residential schools

Tomson Highway – His Memoir Permanent Astonishment and His Time in London, Ontario, Canada, 1975-1978

Cree writer and pianist Tomson Highway’s memoir Permanent Astonishment provides many insights into why he is a Canada Indigenous frontrunner. He successfully navigated his way through nine challenging years at a residential school. Then from 1975 to 1978, he got two B.A.’s from Western, coordinated the Festival of Native Music ’78 and became my friend.

NWT Metis Leader Nick Sibbeston – Bringing About Positive Changes to the Catholic Church/Indigenous Spirituality Relationship

Metis leader Nick Sibbeston (1943-) was born in Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. His memoir “You Will Wear a White Shirt” (2015) recounts his time as NWT premier 1987-1989. Since I worked with the Dene-Metis 1983-1987, I was there when he was premier. His views on Dene-cizing the Catholic church are of great interest to me.

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.