tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12644809734904446982024-03-13T23:20:10.754-07:00David BouchardDear Reader, I am an author, a story teller and a public speaker. I speak to educators, parents and students about the value of stories and the importance of reading. I work to inspire educators and parents to share the most valuable gift we can give our youth, the gifts of stories and reading. I speak on Aboriginal related challenges and successes.David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09049780766596623527noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-59167803633207681522023-11-06T14:34:00.002-08:002023-11-06T14:34:38.285-08:00Implementing the recommendations of the TRC - A difficult challenge <p>Telling your students the Truth as you attempt to implement the recommendations of TRC is a very difficult assignment. </p><p>If ONE person, a parent, a trustee, an administator or...any ONE person has an issue with your efforts, it could be disastrous. It could mean your job/your livelhood. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Xhi3ZzgZg3g1GZzqBaUO0XoRAZGnBE1piOpLK0AXOMFlI4XmUDKxhk2TqTVf0IY5iLC1IjaMArP1WoQwgvTpJC_NDgO1H4u_ASErmafbGv0jmWbQaNMIM35MfF8gPL8HoNys2JZFuA-MHWj_sqjslWNsB6cON1FiI0Xkm4cblQO6ySaSmzshZyz0Re0/s3018/SCAN%20Dust%20jacket.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3018" data-original-width="2184" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Xhi3ZzgZg3g1GZzqBaUO0XoRAZGnBE1piOpLK0AXOMFlI4XmUDKxhk2TqTVf0IY5iLC1IjaMArP1WoQwgvTpJC_NDgO1H4u_ASErmafbGv0jmWbQaNMIM35MfF8gPL8HoNys2JZFuA-MHWj_sqjslWNsB6cON1FiI0Xkm4cblQO6ySaSmzshZyz0Re0/w157-h216/SCAN%20Dust%20jacket.jpg" width="157" /></a></div>Yet, you want to do your share. What can you do? <p></p><p>Educate them - your students (and your community) about the values and beliefs of those to whom we know we are owing. One way to do this is for you to use my books that focus on the Sacred Teachings. These Teachings are consistent among many First Nations. To access those of the Haudenosaunee, use my book The Great Law.</p><p>For middle school - high school, the Seven Sacred Teachings is a beautifully illustrated look at the Grandfather Teachings/Teachings or the White Buffalo Calf Woman. To support the book, allo me to read it to them</p><p> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFPuRfqm9RY&t=359s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFPuRfqm9RY&t=359s</a> </p><p>For every right there is a wrong. For each of the Sared Teachings there is a Deceiver. Again, the book and/or the video clip: </p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GLPfFM4RZA&t=132s"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GLPfFM4RZA&t=132s"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwgBsWw3SD3b4x02lYwyE9vPucQAHmX1M3kOBVX1rxBq-UpeNbhp-j7f5PFdu608eXj0-OQMuoQ0xCDd0nDXCJ-kI0raafT-FgfqPrSXKUebq4Vqxazt6wQqhT7WrjQ4pZ1oXGuDS4yXTJy7da58P4ZaPpdC9j3smpt-Fw-wY14CdLbIxz3XyB73CzXss" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="186" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwgBsWw3SD3b4x02lYwyE9vPucQAHmX1M3kOBVX1rxBq-UpeNbhp-j7f5PFdu608eXj0-OQMuoQ0xCDd0nDXCJ-kI0raafT-FgfqPrSXKUebq4Vqxazt6wQqhT7WrjQ4pZ1oXGuDS4yXTJy7da58P4ZaPpdC9j3smpt-Fw-wY14CdLbIxz3XyB73CzXss" width="164" /></a></div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GLPfFM4RZA&t=132s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GLPfFM4RZA</a></div><div><br /></div><div>I have written a version of the teachings for younger readers. Medicine Wheel Education has published We Learn from the Sun - in English, en francais and in Ojibwe. They also have created and offer, for very little money, a teachers' guide. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you find success by using my books through what is a positive educational approach to implementing the recommendations, you might want to look at Meet Your Family, again in the three languages and again offering a teachers' guide. This book is currently the most popular of my books. I say currently as I have three exciting titles soon to be released. I will speak further to these this coming week.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhH9JOIuVo8jeIDn2oMmluEL7k3nQ89dRg_NEI9BxNrZqXK51ATPwHoWdxZpyP16jX2Xy0hjk2YzvGo5tV--48HAdyh46e2GM_7m47-0fBAhwARavN6s7SVKnTUC50muXztlqhCiwjQ55JbD8maBSpozEk-KopSskaM0U6kq34Hf4N-ab-LZPT4Gw2fGSk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="540" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhH9JOIuVo8jeIDn2oMmluEL7k3nQ89dRg_NEI9BxNrZqXK51ATPwHoWdxZpyP16jX2Xy0hjk2YzvGo5tV--48HAdyh46e2GM_7m47-0fBAhwARavN6s7SVKnTUC50muXztlqhCiwjQ55JbD8maBSpozEk-KopSskaM0U6kq34Hf4N-ab-LZPT4Gw2fGSk=w640-h266" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">If I can be of any further assistance, I'm here. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I do online presentations as well as in person events. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p></div></div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-60739832693189609462023-07-17T15:31:00.001-07:002023-07-17T15:31:35.400-07:00The passing of an amazing person - <p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">https://www.facebook.com/774715303/videos/537161068504906/</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 27.0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Source Serif Pro","serif"; font-size: 22.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Robb <span class="obit-lastname-upper"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">DUNFIELD</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">May 17, 1959 - June 19, 2023</span></b></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a href="https://vancouversunandprovince.remembering.ca/obituary/robb-dunfield-1088542564"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaXgpjciCqgR-fxoz5q10qYtj8ttNt7t3dI_fruyP5_Dts6J_N5xSDmLIm_al4Ibu1x8o9y4hyZI_UjRopu1kGgubwIdoxDuL0VVJqfiJx5jNIncafasiQJcsuErE6JsUhB1RSJooY53aWlUSxYtH7T6MNVHn1hlOoaiWKsoFrJZ1_MBfsERs96zHca5M" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="469" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaXgpjciCqgR-fxoz5q10qYtj8ttNt7t3dI_fruyP5_Dts6J_N5xSDmLIm_al4Ibu1x8o9y4hyZI_UjRopu1kGgubwIdoxDuL0VVJqfiJx5jNIncafasiQJcsuErE6JsUhB1RSJooY53aWlUSxYtH7T6MNVHn1hlOoaiWKsoFrJZ1_MBfsERs96zHca5M=w234-h300" width="234" /></a></div><br /><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Robb
was remarkable his whole life. He was the fourth in a family of five siblings
(Kim, Barbara, Liz and Peter) and from the day he was born on May 17, 1959, he
started to make his mark on the world, little knowing, that in his lifetime he
would become 'the first in the world' on many stages.<br />
<br />
In his youth, Robb excelled in all sports through his singular focus. As a
freestyle skier, performing aerial flips, he always challenged himself to go
higher and further. Robb loved soccer and golf but, also taught himself to
embroider, embellishing a jacket with a colourful giant he'd drawn himself. He
proudly wore it until he framed it as the piece of art is was.<br />
<br />
After his accident, from which he emerged as the 'first in the world', to
survive a C2 spinal cord injury, ventilator dependent. Robb began his journey
to become the world's most positive minded man with the ability to look at life
through a lens, that made him truly believe, if he just put his mind to it, he
could find a way to make the impossible, possible and, he did just that.<br />
<br />
Robb yearned to leave hospital, have his own room with a door and music. So,
again he put his mind to creating the world's first independent living space
for high-level quadriplegics. Everyone said it couldn't be done but, he did it
and, that's where he met and fell in love with Sarah. They married and had twin
girls Emma and Sophia, who have grown into very accomplished young women. Over
the years raising a family, Robb became a proficient painter with his paintings
widely collected both in Canada and internationally. Some of his paintings
became part of a book titled "If Sarah Will Take Me" and accompany a
poem by Dave Bouchard. Robb's paintings were made into prints that Variety Club
auctioned for its annual charity fund raisers.<br />
<br />
Robb was awarded the prestigious National Achievement Award by the Mother's
March of Dimes and Easter Seals and honoured on centre ice at a Canuck's game
when he donated his painting of 'The Canuck House'. Calona Wines produced the
Dunfield-Soon wine series with Robb's paintings featured on the wine labels.
The last big project Robb undertook was a large mural for the lobby of the
Blusson Spinal Cord Research Centre at Vancouver General Hospital.<br />
<br />
Robb's life was full of love and respect and all who met him were enchanted by
his gentle manner and bright smile. In the early days after his accident, he
travelled all through North America educating the public on the importance of
independent living for the disabled. As part of his Above and Beyond program he
toured public schools in the lower Mainland and captivated the attention of the
children with his motivational speeches. Robb, an intelligent, kind and caring
man spoke at medical conferences and was honoured with the Courage to Come Back
Award. He created the Ambassador program for the Rick Hansen Foundation in
which, he played a meaningful role as Ambassador for many years.<br />
<br />
Above all, Robb loved his family and his home and was happiest spending time
with them in the garden or working on a project. His ideas were big and bold
whether for education, renovations, landscaping or a vacation. We will all miss
time spent with Robb, the best listener, always wanting to hear what we were
doing, encouraging our hopes and dreams.<br />
<br />
Robb is indelibly etched on our hearts and we will never forget his unbreakable
spirit. He defied all odds and left an awe-inspiring legacy of perseverance in
his mighty will to live.<br />
There will be a celebration of life in August.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F3F4F6; line-height: 18.75pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-6357132627184756062023-06-30T12:16:00.000-07:002023-06-30T12:16:32.583-07:00Canada Day - a time for Canadians to take a long, serious look in the mirror<p> </p><article class="post-17625 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-arts-culture category-cold-tea-reads tag-asian-canadian tag-asian-millennial tag-canadian-pacific-railway tag-children-books tag-chinese-canadians tag-history ast-article-single" id="post-17625" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://schema.org/CreativeWork" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 18.75px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><div class="ast-post-format- single-layout-1 ast-no-date-box" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;"><header class="entry-header ast-no-thumbnail" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div class="ast-single-post-order" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;"><h1 class="entry-title" itemprop="headline" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-3); font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 34px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: var(--font-weight-bold); line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">David Bouchard’s “I Am Not a Ghost”: A Story of Resilience and Heritage</h1><div class="entry-subtitle" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ast-global-color-7); font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 20px 0px;">Bouchard’s new children’s book I am Not a Ghost spotlights an under-appreciated but important part of Canadian history.</div><div class="entry-meta" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--ast-global-color-8); font-family: var(--heading-font-family); font-size: 14px; font-weight: var(--font-weight-bold); line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0.25rem; text-transform: uppercase;">BY<span class="posted-by vcard author" itemprop="author" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://schema.org/Person" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-family: var(--heading-font-family); font-weight: var(--font-weight-bold); line-height: 1.4; word-break: break-word;"> <a class="author url fn" href="https://coldteacollective.com/author/nathalie-de-los-santos/" rel="author" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: var(--heading-font-family); font-weight: var(--font-weight-bold); line-height: 1.4; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s linear 0s; word-break: break-word;" title="Posts by Nathalie De Los Santos">NATHALIE DE LOS SANTOS</a> & <a class="author url fn" href="https://coldteacollective.com/author/maycoldteacollective-com/" rel="author" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); 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--tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; align-items: center; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0.7em 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="pelcro-save-button cursor-pointer" data-author="Nathalie De Los Santos & May Au" data-date="June 30, 2023" data-duration="4 minutes of reading" data-image="https://150103294.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/CPR.jpeg" data-key="articles" data-link="https://coldteacollective.com/david-bouchard-i-am-not-a-ghost/" data-title="David Bouchard’s “I Am Not a Ghost”: A Story of Resilience and Heritage" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; 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--tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 40px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Bouchard Ghost" class="wp-image-17631" data-spai-height="512" data-spai-lazy-loaded="true" data-spai-orig-obs="true" data-spai-width="512" data-spai="1" decoding="async" height="512" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" src="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+w_512+to_auto+ret_img/https://150103294.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/CPR.jpeg" srcset=" " style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: bottom;" width="512" /></figure><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">David Bouchard, a renowned Canadian author, released a new children’s book, <span style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">I Am Not a Ghost: The Canadian Pacific Railway</em></span><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">. </em>The work recounts the story of a Chinese man who migrated to Canada to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway. He came in search of a better life. The railway workers treated him harshly, but Amelia Douglas, a Métis woman, who was one of the founding mothers of British Columbia, and wife of the former governor of BC, saved him from death. This fictional but historically accurate story carries an important message and describes the racism and hardship that these newcomers to Canada endured.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was completed in 1885. The construction of the railway was a massive undertaking that required the labor of thousands of workers. Many of these workers were Chinese immigrants. Despite their significant contributions, the Chinese workers faced racism and discrimination, including lower wages and dangerous working conditions.</p><div class="indietech-ad-2b4b13b74a95ddcc6b75e5f87452108f indietech-ad-inline" id="indietech-ad-2b4b13b74a95ddcc6b75e5f87452108f" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.875em;"></div><div class="wp-block-uagb-image alignleft uagb-block-dea715f1 wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-left" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; align-self: flex-start; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; float: left; justify-content: flex-start; margin-right: 20px;"><figure class="wp-block-uagb-image__figure" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; align-items: flex-start; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" data-spai-height="633" data-spai-lazy-loaded="true" data-spai-orig-obs="true" data-spai-width="740" data-spai="1" decoding="async" height="633" src="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+w_740+to_auto+ret_img/https://150103294.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/CPR-Image.jpeg" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.44) 0px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; height: 633px; max-width: 100%; transition: box-shadow 0.2s ease 0s; vertical-align: middle;" title="" width="768" /><figcaption class="uagb-image-caption" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: center;">Image credit: David Bouchard</figcaption></figure></div><h2 class="wp-block-heading" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-8); font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large); font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">A creative process with reciprocity at its heart</span></h2><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bouchard collaborated with long-time friend, Zhong-Yang Huang and his son, Sean Huang, who illustrated <em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">I Am Not a Ghost</em>. When they first came up with the idea, they wanted to highlight the injustices done to the Chinese community.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yang’s input to all of this was, can this be real? Were Canadians truly that way?” Bouchard said during an interview with Cold Tea Collective. “It became clear to us this history wasn’t being shared in schools. <em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">I Am Not a Ghost</em> is a telling where a racist is a racist, a bigot is a bigot, and a brutally harsh society has to be called out for what it was.”</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">No one person can represent an issue in its entirety or be the sole voice for history itself. Storytellers must work together to cultivate stories with reciprocity for the community it serves.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Together, Zhong-Yang’s artistic direction guided Sean’s illustrations and Bouchard’s writing. From this collaboration came a creative process approach that had reciprocity and inclusion at its heart.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“<em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">I Am Not a Ghost</em> is meant to spark curiosity and have people say: <em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">Did they really do that? Those living conditions were real?</em> It is a hard reflection on who we are and what we did as a people. And I think Chinese-Canadian kids deserve to know that,” Bouchard says.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-8); font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large); font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">A friendship full of inspiration</span></h2><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bouchard recounted Zhong-Yang’s rise to becoming a great artist: “When the Mao Revolution came to be, Yang was a young man who was sent to work in the rice fields. One day somebody in the fields saw him figure drawing and asked him, ‘Would you draw my mother?’ Yang agreed. Within a matter of months, he had a lineup of people waiting. He was given the nickname Lazy Boy because he didn’t work his garden.”</p><div class="indietech-ad-7ef4f66caf92b148405c773c4870f0ad indietech-ad-content-middle" id="indietech-ad-7ef4f66caf92b148405c773c4870f0ad" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;"></div><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Zhong-Yang went on to become a master professor in China. In the eighties, Zhong-Yang came to Regina, Saskatchewan. Zhong-Yang had a large art show of his work, and there he met Bouchard. Despite a language barrier, Bouchard exchanged his contact info with Zhong-Yang and the two immediately became friends. The two went on to create more books: <em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">The Dragon New Year, The Great Race, Buddha in the Garden, The Mermaid’s Muse, </em>and<em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;"> Dragon of Heaven: The Memoirs of the Last Empress of China</em>.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We taught each other many things. I wanted to learn about his culture, and he wanted to learn about mine,” Bouchard reflected on his friendship with Zhong-Yang, which has been full of inspiration and creativity.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 2rem 0px 40px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Ghost" class="wp-image-17635" data-spai-height="394.781" data-spai-lazy-loaded="true" data-spai-orig-obs="true" data-spai-width="713" data-spai="1" decoding="async" height="425" src="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+w_713+to_auto+ret_img/https://150103294.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/CPR-Chinese-workers.webp" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: bottom;" width="713" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-family: var(--body-font-family); font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 10px;">Image Credit: <a href="https://canadaehx.com/2021/09/02/the-chinese-workers/" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; transition-delay: 0s; transition-duration: var(--transition-speed); transition-property: var(--transition-colours); transition-timing-function: var(--transition-timing);" target="_blank">Canadian History Ehx</a></figcaption></figure><h2 class="wp-block-heading" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-8); font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large); font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">Remembering and reimagining our heritage</span></h2><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Currently, only a few Canadian illustrated children’s books directly address the racial discrimination and exploitation the Chinese endured during CPR’s construction. <em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">I Am Not a Ghost: The Canadian Pacific Railway</em> is a needed children’s book that highlights this often untold history.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Make this book a doorway to opening up new perspectives on how we must all remember and share our stories. Canada is still writing its story as a nation, and this book is an important part of that story,” says Dr. Brandt C. Louie, Chairman and CEO of the H.Y. Louie Company Limited and the ninth Chancellor of Simon Fraser University. Dr. Louie has generously bought two copies for every school in Western Canada. </p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you would like to read more about the Canadian Pacific Railway and the lived experiences of the Chinese community, we recommend these books. Another children’s book that is available is <a href="https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000038341255/George-Chiang-The-Railroad-Adventures-of-Chen-Sing" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; transition-delay: 0s; transition-duration: var(--transition-speed); transition-property: var(--transition-colours); transition-timing-function: var(--transition-timing);" target="_blank"><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing</em> by George Chiang</a>. Other higher reading level books include <em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">Gold Mountain Blues</em> by Ling Zhang, the two books, <em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">Blood and Sweat Over the Railway Tracks </em>and <em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">Blossom in the Gold Mountain </em>by Lily Chow, <em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">The Diary of Dukesang Wong</em> by Dukesang Wong, the two books <em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">Blood and Iron</em> and <em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">A Superior Man</em> by Paul Yee, and <em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">Ghosts of Gold Mountain </em>by Gordon H. Chang.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;">See also: </em><a href="https://coldteacollective.com/7-childrens-books-by-asian-authors/" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; transition-delay: 0s; transition-duration: var(--transition-speed); transition-property: var(--transition-colours); transition-timing-function: var(--transition-timing);">7 books about identity, race by Asian authors for children</a></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feature Credit: Plumleaf Press<span style="color: var(--ast-global-color-8); font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit;">Author(s)</span></p></div></div></article><div class="ast-single-author-box" itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/Person" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; background-color: white; border-top: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 18.75px; margin-top: 2em; padding-top: 0px; width: 760px;"><div class="ast-author-meta" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="ast-author-details" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; padding-bottom: 3rem; width: 760px;"><div class="post-author-avatar" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; align-items: center; align-self: flex-start; box-sizing: inherit; clear: right; display: flex; flex-basis: 30%; flex-shrink: 0; float: left; margin-right: 20px; padding-right: 0px;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-100 photo" data-spai-height="64" data-spai-lazy-loaded="true" data-spai-orig-obs="true" data-spai-width="64" data-spai="1" decoding="async" height="100" src="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+w_64+to_auto+ret_img/https://150103294.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/NathalieDLS_Headshot-150x150.jpeg" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border-radius: 50%; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin-right: 10px; max-width: 64px; min-width: 64px; vertical-align: middle;" width="100" /><a class="url fn n" href="https://coldteacollective.com/author/nathalie-de-los-santos/" itemprop="url" rel="author" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s linear 0s;"><h4 class="author-title" itemprop="name" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-3); font-family: var(--heading-font-family); font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: var(--font-weight-bold); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">NATHALIE DE LOS SANTOS</h4></a></div><div class="post-author-bio" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit; clear: right; float: left; font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small); margin-top: 0px;"><div class="post-author-desc" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;"><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16.4062px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nathalie De Los Santos is based in Vancouver, and is the founder of PilipinxPages, a bookstagram featuring Filipinx authors. You can read her work or hear her in TFC, CBC, Filipino Fridays Podcast, Stories with Sapphire Podcast, Chopsticks Alley Pinoy, the LiterAsian Festival (2020), Marias at Sampaguitas, Ricepaper Magazine, and Gastrofork.</p></div></div></div><div class="ast-author-details" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; margin-top: 30px; padding-bottom: 3rem; width: 760px;"><div class="post-author-avatar" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; align-items: center; align-self: flex-start; box-sizing: inherit; clear: right; display: flex; flex-basis: 30%; flex-shrink: 0; float: left; margin-right: 20px; padding-right: 0px;"><img alt="" class="avatar avatar-100 photo" data-spai-height="64" data-spai-lazy-loaded="true" data-spai-orig-obs="true" data-spai-width="64" data-spai="1" decoding="async" height="100" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" src="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+w_64+to_auto+ret_img/https://150103294.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/May-Au-2048x2048.jpg" srcset=" " style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border-radius: 50%; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin-right: 10px; max-width: 64px; min-width: 64px; vertical-align: middle;" width="100" /><a class="url fn n" href="https://coldteacollective.com/author/maycoldteacollective-com/" itemprop="url" rel="author" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s linear 0s;"><h4 class="author-title" itemprop="name" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-3); font-family: var(--heading-font-family); font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: var(--font-weight-bold); line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">MAY AU</h4></a></div><div class="post-author-bio" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit; clear: right; float: left; font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small); margin-top: 0px;"><div class="post-author-desc" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; box-sizing: inherit;"><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16.4062px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">May Au is a business lawyer, philomath, and story-addict who seeks to approach life with wonder, connection and a critical mind. May has always been captivated by stories. As a young child, she would be the first to get lost in a book, a movie, a drama, a song, for hours upon hours, often forgetting about the normal life activities of sleeping, eating and homework. Now, as a more responsible adult, May tries to limit her reading, movie, music or drama marathons to evenings and weekends only – with varying degrees of success. As an editor of Cold Tea Collective, May feels privileged to have the opportunity to participate in the sharing of stories that inspire individuals to connect, engage in meaningful dialogue, build relationships, and be the best versions of themselves.</p></div></div></div></div></div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-63867076149538215392023-05-29T16:17:00.003-07:002023-05-29T18:06:43.268-07:00Twitter and its Trolls<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Twitter is the bridge under which trolls live. They live to spread hate - </p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">And why Twitter? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US">1. There, a troll can spout off absolutely anything at all (a la Donald Trump) without fear
of recrimination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US">2. From under that bridge, trolls surround themselves with others who, like them, care nothing for facts or truth but whose
pleasure lies in hate or in causing hurt. They are cyber playground bullies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Their raison d’être varies;
financial gain (almost always in some form or another), self aggrandizement, no
significant purpose in their lives…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I have been the source of troll attacks on two
separate occasions. Frankly, it doesn't surprise me, for after years of
hard work and significant success, they were bound to appear. Not once did
either malcontents reach out to fact check into what they were about to post. They did what they did with malicious intent to cause hurt. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Hate among trolls builds with every new follower until
such time that they consider the number of followers significant enough to step out of Twitter
and use their numbers to intimidate others into giving them credence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">What does this mean? 1. T</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">witter does not appear ready to make changes so I have to work harder at
providing honest, caring people with facts that will allow them to stand up for
what is right and truthful. 2. </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">I have to fight this fight not
only for myself but for the many who are subject to similar attacks.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">So, here I go. Please feel free to share…And oh…my providing these two fact checks is not for trolls who care nothing for the truth or for those they are purposefully hurting but rather for those
who find themselves drawn into their vicious gossip and wanting to know how to respond to trolls. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Responding to trolls only legitimizes their
existence. I would suggest that you simply not respond but if you, for whatever reason feel compelled to do so, feel
free to share the facts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>My bloodlines are
unquestionable:</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3haS-01y14DZdM651quGPj0YCBifmkZPsdrKidKiUrPWJE_bDQ3_4y7rTR5gYhM1l2FBiTXCqOiqwri-VZ_8U_KVhKPwoc4HMRlIaqrMhnhXkoc2sTag-9brKfnVhftOCjw9qYv9JAxsWUKbIx_D6imbjfxo5EzUvsLqyNE7lcPmaWWRf0-_3Ffa/s1920/inCollage_20191003_105738490-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1466" data-original-width="1920" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3haS-01y14DZdM651quGPj0YCBifmkZPsdrKidKiUrPWJE_bDQ3_4y7rTR5gYhM1l2FBiTXCqOiqwri-VZ_8U_KVhKPwoc4HMRlIaqrMhnhXkoc2sTag-9brKfnVhftOCjw9qYv9JAxsWUKbIx_D6imbjfxo5EzUvsLqyNE7lcPmaWWRf0-_3Ffa/w477-h363/inCollage_20191003_105738490-01.jpeg" width="477" /></a></div><br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>I am Metis. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I am not a citizen of the MNC or of any other
organization that requires their members to fall within the boundaries of a homeland that was determined by them. I am not of that however, I am of Ojibway and Osage blood. I am Indigenous and I call myself Metis. Can I or by doing so, am I stepping into the realm of cultural appropriation? My Native Ancestors would argue otherwise. George and Terry Goulet also do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">No living Metis has the knowledge
base or the experience of George Goulet. Trolls will completely
sidestep both my genealogy and George and Terry’s explanation
about who has the right to call themselves Metis however, I invite everyone to read the following and to come to your own conclusions. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>T</b></span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><b>he difference between "Metis" and "Metis
citizenship"</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Being Metis has nothing to do with
Metis citizenship granted by a Metis "Nation". Being Metis is
an inborn ancestral attribute. An essential of being Metis is a combination of
First Nations and European ancestry. When Metis ethno genesis occurred, there
were plenty of Metis such as Cuthbert Grant, Louis Riel, Gabriel Dumont etc.,
but none of them had a citizenship card in a Metis "Nation", which
without elaborating on the concept of "Nation" (and what that in
itself requires) it involves Metis organizations that in due course evolved to
calling themselves a Nation and adopting restrictive Metis definitions that
included the term citizenship, and excluded people who do not meet their
membership criteria. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Over the years, the term "Metis" has not been set in
stone and was amended a number of times, but not recently. A very restrictive
national definition of Metis was adopted in 2002 by several dozen Metis
politicians of the Metis National Council (MNC) and not by grassroots Metis,
since grassroots Metis cannot obtain membership in the MNC nor do they have the
right to speak at MNC meetings. The MNC has never promulgated a
Constitution in its 40 years of existence. Simply put, it has no Constitution.
There are many flaws in the MNC Bylaws. Incidentally, Louis Riel took a more
liberal view of Metis. In a May 10, 1877 letter he wrote to Bishop Bylaws, Riel
stated that the Metis are a "non-exclusive" people. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Some imply that one is not Metis if one
has not received citizenship from a Metis Nation, undoubtedly meaning one of
the affiliates of the Metis National Council with their restrictive definition
of Metis. There are numerous authoritative sources that take a different
approach to Metis identity, but Métis Elders/authors George and Terry Goulet's
view of Metis identity is one that few will disagree with:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">One can qualify as a Metis if that
person has First Nations and European ancestry, identifies as Metis, has become
involved in Metis matters through socio-cultural activities such as writing, has
belonged to a Metis organization etc, and been accepted in the past by a
Metis community as a Metis, and has the best interests of Metis kpeople, culture
and history in mind. It is true that an organization such as MNC has the right
to set forth the criteria it requires to qualify to qualify to join their
organization but it does not have the right to say that only people who meet
their criteria are Metis.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Métis identity is not a simple concept,
it is complex and multi-faceted. It varies depending on the perspective of the
person, organization, institution, or political group using the term. There is
no consensus or comprehensive definition of who is Métis, and Métis identity
may be dissimilar depending on different points of view, such as political,
legal/constitutional, socio-cultural, or others.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Métis Identity and the requirements for
membership in a Métis organization are not the same thing. A Métis organization
has the right to self-designate who it will accept for membership. However it
has no right to arbitrarily determine that only those who fit its criteria are
Métis, and no one else is.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkue9FXZoX7ufF0ZEjpaSS4uIdiyGB23G8YUsSVvQjZdORNiF9pHxeBdTLjQzAiyaVfpmhLr4z-Nnl-EztYfI9EvEaqCMrVg6x20KP0iMZmUgFkMZ4G9j91Q6NABdZNrmdpQ8xb0LRN6vG9z7LbcnKhK_0yIVGHUa6GbXdX9TM2pY8l07MZx_gRYG/s827/FB_IMG_1675481595773.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="827" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkue9FXZoX7ufF0ZEjpaSS4uIdiyGB23G8YUsSVvQjZdORNiF9pHxeBdTLjQzAiyaVfpmhLr4z-Nnl-EztYfI9EvEaqCMrVg6x20KP0iMZmUgFkMZ4G9j91Q6NABdZNrmdpQ8xb0LRN6vG9z7LbcnKhK_0yIVGHUa6GbXdX9TM2pY8l07MZx_gRYG/s320/FB_IMG_1675481595773.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i><br />Over the years, our research has
broadened. We are now of the view that when it comes to Métis identity there is
“no-one-size-fits all”. The Métis of Red River and Western Canada, for example,
are unique in this respect from the Métis in the Maritimes. The memorable
events and memorable personalities of the Métis of Western Canada were distinct
from those in other areas. Also one can find several dialects of Michif spoken
within different areas of Western Canada.<o:p></o:p></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">While it is clear that no one group or
organization owns the term Métis, there is no doubt that different Métis groups
across Canada do not necessarily share a common history, heritage, and culture.
In a democracy, the role of the government is to recognize all the different
classes of People equally.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Prior to the Constitution being
patriated in 1982, none of the many Métis organizations across Canada appear to
have had any significant restrictions like those today as to qualification for
membership in them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">From its creation in 1983 the Métis
National Council and its five affiliated Provincial organizations have imposed
their own definition of Métis as a requirement for membership according to
their own interpretation of Métis citizenship. Over the years their definitions
have been changed a number of times and in many cases have been problematic.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">On October 1, 2012, we (George and
Terry Goulet) gave a presentation to the Senate Committee Hearings
on Metis Identity that were held in Vancouver. In addition to our
comments, the Senate requested a follow-up paper from us and we also presented
the Senators with a copy of our British Columbia Métis book as well as other
material.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">We explained that we were independent
historians and that we were there not only with respect to the Métis in British
Columbia but also for Métis all across Canada.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Our first opinion was that that when it
comes to Métis Identity, there is “no one-size-fits all”. The use of the term
Métis depended on the context and the group or institution using it.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">The Powley judgment created problems
for many Métis seeking to obtain their Aboriginal constitutional rights through
membership in the Métis National Council and one of its five affiliated
organizations.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: red; line-height: 107%;">As well, the adoption and support that
the Métis National Council gave to the Powley Case is odd. The Powleys lived in
a Métis community in Sault Ste. Marie hundreds of kilometers east of the
so-called Historic Métis Nation Homeland. </span></i><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">The concept of a "Homeland" is a construct of the MNC
based on the idea that one would not be entitled to join a Provincial affiliate
of the MNC if their ancestry was outside of the ill-defined Homeland Map that,
so far as we know, was prepared without input by grassroots Metis generally. A
problem was created by this Map. It excluded most of Canada, all of Ontario
except for a small area east of the Manitoba border. It effectively excluded
tens of thousands of Metis registered with the Metis Nation of Ontario. When
the MNO was asked to take away their citizenship membership, they refused. In
due course the Manitoba Metis Federation withdrew from the MNC.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Even the Powleys would not fit within
the Métis National Council National definition of Métis and would be ineligible
to become a member of one of its affiliates.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">The overemphasis placed on the Powley
Case by Métis political organizations and others with respect to Métis identity
failed to recognize and deal with a number of issues such as:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">. The Case was specifically directed at
harvesting rights;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">.The Court specifically stated it was
not providing a comprehensive definition of who is Métis<br />
. The decision dealt with rights of a specific Métis community.<br />
. The criteria for Métis harvesting did not include a “Historic Métis Nation
Homeland”.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">. The decision dealt specifically with
a “Métis community”, not a homeland.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: red; line-height: 107%;">Consequently the determination of Métis
citizenship should not be governed by the Powley decision or by the criteria
determined by a few dozen Métis politicians. In addition, using the Powley
ruling to determine Métis identity is contrary to the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which provides for
self-determination and self-identification by Indigenous Peoples in Sections 3
and 33 respectively.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Government programs such as Statistics
Canada, children and family services and organizations, and public school
systems only require self-identification in order to be considered as a Métis.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">An approach to Métis identity favored
by us is socio–cultural. It requires some Aboriginal ancestry and calls for
self-identity, shared culture, shared relationships, kinship, participation in
and contribution to a variety of Métis activities, and if appropriate
acceptance by a current Métis community. The essence of being Métis, as stated
by the authors to the Senate Committee, is: </span></i><b><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: red; line-height: 107%;">…. how one feels it in their heart and soul, how they adopt and adapt
to Métis culture, and how they participate in and are received and perceived by
their local Métis community".</span></i></b><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">The ancestral connection requirement in
the Powley criteria differs significantly from those in the 1991 paper
“Unravelling the Riddle of Métis Definition” written by the highly prominent
Métis Harry Daniels and Professor Paul Chartrand.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">"In the contemporary community, a
core of the residents will descend from the historic community, but it is not
necessary that a claimant to the enjoyment of an Aboriginal right invested in
the community be a descendent. What is required is proof that the claimant
belongs to the community today".<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">This is an inclusive approach to Métis
identity that we favour.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Subsequent to the Hearings the Canadian
Senate Standing Committee released a report on June 6, 2013 prepared by the
Committee dealing with Métis identity. The report was titled “The People Who
Own Themselves: Recognition of Métis Identity in Canada.” At the time that the
Report was released Senator Vern White, the chair of the Committee, stated:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">"…. our committee is adamant that
Métis themselves must be able to determine their own membership and
representation. The committee believes that the proper approach for the federal
government toward understanding who the Métis are must focus on who the Métis
understand themselves to be.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">With respect to Métis identity one
conclusion in the Report was that:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: red; line-height: 107%;">"…. there is no one-size-fits-all…
Instead, complex historical, cultural, legal and political factors have led to
diverse expressions of Métis identity across Canada".<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">It should be noted that this conclusion
of the Committee reflected the observations presented to the Committee Hearings
eight months earlier by us that contained our exact words “there is no-
one-size-fits all”.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">There are several other pertinent
points contained in the Senate Report:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">• Confirmation that: (i) “The Powley
decision did not purport to define the Métis”; (ii) the Métis National Council
Definition and the Powley criteria were similar, but not the same; and (iii)
not all members of the Métis National Council’s provincial organizations claim
section 35 harvesting rights.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">• The statement that: “Métis identity
is a complex, multifaceted concept .… that includes important historical,
legal, political and cultural dimensions.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">• In the section titled “Historical
Aspects of Métis Identity” the Senate Committee referenced the book "The
Métis in British Columbia: From Fur Trade Outposts to Colony" written by
George and Terry Goulet.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: red; line-height: 107%;">• The Committee found
that the federal government’s and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and
Northern Development’s approach to only being involved in the development of
the Métis National Council’s five provincial registries that are compatible
with the Powley criteria was “inadequate for identifying Métis rights-holders”.<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"> SUPREME COURT
DECISION IN THE DANIELS CASE<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) delivered
its unanimous decision in the Daniels Case on April 14, 2016. The Court ruled
the Federal Government has jurisdiction with respect to ALL Métis and
non-status Indians. In addition the Decision confirmed that the Federal
Government has a fiduciary duty and consultation responsibility with respect to
the Métis and non-status Indians. </span></i><b><i><u><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: red; line-height: 107%;">The Supreme Court of Canada is the final arbiter of the Constitution
of Canada</span></u></i></b><b><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: red; line-height: 107%;">, NOT </span></i></b><b><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: red; line-height: 107%;">the MNC<i> and NOT the Government of Canada<u>.<o:p></o:p></u></i></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60LGkLTMQ1xpGWTWBnam0Fp1410IbIOnuzmzu0z5wHuB0_80O_5K1Gg7PRgDJrUC61hU9h0NBklpeY_jPRyPV9NsiooH_bBzYIqgG-AbXyrowINYtLYYu6ECS_I5OW7byVP18ZJHb0duW5lq-FCQ9dQn3SQn0Lad9g4mn8Z3q3oqxOeruQahss7md/s1472/Screenshot_20190622-093718-01.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="1432" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60LGkLTMQ1xpGWTWBnam0Fp1410IbIOnuzmzu0z5wHuB0_80O_5K1Gg7PRgDJrUC61hU9h0NBklpeY_jPRyPV9NsiooH_bBzYIqgG-AbXyrowINYtLYYu6ECS_I5OW7byVP18ZJHb0duW5lq-FCQ9dQn3SQn0Lad9g4mn8Z3q3oqxOeruQahss7md/w255-h263/Screenshot_20190622-093718-01.jpeg" width="255" /></a></i></div><i>The Court pointed out that there is no consensus on who is
considered Métis or a non-status Indian, nor need there be. It further quoted
the following:<o:p></o:p></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">"There is no one exclusive Metis
People in Canada, any more than there is no one exclusive Indian people in
Canada. The Metis of eastern Canada and northern Canada are as distinct from
Red River Metis as any two peoples can be . . . ." [so much for
the Metis restrictive "Homeland."]<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">As early as 1650, a distinct Metis
community developed in LeHeve [sic], Nova Scotia, separate from Acadians and
Micmac Indians. All Metis are aboriginal people. All have Indian ancestry.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">In effect the Supreme Court decided
that when it comes to Métis identity there is “no one size fits all.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">The Supreme Court stated that the
definition of who is Métis under s. 91(24) of the Canadian
Constitution has been made broader than the restrictive definitional
criteria for Métis under the Powley Case of 2003. This restrictive criteria in
Powley was developed specifically for purposes of applying s. 35, which the
Court said was about protecting historic community-held rights.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Section 91(24) serves a very different
constitutional purpose, said the Court; it is about the federal government’s
relationship with Canada’s Aboriginal peoples.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">The Court further indicated that the
Métis membership base should be broader and there is no principled reason for
excluding certain Métis from Parliament’s protective authority on the basis of
the third criterion, a “community acceptance” test (that was referred to in
Powley).<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">In addition the Court set aside the
exclusion from Aboriginal citizenship of those Métis who do not meet the Powley
criteria for inclusion as Indians in s. 91(24). In its Decision the Court
stated “There is no doubt that the Métis are a distinct people”. </span></i><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">This means that under the Daniels Decision
they are “Indians” for the purposes of s. 91(24), but they retain their Métis
identity as a distinct people just as the In</span></i><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">uit do.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">The Court further stated:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">"Cultural and ethnic labels do not
lend themselves to neat boundaries. ‘Métis’ can refer to the historic Métis
community in Manitoba’s Red River Settlement or it can be used as a general
term for anyone with mixed European and Aboriginal heritage. Some
mixed-ancestry communities identify as Métis, others as Indian".<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"> .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> CONCLUSION<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Scholarly texts that discuss
the Metis and their Identity that go beyond the geographic
"Homeland" of the MNC include "From New Peoples to New Nations
...Aspects of Metis History and Identity ..." by Ens and Sawchuk; and
"The New Peoples - Being and Becoming Metis in North America",
by Peterson and Brown.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">A principal reason for determining
Métis identity is the direct result of </span></i><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: red; line-height: 107%;">the imposition by the federal government on the Métis Peoples of
Canada of a one only national and associated provincial representative
organizations policy consisting of the Métis National Council and its
affiliated provincial organizations.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">The major destructive component of this
government created policy was the membership restriction in each of the Métis
National Council’s affiliated provincial organizations that limited Aboriginal
ancestry to very restrictive criteria, and to a very restrictive geographical
location.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">This membership requirement resulted in
the denial of Métis citizenship to all Métis whose aboriginal ancestry evolved
from the following geographical areas: (i) west of the Rocky Mountains; (ii)
central and eastern Ontario; (iii) all the provinces east of the Ontario/Quebec
border; (iv) and the territories of Canada except for a small area in the
Northwest Territories.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">______________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">There are believers in a hard line,
restrictive approach (unlike Riel) to Metis Identity. Organizations such
as l'Union nationale metisse St. Joseph du Manitoba, Congress of Aboriginal
Peoples, BC Metis Federation and others who have Metis members and have not
adopted the restrictive MNC definition would totally disagree with this
non-inclusive approach, as do we. L'union nationale metisse of St. Boniface is
the oldest Metis organization in the World, and they do not wish to be involved
with MNC or its affiliates. It was founded in 1887 by about 15 Metis people
including Joseph Riel (the brother of Louis), Alexandre Riel, Ambroise Lepine,
my great grandfather Pierre Delorme, Elzear Lagimodiere etc. and it kept the
Metis flame burning bright when there was no MMC or its affiliates in
existence.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: red; line-height: 107%;">One must bear in mind that one need not
have citizenship in a Metis organization to be a Metis. One need not have their
Metis ancestry validated by an organization to be a Metis. A person who is a
Metis remains a Metis whether or not such an organization validates it. If I
ceased to be a member of a Metis organization, I would still be a Metis with
over two hundred years of Red River ancestry. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">LONG LIVE THE METIS.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">George and Terry Goulet<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">And from my part, Long Live George and Terry Goulet! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: #888888; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-US" style="color: #4285f4; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-3896084767681425962023-01-17T14:05:00.007-08:002023-01-17T15:40:36.139-08:00Are you a person of faith <p> Have you ever been asked your faith or your religion?</p><p>Why? Should it matter?</p><p>At this ripening age, I can comfortably speak to "religion and spirituality" and it feels good. This image summarizes my feelings/belief: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJSPtUwOSdPABX-L83_5OBPeZN_MAiODAMSq7OYrcbRoEZL9MG12eiLSi87a3VOKcaurIN7cqTIV1L7xqFRyZVZPDq-MnKnrvmYzMQXFVQYx_-jOx5aEvL1ubjaPUq7xdLr5sNvDoOjvgKMfdf7aPK75bFdAf5mN_uo4LSEBAFFMn7uxkX6k2gqDn/s1440/Being%20a%20human.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="1440" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJSPtUwOSdPABX-L83_5OBPeZN_MAiODAMSq7OYrcbRoEZL9MG12eiLSi87a3VOKcaurIN7cqTIV1L7xqFRyZVZPDq-MnKnrvmYzMQXFVQYx_-jOx5aEvL1ubjaPUq7xdLr5sNvDoOjvgKMfdf7aPK75bFdAf5mN_uo4LSEBAFFMn7uxkX6k2gqDn/s320/Being%20a%20human.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Am I the only person who remembers (admittedly vaguely, but still...) coming from somewhere into this human body? </p><p>Where I came from was unknown to me until my late Mother died and then it all made sense. It all came together. The circle was complete... </p><p>Best I lay it out as I plan on blogging a thoughts on a few of my books and how their messages all tied into this understanding of the world around us - </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b><span>Our Mother</span> </b></span></p><p>You and I, we are related. We share the same Mother. We, all of us, humans, animals and the swimmers and crawlers and flyers...the mountains, the creeks, the trees and the flowers...Grandfather Rock and... I'm sure I made my point. We, ALL OF US, come from her and when we die, we go back to her - dust to dust as it is said in the bible. Thus, we are all related. We are all one family. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNiaWrjn-2_cVx3OUG64nBkakvb3EgB5ORY-zeD5VvEDSI5Sj7LCIqFlljQr_yCB4O9-iCSusm0m0LQiOVfzLkn6em8wP7612p9XQrBetRsn2IiY3XKttMbVlwVozb-A-WhKK8jfP5y0jwkrx3tTZ8MUTZiP6L1MQNzjwxdYogfAkzFCO-kZllrcO/s4087/ta%20famille%20.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1635" data-original-width="4087" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNiaWrjn-2_cVx3OUG64nBkakvb3EgB5ORY-zeD5VvEDSI5Sj7LCIqFlljQr_yCB4O9-iCSusm0m0LQiOVfzLkn6em8wP7612p9XQrBetRsn2IiY3XKttMbVlwVozb-A-WhKK8jfP5y0jwkrx3tTZ8MUTZiP6L1MQNzjwxdYogfAkzFCO-kZllrcO/w522-h208/ta%20famille%20.jpeg" width="522" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Our Father</b></span></p><p>When our bodies were formed, we needed air. Our first breath, came to us from our Father.So it is that we speak of Mother Earth and Father Sky. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Our Grandfather</span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWA3Ak2Yt50G-qksDr6GRmFdg7jxjydLU_o2WZ6zpsn2jLNGCt0pYLp3hRfwKdVYbN3tDYP8NuBoJ7GIftqmlSFEWpLQLeglWL6dbfQ9mTflNbJ0XgD2V8vV77Ft-r5lXd-F0WxDDNdHcd6K2eBJUdo4LsW_mDOb-7OIT7rGmy9AnHFe9W5Qowj0j/s1470/Cover%20of%20We%20Learn%20from%20the%20Sun.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1470" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWA3Ak2Yt50G-qksDr6GRmFdg7jxjydLU_o2WZ6zpsn2jLNGCt0pYLp3hRfwKdVYbN3tDYP8NuBoJ7GIftqmlSFEWpLQLeglWL6dbfQ9mTflNbJ0XgD2V8vV77Ft-r5lXd-F0WxDDNdHcd6K2eBJUdo4LsW_mDOb-7OIT7rGmy9AnHFe9W5Qowj0j/s320/Cover%20of%20We%20Learn%20from%20the%20Sun.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Our Father gets his energy, which is substantial, from his Father the Sun. <p></p><p>Every day, we all witness the power of the sun. And for those of us who have lived long enough, we understand the wisdom of our Grandfathers and the value of learning from them. Thus, we do - We learn from the Sun!<br /></p><p>We need but look to Grandfather Sun and follow his path through Father Sky. In so doing, we will come to understand how we should live our lives as we become aware of the Sacred Teachings.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Our Grandmother</b></span></p><p>You will no doubt have already come to the conclusion that our Grandmother is the Moon. Of course, you are right. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvl-ojw-3n3Riyqh-4t7HruGTxGDE2sPkZeYXddUCrvKnAriXk88Fqtv8v2ojFjWYGLmu-MrxYERFQYtU7xv7fG5kx6ZBK9H8JZXjwH-qE-w5cN9z1Lw-XGx6pqSbURM_EKsj0GcMx5vo1-VWv5MtvmF-W66Tyo-YMcvIJK5RS4PvbvQ4g7zOEVANA/s680/dreamtime_large.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="534" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvl-ojw-3n3Riyqh-4t7HruGTxGDE2sPkZeYXddUCrvKnAriXk88Fqtv8v2ojFjWYGLmu-MrxYERFQYtU7xv7fG5kx6ZBK9H8JZXjwH-qE-w5cN9z1Lw-XGx6pqSbURM_EKsj0GcMx5vo1-VWv5MtvmF-W66Tyo-YMcvIJK5RS4PvbvQ4g7zOEVANA/w251-h320/dreamtime_large.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br />Every night, she shines her light on Mother Earth and rejuvenates the reproductive powers which are needed for all the new life Mother Earth creates. <p></p><p>There is so much that can be said about each of our shared family members...many books have been written and countless stories told. </p><p>We have also come to learn that there are thirteen Grandmothers living on the back of Grandmother Moon - thirteen Grandmothers who watch over us and who are there to... </p><p>....I had better stop as there is so much to share.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>All Our Relations </b></span></p><p>And finally, the piece that completes the circle. As with all things in life, everything moves in a circle. We are born - to our common Mother and Father. We learn from our Grandfather and our Grandmother and now... </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio69qfVcJO8Uac9nYDfZUeV3feAu9-PU-rUkF8b9KxYdr3sk77Uvh3BfID_nOnlBaQ3a2tNnyADEbqNoQPeXePuAX2YkFgi0htVT_eET7nHzCzKNIDY0cBvhDMCleHrLsbguBG8pbztj6pc9koYHZlVis4Y80FjXrXgJP05cKOUNtug8vvssj8AM3J/s1440/Being%20a%20human.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="1440" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio69qfVcJO8Uac9nYDfZUeV3feAu9-PU-rUkF8b9KxYdr3sk77Uvh3BfID_nOnlBaQ3a2tNnyADEbqNoQPeXePuAX2YkFgi0htVT_eET7nHzCzKNIDY0cBvhDMCleHrLsbguBG8pbztj6pc9koYHZlVis4Y80FjXrXgJP05cKOUNtug8vvssj8AM3J/w200-h194/Being%20a%20human.png" width="200" /></a></div>I remember being out in the garden with my dog...looking up into the dark night sky. My Mother had just died and I wanted to understand.<p></p><p>Oh, I knew where her body had gone. In fact, her ashes lie right next to my desk in my shack...and I carry a few in my medicine bag that hangs up tight over my heart. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlDBPY2fLd8Y46fr7-7ieexnVbZ-eFl0ivZKMAWFVoD-3eyGcelaQD71qolBht0Z2XMlUbz2Mp9dLDpUbaj0SFY8u4Z6vmll8NHl_ByxGwa4sPGZigUCCwBaAL-BapO0m4rllgTP4lm5k1aKF_UWLzac6hkU2XwiUCHfLfXyeVWjQBdgazL981_Yh/s752/Coloured%20bookmark.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="248" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlDBPY2fLd8Y46fr7-7ieexnVbZ-eFl0ivZKMAWFVoD-3eyGcelaQD71qolBht0Z2XMlUbz2Mp9dLDpUbaj0SFY8u4Z6vmll8NHl_ByxGwa4sPGZigUCCwBaAL-BapO0m4rllgTP4lm5k1aKF_UWLzac6hkU2XwiUCHfLfXyeVWjQBdgazL981_Yh/s320/Coloured%20bookmark.jpg" width="106" /></a></div>I knew where her body had gone but where was that sparkle I saw in her eye when she giggled or puckered her lips to kiss me as I readied to sleep? <p></p><p>Where was that twinkle that was my Mother...and then, right then, it came to me. Remember the image that started me on this rant? Here...the one up on the right... </p><p>Everything moves in a circle. We are all related. We come from her and we return to her. But what of that spark...that twinkle that is usually refered to as our souls? What of the spark I think I recall claiming my body all those years ago. </p><p>Well, if my theory holds true, and it could likely stand up against many of the world's oldest religions, my late Mother was there...a star among stars...my ancestors. </p><p>If this is so, I will indeed be reunited with her and all my relations. </p><p>And THAT feels right. </p>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-68090891623705189052023-01-09T16:39:00.001-08:002023-01-09T16:39:59.768-08:00Ready for 2023<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Come on 2023 - Let's get it on</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBEE2bDEvIT-dEtI-JrJBB5MkDDOzLLEBcbNGs8srZcBpJdYg0siXQWK38s7nICnG32gohwBB1TdOs4qJ8AxOZVo9zSOydssGpwu1X2T9YIPuTNphbZB0CgN3OooUo4bDHTf2nZXqiC9VPFqqzsvmhD-F16jKHVc5CxfpD4nQjUhB-AeCDIQ1fx6Q/s864/2023%20and%20chill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="660" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBEE2bDEvIT-dEtI-JrJBB5MkDDOzLLEBcbNGs8srZcBpJdYg0siXQWK38s7nICnG32gohwBB1TdOs4qJ8AxOZVo9zSOydssGpwu1X2T9YIPuTNphbZB0CgN3OooUo4bDHTf2nZXqiC9VPFqqzsvmhD-F16jKHVc5CxfpD4nQjUhB-AeCDIQ1fx6Q/w245-h320/2023%20and%20chill.jpg" width="245"></a></div>Covid - mass killings - wars that never seem to end..these are all that must and that can be overcome. <p></p><p>I have high hopes for this new year. This is a recent photo that Vicki took while we waited for our John Smith's bitter on tap at the Irish Times here in Victoria. Here I am doing my best to be <i>chill</i>. </p><p>It would be easy and natural to focus on the dark side of our world; political, educational and personal. I think I was a more positive and upbeat child than most I knew but time has done to me what it does to so many - it teaches us to be cynical and critical. So it is that I have this itch that wants to be scratched. </p><p>However, focussing on the dark side only feeds the dark and does not lead to enlightenement of any sort - thus...</p><p>Here we go...chill and upside - and ready to take on 2023!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Professional </span> </span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ65wxmLGf0TZPlAPb9CiQjCkoXpi_skHqc_AQ6RVRxkDEKjNJUfo5w2w_pO48CRjLWViw7m6FEqnxoQQMTxhANoCyBacU7BRSqM6JpEcJgbc2LviqTuIWinGCQispqMxsovFhkuU1bhEHHKEu_Fi3YrErdT2m-Sz7jAzZbtwhDiG2frxodysJatgN/s1366/My%20desk%20in%20my%20shack.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="974" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ65wxmLGf0TZPlAPb9CiQjCkoXpi_skHqc_AQ6RVRxkDEKjNJUfo5w2w_pO48CRjLWViw7m6FEqnxoQQMTxhANoCyBacU7BRSqM6JpEcJgbc2LviqTuIWinGCQispqMxsovFhkuU1bhEHHKEu_Fi3YrErdT2m-Sz7jAzZbtwhDiG2frxodysJatgN/w285-h400/My%20desk%20in%20my%20shack.jpeg" width="285"></a></div>When Covid first hit, like everyone else, I was caught off guard. Over the past 20 years, I had traveled a million miles and spoken to a million people. That was as things were and, I thought, would always be. Then came Covid. <p></p><p>Then came two years without stepping on a single plane. Two years without living in hotels and eating their food. Two years without speaking at schools and conferences which I had done for the no less than 20 years. </p><p></p>But change forces growth and often for the better. Zoom! Teams! Meet...and any number of other platforms that allowed me to share learnings and ideas with students, educators and parents. <div><br>Online and direct from my shack (showing here), I have presented to individual classrooms, groups of students in a larger formats, entire schools either in one central location or in their individual classrooms. <div><br></div><div>I have spoken to school groups - entire staffs, teacher staff meetings, pro-d... </div><div><br></div><div>And I have addressed groups of parents and administrators all from the comfort of the desk in my shack. My friend and agent Chris also has learned to adapt and has put this page online for those interested in having me present virtually: </div><div><a href="http://davidbouchard.com/speaking/fees">http://davidbouchard.com/speaking/fees</a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9l1H9gCbdLFTXo2wGx6pMjIyan5PSFptWXmOAXyg8iicgUyM-ecQ_DC6LzvCuQsRCE6spK3YO7PMOjds-lULByVMKtLXDgxtWEhoKl8JWOag29g62hRLRJ79d0yFsW6xwVgGhbutwJRmY714jDcWvrP4sP3p_5alH-H0zxosPbZY5pH1tS_dAfrIe/s3840/Maxine%20and%20Ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9l1H9gCbdLFTXo2wGx6pMjIyan5PSFptWXmOAXyg8iicgUyM-ecQ_DC6LzvCuQsRCE6spK3YO7PMOjds-lULByVMKtLXDgxtWEhoKl8JWOag29g62hRLRJ79d0yFsW6xwVgGhbutwJRmY714jDcWvrP4sP3p_5alH-H0zxosPbZY5pH1tS_dAfrIe/s320/Maxine%20and%20Ed.jpg" width="180"></a></div><p>I have now begun doing in person events and found that I have missed eye to eye contact. I doubt that I will ever do the kind of touring that I once did but I am ready to re-embark into a world I know and love, one that I thought gone forever. </p><p></p>I have been back on planes. I have been back in classrooms and I have presented at public events. </div><div><br></div><div>I have been reunited with old friends as shown here when I spent a magical day at Mother Earth's Children's Chartered School in Alberta. I couldn't have started off with a better event, not only because of my friendship with Maxine, Ed and old friends there...but also because I was afforded the chance to see, first hand, the unique, fantastic outdoor school that had taken so much time and energy to build. I now get to share their success<br>with others in a similar situation. <p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqroy7CY5GBcLr9H8XXpFpeqONO4CH0wg2N9D1JhX4Gbl68c8WF7Xxx5gVqK4YDQmk_Ut5ap2e6agg4nlxC50EDshrWLSga891bvWTndAaDrntpJrh3vWDHss02YpYmb_ZdUTfLBLHdf8-WbkPkhEo2yzDMGxKo_memAiDJbYYdLtcur6ir6NlDUab/s1367/Maxine%20and%20kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="1367" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqroy7CY5GBcLr9H8XXpFpeqONO4CH0wg2N9D1JhX4Gbl68c8WF7Xxx5gVqK4YDQmk_Ut5ap2e6agg4nlxC50EDshrWLSga891bvWTndAaDrntpJrh3vWDHss02YpYmb_ZdUTfLBLHdf8-WbkPkhEo2yzDMGxKo_memAiDJbYYdLtcur6ir6NlDUab/w200-h200/Maxine%20and%20kids.jpg" width="200"></a></p>Truth and Reconciliation has a long way to go but how can we not see what has already taken place. Land Recognition. Recognition of the thousands of children killed and abused in residential schools. Efforts being made in schools and public ventures to become involved, no matter how small a part that might play, in reconciliation. <p></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><p></p></div></blockquote><div><p>I was thrilled to be a part of a tremendous event at Calgary's Heritage Park where everyone involved with this beautiful facility gathered to learn and to honour every child. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSITbYXt5EGTiqIMuyHRaxtBg4imnt50YmZ9eILH1oDMF8WcoLvbCkIdcwEgYJYMszvU_3SGqC5v1BzULWhZOPdeiKFnGYfyBi1ZT6wJrxIpmlntkqyzXeCkRYYaRpPLjo8kU4EBISGK9kltti1aY0uzL6T96AxzoPAGGnz15j-u8qTyihEccFTkLu/s2987/Heritage%20Park.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="2987" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSITbYXt5EGTiqIMuyHRaxtBg4imnt50YmZ9eILH1oDMF8WcoLvbCkIdcwEgYJYMszvU_3SGqC5v1BzULWhZOPdeiKFnGYfyBi1ZT6wJrxIpmlntkqyzXeCkRYYaRpPLjo8kU4EBISGK9kltti1aY0uzL6T96AxzoPAGGnz15j-u8qTyihEccFTkLu/w516-h249/Heritage%20Park.png" width="516"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div>How can you become part of the process of reconciliation? It's through education. Educate yourself and those over whom you have influence. When we come to know and truly understand, we will learn to care as we should care. <div><br></div><div>There are books and movies and speakers who can assist you. I will, over the next few weeks, try to lay out a few strategies that might help you in your world. </div><div><br></div><div>Keep it simple. Keep it respectful. Keep an open mind and an open heart and all will be well.<br><p><br></p><br><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p></p></div></div></div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-72109252330252383442022-11-23T16:59:00.000-08:002022-11-23T17:37:10.350-08:00the British Columbia Book Review <!--StartFragment-->
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="posted-on">November 23, 2022</span><span class="screen-reader-text">November 23, 2022</span><br></p><!--StartFragment-->
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><em>Six books reviewed by Linda
Rogers:</em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><em><b>Meet Your Family/ Gikenim
Giniigi’igoog</b></em><br>
<em><b>by David Bouchard and Kristy
Cameron</b></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Victoria: <a href="https://medicinewheel.education/products/meet-your-family" target="_blank">Medicine Wheel Education</a>, 2021<br>
$24.99 / 9781989122662</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They
tried to “take the Indian out of the child,” but it never ended, the storytelling
that united each generation of elders and ancestors to their children, watering
the seeds that grow out of the oldest blanket, Mother Earth. And now the
cultural renaissance witnesses translation of oral to literary tradition,
making the garden inclusive as more and more Indigenous writers and artists
show us how to talk with kids.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Cman-R9a39U/Y37KxKgSd-I/AAAAAAAB80M/KztTp7Ro7aUrJ4q_q2P6_aZFflFxUngywCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1669253826828449-0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Cman-R9a39U/Y37KxKgSd-I/AAAAAAAB80M/KztTp7Ro7aUrJ4q_q2P6_aZFflFxUngywCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1669253826828449-0.png" width="400">
</a>
</div>It’s a bitter irony that it
has taken the disinterment of innocents to remind us that the Earth is not only
home to lost children and humans waiting in line for sky burial, but the real
stories of creation, which are far older than the dreams of voyageurs or
shortsighted bureaucrats. It has taken this long for us to collectively
understand that we are united in one story, which is told in the children’s
books, variations on a theme, that came in the current sharing.<br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EOsEapuQoGY/Y37KwWpiDXI/AAAAAAAB80I/p8ki3QK8utUkcNXt36Qk8NLRq2uS9QwcgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1669253824335365-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EOsEapuQoGY/Y37KwWpiDXI/AAAAAAAB80I/p8ki3QK8utUkcNXt36Qk8NLRq2uS9QwcgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1669253824335365-1.png" width="400">
</a>
</div><br></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For
those who argue that cultural recognition is only the beginning, we can be
comforted in knowing that change happens in the minds of children as they
assimilate the stories of their ancestors, narratives that remind them they are
one with the universe and with each other as they go forward into a world that
has been cursed with transactional values. We can hope children who assimilate
their messages are the peace warriors of the future.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Meet Your Family</em>, by David Bouchard and Kristy
Cameron, is all you know and all you need to know about “all my relations.”
Sometimes a book comes along that steals the breath, then gives it back, so we
say “Soul come back” as after the happy sneeze. This is such a gift, the
satisfaction no smaller than seeing the great Ian MacEwen finally control his
ploticidal impulses in <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/709833/lessons-by-ian-mcewan/9781039004689" target="_blank"><em>Lessons</em></a>, his recent book of conjoined world and intimate family.<br></p><p><o:p></o:p></p>
<p>The only message that matters when Mother Earth is betrayed by
conflict, man against man, man against woman, man against environment,
humankind against itself is we are one, our finite partcles of being flowing
through every living thing. The lesson is urgent and Bouchard and Cameron
deliver it, in picture and verse, with deliberate gentility, love one another
right now. Meet your Mother, they invite:</p>
<p><em>We all come from her</em><br>
<em>Those with feathers or fur</em><br><em>Those who walk on two legs</em><br>
<em>Birthed from water or eggs</em>.</p>
<p>The format is perfect, verse embedded in delicious affirmations
of life, a surround of art that is, by virtue of its Ojibway source, line and
colour describing fellow creatures from the phenomenal and spirit worlds, at
once personal and universal. It is a good thing that the book is hardbound
because it will be read over and over by children and adults.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>As we meet Grandfather Sun and Grandmother Moon holding up the
sky, bathing the wakeful and sleeping Earth in light, lectures on matriarchy
and world balance are made redundant. This is all we need to know. It is within
the grasp of every child and every adult who listens and watches because the
illustrations light up child world, a room with no walls. Just Meet Your
family. Gikenim Giniigi’igoog. It is right in front of us, the real theory of
relativity, no mystery, just a simple homily.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-izjWaekAwNg/Y361GEs7YBI/AAAAAAAB8zw/0Wxm7ZaTyZYw6lfnYfeocfXBQXN3DOQLgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1669248275624863-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-izjWaekAwNg/Y361GEs7YBI/AAAAAAAB8zw/0Wxm7ZaTyZYw6lfnYfeocfXBQXN3DOQLgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1669248275624863-1.png" width="400">
</a>
</div><br><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The format is perfect, verse embedded in delicious affirmations
of life, a surround of art that is, by virtue of its Ojibway source, line and
colour describing fellow creatures from the phenomenal and spirit worlds, at
once personal and universal. It is a good thing that the book is hardbound
because it will be read over and over by children and adults.</p><p><o:p></o:p></p>
<p>As we meet Grandfather Sun and Grandmother Moon holding up the
sky, bathing the wakeful and sleeping Earth in light, lectures on matriarchy
and world balance are made redundant. This is all we need to know. It is within
the grasp of every child and every adult who listens and watches because the
illustrations light up child world, a room with no walls. Just Meet Your
family. Gikenim Giniigi’igoog. It is right in front of us, the real theory of
relativity, no mystery, just a simple homily.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <br></o:p></p>
<!--EndFragment-->David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-38484171645582775742022-04-12T12:46:00.004-07:002022-04-12T12:46:51.411-07:00Just ONE book<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/RbZFPfSv2mA" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RbZFPfSv2mA/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It takes one book to create a reader. Just ONE book. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The book has to be accessible and inclusive. It's our job to get the right book into the hands of prospective readers - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This short clip speaks to a perfect book for an indigenous adult or youth or a person interested in Indigenous culture. </span></div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-67606045269070277672022-04-07T16:25:00.000-07:002022-04-07T16:25:15.930-07:00BOOKS ARE NOT OPTIONAL<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/82KafJS9egs" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/82KafJS9egs/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #030303; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maria Montessori taught us that it takes three things to create readers, time, a hero and books. This clip speaks to the third of the three: the need for books.
Not surprizing, it takes books but what kind of books? </span></div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-83344303742947474042022-04-02T11:03:00.001-07:002022-04-02T11:03:57.839-07:00Wanted: HEROS<div><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/E3JgnII8WW0" width="480"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maria Montessori should be trusted. She taught us that to share the gift of reading it takes time, a hero and books.
In my last blog, I spoke to the time she tells us it takes.
In this, I briefly address what Maria describes as the need for a hero in the process. We all have to recognize our status with our youth and step up to the plate. We, parents, educators, family members, bus drivers...anyone and everyone who has contact with youth has to take on the responsibility of helping these students acquire the gift of reading...no, reading is not a tool but rather, a gift.</span></div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-63916509391867593702022-03-16T13:20:00.000-07:002022-03-16T13:20:10.756-07:00Am I a conspiracy theorist<span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have we been manipulated into thinking that reading is a science that can be applied to everyone - when we choose to apply it? It certainly how we perceived it to be in the See Dick - See Jane era.... How can we be hanging on to that outdated strategy that has failed so many for so long. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is there really a programme that will create readers out of anyone and everyone? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or was Maria Montessori right in her belief that reading is as simple as walking and talking? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Marlene Barron nailed it in 1990 but something seems to have blocked her path to truth. Might it have been greed? Money? Check out her I Laen to taed andwrt the wa I laen to tak - </span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/Fqi9rMhshkw" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Fqi9rMhshkw/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe></div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-54606170183071168342022-03-09T15:49:00.000-08:002022-03-09T15:49:33.492-08:00Ukrainian folk song - senseless war<iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/fY2p_kqJOiw" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fY2p_kqJOiw/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I speak to conferences, classes and parent groups. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And as I do, I can't rid myself of the dark shadow cast by the senseless killings and heartbreaking suffering of so many Ukrainians. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I lie in bed waiting for sleep to take me, I always think of the many who are hungry and cold - the tens of thousand who are witnessing the destruction of their homes and families and their way of life.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then I spend much of my day listening to why the world cannot stand and face this monster head on and say no more. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wouldn't be a good leader as I am not good at doing little to nothing on most things.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is right and there is wrong. There are, it seems more than ever, those who see conspiracies in everything. I am not among these and find it maddening that ignorant theories can be spread as so many suffer - suffer in a real world. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I look forward to someone taking the lead and calling this maniac Putin's bluff. Russians will not allow him to destroy two countries. </span></div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-52464220356500680192022-02-28T15:03:00.000-08:002022-02-28T15:03:51.709-08:00A gift for educators and parents - THE GIFT OF READING<span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What has happened to common sense in our world?
I'm not talking about the world pandemic although I could go on at lengths if I thought it would make a difference. I'm not talking about climate change, fires and floods. I'm not talking about the indifference shown toward the thousands of murdered children being located near residential schools. (Excuse me but this horrific crime should be on the front page of every Canadian newspaper every day. The growing number has to be highlighted and shared. Canada's shared humiliation has to be in our collective forefront.) And no, I'm not talking about the last several years south of our border that make Canadians so happy to live here north of there. And finally, the craziness in Ukraine... tragic killings/murders that we witness on a daily basis.
No - this post is based on common sense and in it, I will focus on reading. Common sense as I see it: Change will not happen if we keep doing the same thing again and again.
In education, we are committed to teaching based on standardized tests whose purpose is clearly to support curriculum. This is how it is. This is how its always been.
I am not the first to suggest that we should teach students and not curriculum.
There was a brief time that report cards reported on students - not a letters or numbers or other symbols that indicated how well students faired next to the curriculum but rather who teachers believed students to be and reported on their growth. That initiative failed. We turtled back to that safe place of doing what had always been done.
We teach "reading" as we did decades and decades ago. Don't look any further than standardized tests that haunt and hurt so many. Numerous academics, educators and parents have voiced objections to this archaic practice. Yet millions invested in training educators on how to administer and work with tests as well as the actual purchasing millions of tests have deep, strong roots.
Maria Montessori laid out a clear path to created readers. But this path necessitated change. Education rejected and continues to reject her advice and direction.
In our book, The Gift of Reading, Wendy and I lay it all on the table.
Clean. Simple. Honest.
I will post a series of three short clips outlining Maria's philosophy.
Educators and parents - apply this plan in any way you see fit. Even if you pick and choose, you will be doing those under your care a great gift; the Gift of Reading.</span><div><br /></div><div><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/qHLyk_SkDaI" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qHLyk_SkDaI/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe></div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-18106741900289925822022-02-27T11:59:00.000-08:002022-02-27T11:59:06.595-08:00Stuck at home during this world pandemic? Discover Richard Wagamese.<p> Richard Wagamese - not a great Ojibway author...rather, a great author</p><p>Is there a better time than now, when you are being forced to stay home, to experience the gift of one of Canada's greatest authors, Richard Wagamese. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU6yF2hSmIk8xMTAVeb0SoUhnKee6JnlVA9gfSS6CfTtcb5uZiEJudOSSEonFGlt-ciRn-VpDXOFxOrRbsCv0AGqRzOmVZoQS-nlIaae9TvUxu4E2Nn21PrsfXTlCfTytLgozYrFWZGGx-_1oRSL5nCUeZui3ga-Aoskkm26nLcYjtkY_O7FYrQYP7=s450" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="285" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU6yF2hSmIk8xMTAVeb0SoUhnKee6JnlVA9gfSS6CfTtcb5uZiEJudOSSEonFGlt-ciRn-VpDXOFxOrRbsCv0AGqRzOmVZoQS-nlIaae9TvUxu4E2Nn21PrsfXTlCfTytLgozYrFWZGGx-_1oRSL5nCUeZui3ga-Aoskkm26nLcYjtkY_O7FYrQYP7=s320" width="203" /></a></div>And by reading Richard's work, you will become a part of the healing necessary as directed by the recommendations of the TRC. <p></p><p>Richard's writings are a safe and good starting point for anyone who is wanting to learn about the the 60's scoop, residential schools, Ojibway (Indigenous) values and beliefs...</p><p>Knowing both the man and the writer, I will recommend two books, his first and my favourite. </p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keeper'n Me</span> - his first novel and wow, what a start!</p><p>Can you imagine growing up not only not knowing your birth parents, but not knowing your community - </p><p>Richard takes us back to the beginning...the challenges/battles he faced growing up in a world of confusion and unanswered questions. </p><p>This is Richard's story and it is the story of so many who were taken from their homes and placed in situations that our colonial government assessed as being in their best interest. You need not go back to Canada's first Prime Minister who spoke of taking the Indian out of the Indian. We have evolved but maintain so very much of that hateful and hurtful energy. </p><p>Keeper'n Me opened my eyes to so much. Try it if you haven't already. </p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Ragged Company - my favourite of his many </span></p><p>Over the years, Richard and I spoke at a few conferences together. At one such conference in Edmonton, Aaron Paquette (friend/artist/author/now city counsellor) handed me a signed copy of Ragged Company to give away. I didn't. I kept it and had Richard sign it to my wife. It was her favourite. I gave out one of my own books that was greatly appreciated. My late Mother used to say, "what you don't know won't hurt you". I applied it to this situation. I felt guilty and still do. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEii60lvQYcI5g-d0QJBVcwHuLzKQ_ATMW2CUBSW54M1WA0x7LqCkqfe0VOu43n4n5WReeUSUU3thIOOTL_MHb4_eUltErcX335UyoGhoNMj_i7fWXXNFRI2R1LGDhcjX044kDi_q-Tl7jmPjhSTNeHaLjysOhm0Arnv9Bp0hNoDIUV3PPzBM0OBNAgp=s450" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEii60lvQYcI5g-d0QJBVcwHuLzKQ_ATMW2CUBSW54M1WA0x7LqCkqfe0VOu43n4n5WReeUSUU3thIOOTL_MHb4_eUltErcX335UyoGhoNMj_i7fWXXNFRI2R1LGDhcjX044kDi_q-Tl7jmPjhSTNeHaLjysOhm0Arnv9Bp0hNoDIUV3PPzBM0OBNAgp=s320" width="211" /></a></div>In an attempt to get in out of the cold, four street people pool what little money they have and begin to frequent local theaters for matinee movies. In one of the theaters, they come across a finely dressed gentleman who becomes key to the plot of Richard's story. <p></p><p>One day, one of the four finds a pack of smokes that not only has half the cigarettes left but includes three twenty dollar bills - sixty dollars and a lottery ticket. What they did with the cash, you can likely demise. However - the ticket? How does a person cash in a lottery ticket if they have no proof of existence? No licence. No social insurance card. No credit card. Nothing! What then? </p><p>Back to the well dressed guy from the theater. </p><p>And then? </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-80410917578612605272022-02-25T15:01:00.000-08:002022-02-25T15:01:00.900-08:00Liars - Haters and those who should be standing up to them...<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/g-mOM5-v2cY" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When did the word misinformation take the place of the word we used to use, lies. I prefer lies. And haters? People who spread lies are called haters. But let's be clear, these haters are also liars. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everyone, including countless Russians, know that Putin is a liar. He is lying and spreading hate for his own sick, personal ambition. It is known and yet, so many are standing by doing nothing or saying nothing and I find that sickening. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sharing a similar plot but on a smaller scale, I have been subject to hate and lies. Over ten years ago, a group of people collaborated in finding something that might discredit me, information that would put into question my Indigenous bloodlines. They threw their lies out on Twitter and let it brew its nasty roots. I immediately responded to their posting but they disappeared knowing that the damage had been done. I posted my genealogy of the front page of my website for anyone who had questions. That posting is still there. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ten years later, their lies live on. Sadly, we (Canadians) often turtle and choose not to stand up to these hurtful haters.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am at a place in my life where these misguided people can spread their hate in as many forms as possible. They don't want to hear truth. They want to hurt and spread hurt through malicious gossip without taking the time to look into what they heard, from whomever, whenever. There are, however, many young people whose lives and careers are being attacked as I was - as I am. For these people, please stop the hate. Gossip is wrong. Talk to the source and have the courage to act on what you believe is right. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This clip is two minutes of me ranting and pleading with good people to stand up to haters and liars. The world has enough problems without world leaders being allowed to lie, hate and eventually kill. It starts small and ends up with...</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am not ready to roll over and go away. This I post for my Grandfather, my Mother and my children - shown in the posted picture. </span></div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-45700064934020080132022-02-20T14:18:00.000-08:002022-02-20T14:18:30.114-08:00Each student is unique. Our collective mandate is to help students under...<span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">The fourth of four video clips outlining how I begin a presentation to students, educators or parents. This one speaks to the fact that every person is unique/one of a kind. We should be treated as such and we should teach children as such. It is well past the time that we teach to a curriculum, regardless of how good it seems to be. We must learn to identify the gift in every child and teach to that gift. Only then will schools become the sanctuaries they are meant to be. Only then can we fully understand and share the meaning of respect. </span><div><br /></div><div><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/5kn3afKPm5g" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5kn3afKPm5g/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe></div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-45456260644611473082022-02-18T15:19:00.002-08:002022-02-18T15:19:28.850-08:00Mental Health - a daily discussion<span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Canadians almost always begin every event with a land recognition. Finally and rightfully so. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Canadians should begin every event remembering and grieving for the thousands of innocent children who were murdered while attending residential schools. A thought for all newspaper publishers: Regardless of the content in your daily newspaper, update an orange banner in the top left hand corner with a number - an ongoing number count depicting these innocent, murdered children. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this short clip, I outline the third of four topics I try to speak to in every presentation I do: mental health. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mental health is not something that should be addressed on one day of the year. It is a dark cloud that shades many facets of our society and schools are seriously affected by our not aggressively addressing this important topic.</span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/vwDBnrweeY8" width="480"></iframe></div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-76717332419636239092022-02-17T14:48:00.000-08:002022-02-17T14:48:44.231-08:00Inviting the murdered residential school children<span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">We absolutely must keep the thousands of murdered residential school children alive in our daily discussions and ceremonies. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Few events in Canada today, including major sporting events, take place without land recognition. In the same vein, the thousands of children whose bodies are being discovered (in some cases recovered) absolutely have to be included in our daily lives and ceremonies. When I present to schools or educators or parents, I begin by recognizing the land on which I live and from which I present. I then speak to, directly to, the thousands of murdered residential school children and through a song on my flute, invite them to be a part of our sharing learnings and stories. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">This video clip speaks to that invitation. </span><div><br /></div><div><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/Lhddar-xtlY" width="480"></iframe></div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-69433916717408117942022-02-15T15:55:00.001-08:002022-02-15T15:55:21.295-08:00A brief overview of my work since Covid<span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are all learning to cope since the start of the pandemic. The work I did as a conference/school presenter was pretty straight forward. </span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">This short clip is to outline where I am working from today, to whom my teachings apply and what in a general way you might expect from me... </span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/3IADeASCL04" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3IADeASCL04/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe></div></div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-7399439977004629742022-02-11T13:40:00.000-08:002022-02-11T13:40:23.807-08:002022 and I'm still at home<p> Covid remains. </p><p>Omicron continues to run rampant and although it's milder than earlier stands, it remains a serious threat to so many. The movie Mad Max doesn't seem as far fetched as it once did. </p><p>I am a million mile flyer and yet... I have not flown for over two years for fear of catching or spreading (or both) some variant of Covid 19. This pandemic has changed the world, possibly forever. I am fortunate enough to be among those who knew the world then - when. </p><p>Today, I am home working from my shack (pictured here) in the company of my border terrier George and friends that I am making online.</p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjP0TUHYyijyahmGLj1V9_OLWWkJcVH75-FSh_h5YCDpc12cjfxyBBfMZiYYdKdn67hmlzmdjPMhsAuRXJiZFoviKNI0soMJ5SvjW0sExWgoFWj_nFzB44VWq1i7HNmrFPU_EVdXCcwBB7nypx2jvHIWyr6DY94_oR_T6yvPHRyNhq7YeQasyTo7b1a=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjP0TUHYyijyahmGLj1V9_OLWWkJcVH75-FSh_h5YCDpc12cjfxyBBfMZiYYdKdn67hmlzmdjPMhsAuRXJiZFoviKNI0soMJ5SvjW0sExWgoFWj_nFzB44VWq1i7HNmrFPU_EVdXCcwBB7nypx2jvHIWyr6DY94_oR_T6yvPHRyNhq7YeQasyTo7b1a=w412-h232" width="412" /></a></p>Zoom, Teams, Meet and a growing number of new platforms have become the norm through which I share stories, my learnings and my teachings with students, educators and parents. Funny thing that, my work has hardly skipped a beat. Educators have been quick to pick up on the new reality of how to inspire students. My agent Chris has also adapted. He has created a number of accessible options for different groups. These can be accessed here: http://davidbouchard.com/speaking/presentations. The fee structure is also available online at: http://davidbouchard.com/speaking/fees<p></p><p><i style="background-color: white;"><b>Is social media as good, better or not as effec</b><b>tive as in person presentations?</b> </i></p><p>They both have their advantages but overall, my on-line presentations are better than school visitations or conferences that would have me fly in, rent a car, book a hotel and eat in restaurants for whatever time I would be on tour. </p><p>We are all learning and becoming proficient in on-line meetings. I am projected onto a screen or onto classroom computers/whiteboards and teachers are learning to optimize the sound and that is very important. I can usually see and hear participants which allows for personal and intimate interactions. </p><p>Over the next week or two, I will share a few short clips that show what I do in almost all my presentation, prior to getting into the specifics of whatever the session is about (i.e. reading, books, culture, traditions, etc...) </p><p>I start with a land recognition. </p><p>Next, I speak directly to the growing number of missing residential school children and I invite them to join us. </p><p>I rarely miss an opportunity to address the reality and seriousness of mental health. </p><p>And I never miss the chance to remind participants of their uniqueness and how the focus for each of us must be to embrace that uniqueness and learn to use our special gifts. </p><p><br /></p>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-12058364079085855192021-09-15T12:52:00.002-07:002021-09-15T12:52:50.872-07:00The Gift of Reading<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/m-BTpB5VgS8" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #030303; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Educators/parents - Let's talk about the importance of Reading. New teachers, it isn't rocket science, the recipe is; time, a hero and books (the right kind of books).</span></div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-73261745411148501252021-08-26T15:33:00.002-07:002021-08-26T21:03:42.476-07:00Flutes just flutes<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/mjr8aiP5aCk" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><div>I can't imagine a more useful nor a more exciting personal goal than that of learning to play then teaching your students the Native Flute. None. </div><div>stephen.rensink@gmail.com northernspiritsflutes.com</div></div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-44100916566175825112021-08-26T15:02:00.000-07:002021-08-26T15:02:06.052-07:00Pour nos communautés francophones<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/rM832R_2k4A" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rM832R_2k4A/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Tes présMntations sont disponibles en français ainsi qu'en anglais. </div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-6764281738038637822021-08-24T15:07:00.001-07:002021-08-24T15:07:11.561-07:00School Opening - a Mission Statement and a school Focus<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/Vtw6RGsZDEA" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>A dream mission statement and... Reading - the ultimate focus for your school. Reading is a passport to freedom and there has never been a better time than during during this pandemic.</div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264480973490444698.post-70369499129828990422021-08-23T15:49:00.000-07:002021-08-23T15:49:05.645-07:00A strategy for the upcoming year<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/VUckjh4963U" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Video #2 -The upcoming school year - a strategy to help focus on Indigenous studies</div>David Bouchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04721551419621252346noreply@blogger.com0