#newfoundland

In case you haven't yet heard what's been evolving here on the east coast...

The NL government told Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation that they were not allowed to publicly state that Innu history in Labrador goes back further than 300 years, in the prepared cultural exhibit for Indigenous Peoples Day. Jodie Ashini, the cultural guardian behind the exhibit, refused to bow down to this colonial rewrite of history.

Subsequently, after a series of protests, NL Premier Tony Wakeham and Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister Lela Evans released a half-assed apology, instead of meeting the very simple demand from the Innu leaders: A written commitment to stop promoting a false colonial narrative. The Innu Nation rejected these "apologies", and officially closed the exhibit.

Miawpukek Mi'kmaq have already released an official statement of support. It is my personal hope that more First Nations on the Atlantic do the same. (The news is only just starting to spread here in NS.)

READ MORE:

Innu Nation rejects apology from N.L. government that doesn’t mention 300-year history cap

I had an awesome weekend at Avalon Expo and got to meet Gianni and his wife Marieke in person! We have a tradition in Newfoundland where people from away can get 'Screeched In' — You wear a Sou'wester, kiss a cod, recite a speech, and drink a shot of rum (specifically Newfoundland Screech), sometimes we get you to say "Long may your big jib draw" (it means may the wind always be in your sails)

At the Edge - Peter Fiore , 2019.

American, b.1955 -