A school shift towards reading Indigenous literature shows students and our society the importance of learning about Indigenous perspectives, cultures, contributions and histories.
(Jennifer Brant)
Researchers from an Indigenous literatures lab examine texts that are well-suited for a new Grade 11 course, First Voices.
Kwetiio, Kahentinetha and Karakwine (from left to right), three of the six Mohawk Mothers seeking to uncover unmarked graves at the former Royal Victoria Hospital in Montréal.
(Justin Heritage)
Debates over what “mapping” means show how Indigenous communities still have to advocate for and defend their cartographic methods in order to uphold their connections to the land.
Ceremonial tipis sit in front of the former residential school, Blue Quills, now the home to Blue Quills university run by seven First Nations.
(Terri Cardinal)
The author led a search for unmarked graves at the site of Blue Quills, a former residential school. She found more areas of interest (potential graves) than the official record shows.
A stretch of Highway 16 near Prince George, B.C., known as the Highway of Tears, where several Indigenous women and girls have gone missing.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Transport development paved the way for colonization and is directly linked to the chronic and extreme social inequities Indigenous communities continue to face to this day.
Girls’ class at St. Mary’s School, Blood Reserve, Alta., April 1933.
(Provincial Archives of Alberta, OB10558)
Survivors of multiple colonial school systems need their voices to be heard. An exhibit examines how colonial schooling policies over a century and a half influenced the Blood People.
The term BIPOC amalgamates distinct experiences of racism and colonialism and misses those that do not fit within one category, like individuals of mixed ancestry.
(Shutterstock)
Acronyms like BIPOC can highlight the similar ways racism impacts different people. However, they can also gloss over the distinct experiences of communities.
Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.
Getty Images
Annie Te One, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Te Pāti Māori was born out of protest. After almost two decades, the party is carving out a political presence beyond its traditional base of support.
The resounding ‘yes’ vote in a referendum on halting oil extraction in the Yasuní, an area of vital ecological importance, is a huge victory for Ecuador.
(AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
The decision of the people of Ecuador to halt oil extraction in the Yasuní is a trend-setting precedent of global importance and a victory that Canadians should build upon.
Pictographs on the shores of Mazinaw Lake, or Mazinaabikinigan-zaaga’igan, which in Algonquin means ‘painted-image lake.’
(Robber Esq)
Buffy Sainte-Marie has generated a multi-decade fruitful career that is hard to rival. Her motive as an activist is usually overlooked.
An ethicist calls the government’s decision to not support a search for murdered Indigenous women immoral. Pictured here is a protest to support the search in Winnipeg.
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods)
Manitoba’s provincial government has declined to support a search for three murdered Indigenous women, citing health and safety concerns. An ethicist explains why this decision needs to be rethought.
Amanda Snell (left) stands next to her car which has a photo of her deceased partner, Steven Dubois, taped to it. Richelle Dubois (right) stands next to a photo of her son, Haven Dubois.
(Michelle Stewart)
This summer, one family is marching from Regina to Ottawa, hoping to raise awareness about the vulnerabilities and systemic inequalities faced by Indigenous boys, men and Two-Spirit People.
Robbie Robertson speaks during a press conference for ‘Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band’ at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.
(Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
Robbie Robertson, leader of The Band, passed away on Aug. 9. A Canadian musician with a global impact, he never forgot his Mohawk roots. After going solo, he became known for his film scores.
People without vehicles line up in Yellowknife to register for a flight to Alberta; residents were ordered to evacuate the area because of encroaching wildfire.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden
As the mass evacuation of Yellowknife unfolds, the needs of minority populations will emerge. Past experiences indicate emergency officials may not be ready to meet the needs of a diverse population.
Platforms like Zoom have been helpful in bridging geographical distances. However, a recent proposal to mine data raises questions about ownership of Indigenous Knowledge.
(Chris Montgomery/Unsplash)
In-person collaboration between Indigenous communities has been aided by information technologies like Zoom. However, recent attempts to mine personal data raise concerns about data ownership.
A view of the devastation in Lahaina, Hawaii, following the wildfires in August 2023.
AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
The region of Maui has been revered by its Indigenous peoples as a sacred place for generations. It is believed to be the home of Kihawahine, a woman who transformed into a goddess.
Labrador Tea is one of the boreal plants that are classified as pests or weeds. The plant is important to Indigenous communities for its healing properties.
(J. Baker)
Some boreal plant species are classified — and treated — as weeds, affecting Indigenous communities’ access to important cultural, medicinal and ceremonial resources.
A protest demanding justice for Joyce Echaquan in Montréal in October 2020.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Cultural awareness training for health-care workers places focus on individual biases rather than tackling the systemic problems that negatively impact Indigenous patients.
Indigenous cultures possess ancestral knowledge and an in-depth understanding of plants that deserves to be recognized, preserved and promoted for the benefit of society as a whole.
(Olivier Fradette)
New scientific discoveries are being made by drawing on Indigenous peoples’ ancestral knowledge about medicinal plants.
Beyond the danger to human life and economies, wildfires also present considerable danger to communities and the mental well-being of survivors.
(AP Photo/Noah Berger)
To effectively address climate hazards like wildfire, we must consider the diverse experiences of people, account for longstanding institutions and create processes that empower local people.
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University