solidarity looks like; make sure it’s authentic! Lots of us care about deepening relationships with and social/economic/political justice for first peoples. It’s hard to come in, though,…
“Micro-brothels” in BC: Are we still criminalizing prostitution?
“Micro-brothels” in BC: Are we still criminalizing prostitution? The short answer: YES. Now the long answer: I’ve seen a couple articles in Vancouver’s 24hr News about how micro-brothels are a…
Indigenous resistance grows strong in Keystone XL pipeline battle
By: Crysbel Tejada and Betsy Catlin | First published by Waging Nonviolence on May 8, 2013: On cloudy days, heavy smoke fills the air of Ponca City, Okla., with grey…
Three New Year’s Resolutions for Canada
I have never been a fan of New Year’s resolutions. The practice always struck me as little more than an excuse to put off self-improvement until next year. But now,…
Indigenous Pipeline (Twinned)
Indigenous Pipe Line (Twinned) Filed under: Political Humour Tagged: Aboriginal, bitumen, chanupa, First Nations, indian, indigenous, native, oil sands, peace pipe, peacepipe, pipe line, tar, twinned
Montreal First Peoples Festival call for submissions – Submission deadline extended to April 13
The 22nd Montreal First Peoples Festival has extended its entry deadline to Friday the 13th of April 2012. The Festival is looking for audiovisual works for this years’ showcase, taking…