About counterpoise

Canadian Indigenous Residential Schools – Counter-Narratives

I am very much aware of the harm that resulted from numerous aspects of the Indigenous residential schools. However, there were Aboriginals who graduated from these schools, who went on to lead productive and successful lives. This post provides examples of those who had positive experiences.

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Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) Final Report Executive Summary, 2015 – Critique

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada final report executive summary (2015) overemphasizes the negative and under-reports the positive. The lessons from the painful accounts need to be translated into more than a blueprint for “stratospheric rights,” particularly since not all Indigenous people are on the same page when it comes to this executive summary.

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A Review of Calvin Helin’s Dances With Spirits: Ancient Wisdom for a Modern World

A review of Tsimshian author Calvin Helin’s Dances With Spirits: Ancient Wisdom for a Modern World (2014). Helin’s Dances With Dependency: Indigenous Success Through Self-Reliance (2006) and The Empowerment Mindset: Success Through Self-Knowledge (2012) are also discussed.

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Thomas King’s “The Inconvenient Indian” – A Sometimes Contradictory, But Occasionally Constructive, Rant

A review of Thomas King’s The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America (2012). King (1943-) has Cherokee, Greek and German ancestry. I find he sometimes contradicts himself, but some of his recommendations are constructive.

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A Review of Some Aspects of the Blog “Six Nations (Haudenosaunee) & The Haldimand Tract: Beliefs Versus Facts”

A review of some aspects of the blog “Six Nations (Haudenosaunee) & the Halidmand Tract: Beliefs Versus Facts.” DeYo, the blog author, is a resident of Haldimand County in Ontario, Canada. His kinship includes (among others) Delaware, Mohawk and Tyendinaga. He comments on “unresolved land disputes” between the Canadian government and the Haudenosaunee.

A Review of Some Aspects of the Blog “Six Nations (Haudenosaunee) & The Haldimand Tract: Beliefs Versus Facts” Read More »

Chippewas of the Thames First Nation (COTTFN) Proposed Urban Reserve for London, Ontario, Canada – Some Points for Discussion

The Chippewas of the Thames First Nation (COTTFN) is located about 20 km southwest of London. In 2013, COTTFN voted in favour of creating an urban reserve as part of a land claims settlement. This reserve was to be located in London. I examine the implications of this.

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A Critique of the Aboriginal Components of “The Mental Health Strategy for Canada”

In May 2012, the Mental Health Commission of Canada released its report “Changing Directions, Changing Lives: the Mental Health Strategy for Canada.” I critique the Aboriginal components of this report,

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Caledonia and Six Nations: Majority Opposed April 28, 2012 “Parade”

Caledonia, Ontario is near the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve in Southern Ontario. There have been ongoing tensions between the two communities relating to Six Nations land claims. My post deals with a dispute in 2012.

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Israel Truth Week Conference 2012 and Its Connection With the Caledonia Crisis

The first Israel Truth Week Conference was held in London, Ontario. The conference was founded by Mark Vandermaas in order to draw attention to growing anti-Israel viewpoints in Canadian society, including in connection with a land claims dispute in Caledonia, Ontario. My post includes summaries of some of the presentations made at the conference.

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Part Two of Two – A Delectable Lie, a Tree and a Way Forward: Multiculturalism and Aboriginal Policy Compared

I compare the Canadian government’s multiculturalism and Aboriginal policies. I see similarities between Western University political science professor Salim Mansur’s concerns about multiculturalism and the pro-Palestinian/anti-Jewish elements elements of the Caledonia, Ontario land claims dispute.

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