Until Indigenous men are held to the same standards as everyone else, nothing will change Jeremy Skibicki has been charged with the murder of four Indigenous women in Winnipeg, Manitoba. If proven, this is a truly horrible crime that deserves the public’s full attention and a demand that justice be done. That is happening. There…
Reconciliation should not be the stuff of soothing platitudes Is it time to rethink indigenous land acknowledgements that often open energy-sector conference sessions? Are we ready to question their utility and effectiveness in advancing the interests of Canada’s indigenous peoples? Are they moving the reconciliation needle – or have they become little more than meaningless,…
Once caught up in mass hysteria, we don’t even realize we are not seeing things clearly Mass hysteria is the spontaneous manifestation of a particular behaviour by many people. There are numerous historical examples: Middle Age nuns at a convent in France spontaneously began to meow like cats; at another convent, nuns began biting one…
Ksi Lisims LNG to benefit First Nations while helping reduce world emissions The Nisga’a Nation and its partners in a major proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in British Columbia have been granted federal approval for exports through 2060 and beyond. The $10 billion Ksi Lisims LNG project, a floating terminal to be located about…
An eye-opening description of Aboriginal culture as it was in the 1880s John McLean was a Christian missionary who lived for nine years with the Blood (Kainai) Indians in present-day Southern Alberta, learning their language, customs and traditions. In 1889, at the request of the Smithsonian Institution, he wrote The Indians of Canada, a balanced…
Sydney Stenekes credits her degree with giving her the confidence to engage with people of diverse cultures Growing up, Sydney Stenekes was taught to help others however she could. Whether teaching kids how to skate or speak English or serving as a student trustee for her school board, she learned “to love and respect everyone…
But until all wounds caused by genocide are healed, we cannot be satisfied On October 27, a motion was unanimously passed in the Canadian Parliament recognizing what happened in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools as genocide according to Article II of the United Nations Genocide Convention. It should be noted that this is a culmination of…
For far too long, the narrative of the people in power was believed
There is an interesting phenomenon happening in the world. The quest for truth is gaining momentum, and it cannot be stopped. In Canada, a great deal of credit must be given to Indigenous leaders, scholars, and community members, but especially to the witnesses of genocidal practices who shared their stories. For far too long, the…
But Trudeau government's emissions cap threatens future prosperity
A massive milestone has been reached in the growing trend of Indigenous people taking ownership of Canadian oil and gas projects. Twenty-three First Nations and Métis communities in northern Alberta are investing $1.1 billion to become part owners of seven Enbridge oil sands pipelines. It’s described as the largest energy-related Indigenous partnership transaction in North…
The right choice is staring us in the face
If First Nations are to have a chance at seeing real self-determination, equity deals in natural resource development must be part of the conversation. Having ownership of the projects taking place on our land not only gives us own-source revenue but also gives us the ability to have a seat at the table and be…