In 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada presided over Canada (Attorney General) v. Fontaine, a case brought against the federal government by former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Philip Fontaine. Fontaine demanded the destruction of Indigenous residential student testimony gathered during the Indian Residential Schools Settlement[Read More…]
Tag: reconciliation
Montreal upholds its colonial legacy by failing to prioritize reconciliation
On Nov. 18, Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada announced the composition of her new 14-member executive committee, with roles ranging from security and housing to green economic development. While Ferrada’s committee included a plethora of portfolios, it omitted a committee member explicitly responsible for reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples—a role that[Read More…]
McGill hosts “Reconciliation and Resistance” keynote with Dr. Niigaan Sinclair
McGill’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives hosted a keynote conversation titled “Reconciliation and Resistance: Where Are We Now?” on Sept. 24 in the Donald E. Armstrong Building. The talk was led by Dr. Niigaan Sinclair—Anishinaabe scholar at the University of Manitoba and son of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Chairman Murray[Read More…]
McGill cannot ‘check off’ reconciliation
Sept. 19 marked the commencement of McGill’s 2025 Indigenous Awareness Week, an 11-day event series celebrating Indigenous cultures and histories. The series also highlights the critical role McGill community members play in reconciling the historical and current impacts of settler colonialism. The week features guest lectures, campus Pow Wows, traditional[Read More…]
Mohawk Mothers accuse McGill of concealing new evidence of human remains at the New Vic site
At a press conference on April 30, the Kanien’kehá:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers) alleged that McGill University and the Société québécoise des infrastructures (SQI) found new evidence of human remains earlier this month at the site of the New Vic Project, where an ongoing investigation into possible unmarked graves is underway.[Read More…]
The Church’s apology requires devoted action
On April 1, Pope Francis made a long-overdue apology to Indigenous peoples in Canada for the role Catholic leaders and administrators played in committing cultural genocide through the residential school system. The Pope called these leaders’ behaviour “deplorable” and asked for both God’s forgiveness and the forgiveness of Indigenous peoples[Read More…]
Looking to history for the future
After finishing a B.A. in history last year, I made the terrible life choice of staying at McGill for graduate school. Tuition hikes and dismal job prospects for prospective historians give me plenty reason to regret my decision for years to come, and the continual weaponization of academic history—be it[Read More…]
Forum on future renaming draws debate
A diverse group including McGill alumni, professors, varsity athletes, and campus groups representing racialized students met on Sept. 12 in New Chancellor Day Hall to give feedback on a draft report suggesting principles for future commemoration and renaming initiatives on campus. The report was published by the Working Group on[Read More…]