CANADALAND

What defines someone’s national identity? Is it a drop of blood from a distant relative? Is it living in a community? Is it being accepted by that community as a member? Do we approach that question differently if we have Italian ancestry versus Indigenous ancestry?

Justin continues his conversations with Qalipu leaders, community members, and distant relatives in his search to understand what it means to be Mi’kmaq, whether it’s right to claim a Mi’kmaq identity, and what he should tell his kids about who they really are.

Host: Justin Brake

Credits: Justin Brake (Writer & Reporter), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Special Thanks: Kelly Russell and Pigeon Inlet Productions for the use of Emile Benoit’s music, Diane's Happiness, David's Reel

Further reading:

• Chief to explore separation from controversial Mi’kmaq band — APTN News
• Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation votes to allow some RCMP officers, military to reapply for membership — CBC News

Additional music by Audio Network

Sponsors: The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The University of King's College, Oxio

If you value this podcast, support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

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For over five years, Canadaland has been investigating Thunder Bay, Ontario. Specifically, we have been trying to figure out why there were so many unanswered questions around the deaths of Indigenous people in this one Ontario town.

We have looked at the cops. The schools. The courts. The  government. The people in the town itself. But we never looked at the coroners and the forensic pathologists who are a central part of death investigations. And once we started to do so, freedom of information requests and leaked reports pointed to even greater problems with how deaths are investigated, that could span the entire province. 

And so we went back to Thunder Bay.

Host: Jesse Brown 

Credits: Cherise Seucharan (Reporter), Jon Thompson (Reporter), Ryan McMahon (Reporter), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Further reading: 

• Lawyer says families 'ignored' as Broken Trust final report on death reinvestigations expected within weeks, CBC News, Feb 15, 2022
• Reports on racism and a reckoning for Thunder Bay, TVO Today, Jan 17, 2019
• Ontario coroners looking to unionize over working conditions, upcoming reforms, CBC News, June 14, 2023
• Horwath calls for review of Hamilton forensic pathology unit closure, CBC News, August 23, 2019
• 'Disappointing' response so far to 7 youth inquest recommendations, says Aboriginal Legal Services, CBC News, August 23, 2017
• Thunder Bay TV series, Crave

Additional music by Audio Network

Sponsors: Douglas, Communauto, Indochino

If you value this podcast, support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Un nouveau documentaire, Ados et armés, traite de la question de l’usage croissant des armes à feu chez les adolescents québécois. Le film donne la chance aux adolescents concernés de parler pour eux-mêmes. Le réalisateur du film, Fabrice Vil, se joint à nous pour parler des problèmes systémiques qui nous ont amenés ici. Nous parlons aussi de racisme dans le sport, suite à une histoire dans Le Droit concernant le traitement choquant infligé à deux joueurs racisés dans une ligue de hockey jeunesse à Gatineau.

A new documentary, Ados et armés, digs into the issue of rising gun use among Quebec teens, giving the affected teens a chance to speak about it in their own voices. The director, Fabrice Vil, joins us to talk about the systemic problems behind this issue. We also talk about racism in sports, following a shocking story in Le Droit about the treatment of two racialized players in a youth hockey league in Gatineau. 

Animation: Emilie Nicolas

Générique: Nancy Pettinicchio (Production), Kevin Sexton (Production), Tristan Capacchione (Production technique), Karyn Pugliese (Rédactrice en chef)

Coanimation: Fabrice Vil

Pour en savoir plus :

• Documentaire Ados et armés — Télé-Québec
• Un programme pour prévenir la violence armée mise sur la surveillance des jeunes — Pivot
• Des manifestant·es pro-Palestine accusent Radio-Canada de biais — Pivot
• «I can’t breathe»: la scène reproduite dans un vestiaire de hockey pour humilier un joueur noir — Le Droit

Commanditaire: Oxio

Si vous appréciez ce podcast, soutenez-nous ! Vous obtiendrez un accès en prime à toutes nos émissions gratuitement, y compris les premières diffusions et le contenu bonus. Vous recevrez également notre lettre d'information exclusive, des rabais sur les produits dans notre boutique, des billets pour nos événements en direct et virtuels, et surtout, vous ferez partie de la solution à la crise du journalisme au Canada. Vous ferez en sorte que notre travail reste gratuit et accessible à tout le monde.  

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If you enjoy this podcast, please support us! You'll get bonus access to all of our shows for free, including early releases and bonus content. You'll also receive our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch in our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and most importantly, you'll be part of the solution to the journalism crisis in Canada. You'll help keep our work free and accessible to everyone.  

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Support Canadaland now! Click here: canadaland.com/join

You’ve heard a lot from Jesse this crowdfunding campaign, it's time for Editor in Chief Karyn Pugliese (Pabàmàdiz) to share her vision for Canadaland.

Karyn has seen journalism change Canada before, knows that it actually can make a difference in the conversations we have in this country, and in our democracy.

We are in the final days of our 10th anniversary crowdfunding campaign. Support from listeners like you has never been more vital.

Head to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today.

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The new refrain in the press gallery is that Trudeau has got to go. How seriously should we take this? And the world of deep fakes has come for Canadian news anchors. Glen McGregor co-hosts. 

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Guest: Glen McGregor

Further reading: 

• Justin Trudeau is a problem for his party — and even if he quits, it might not save the Liberals, poll suggests - Toronto Star
• Deepfake video. Hate-spewing tweets: How a China-linked campaign took aim at Justin Trudeau, Pierre Poilievre - Toronto Star
• Manipulated Elon Musk videos promote fake investment app to Canadians - AFP Fact Check
• A warning from experts: 'The deepfakes you see now are going to be the worst you're ever going to see' - CTV News
• In A New Era Of Deepfakes, AI Makes Real News Anchors Report Fake Stories - Forbes
• CBS Launches Fact-Checking News Unit to Examine AI, Deepfakes, Misinformation - Variety

Sponsors: University of Kings College, Squarespace, Canva

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.  

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is chapter 2 of a mini series. To listen to all episodes, become a supporter at https://canadaland.com/join

When Newfoundland joined Canada as the tenth province in 1949, both the new province and the federal government neglected to mention in their terms of union that any indigenous people lived there. That meant Canada had no legal obligations to Mi’kmaq or Innu under the Indian Act. So First Nations peoples there were left out.

Over the decades, Mi’kmaq on the island fought for official recognition. Following the creation of Miawpukek First Nation (Conne River) in the early 1980s, the federal government finally agreed in the 2000s to recognize Mi’lkmaq in Central and Western Newfoundland, The Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation was formed. More than 100,000 people applied to join the new band, leading many to question the authenticity of those claims. 

Justin speaks with experts and Qalipu community leaders to figure out how the community defines who is or isn’t Mi’kmaq. He wants to know because he and his family enrolled with Qalipu, but as Justin learned more about his ancestry, he began to question whether that claim was legitimate.

And if that claim wasn’t legitimate, what would that mean for the thousands of other Qalipu members? 

Host: Justin Brake

Credits: Justin Brake (Writer & Reporter), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Further reading: 

• In landmark decision, Newfoundland appeal court judge lays out criteria for journalist protections when reporting at protests — Globe & Mail
• Proliferation of self-identified Indigenous people represents “new wave of colonialism” — APTN News

Additional music by Audio Network

Sponsors: Douglas, The Toronto Symphony Orchestra

If you value this podcast, support us! If you become a supporter today, you will be able to listen to all episodes of The Newfoundlander.

You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jill Heinerth is one of the most accomplished aquanauts in the world. With over 8500 dives, she is hired by some of the most notable names in film and television, from David Suzuki, to James Cameron. 

But her life isn’t all about shooting epic underwater scenes for the big screen, a lot of her life is doing research in underwater caves, looking at organisms that few have ever seen before. She does this as part of scientific research that leads to groundbreaking medical discoveries, with applications for AIDS, breast cancer, and even COVID. 

These dives are dangerous though, and each time she goes under, could be her last.

Host: Jesse Brown 

Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Further reading: 

• Official website — Jill Heinerth
• Explorer-in-Residence — Royal Canadian Geographical Society
• 'I’m not afraid of dying': Cave diver's latest obsession is underneath the Ottawa River — Ottawa Citizen

Additional music by Tristan Capacchione and Audio Network

Sponsors: The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Article, Athletic Greens

If you value this podcast, support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was impossible to look away once CBC released the story and Fifth Estate documentary questioning Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Indigenous identity. How well did the CBC do in its reporting? And an update on the Greenbelt scandal under Doug Ford - including an RCMP investigation. Kim Wheeler co-hosts.  

Host: Jonathan Goldsbie

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Guest: Kim Wheeler

Further reading: 

• Who is the real Buffy Sainte-Marie? - CBC
• Investigating Buffy Sainte-Marie’s claims to Indigenous ancestry - The Fifth Estate 
• Those who pretend to be Indigenous only distract from the things that really matter - The Globe and Mail
• Greenbelt, farmland planning favoured secrecy, not environment: docs - The Narwhal
• Environmental group releases thousands of government documents on Greenbelt, urban boundary scandals - The Trillium
• Departing premier Heather Stefanson apologizes for 'hurting Manitobans' with landfill-search ads - CBC News
• Doug Ford denies involvement in municipal land decisions - The Globe and Mail

Sponsors: Douglas, Squarespace, BetterHelp

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is chapter 1 of a mini series. To listen to all episodes, become a supporter at https://canadaland.com/join

In 2001, 9/11 forced airplanes from all over the world to suddenly land in Newfoundland. As communities responded to the crisis and welcomed people into their homes, there was a chance encounter between a Rabbi from England and an elderly person from Gander, Newfoundland: Edward Brake, grandfather of reporter Justin Brake.

Edward told the Rabbi that he was a Holocaust survivor and had suppressed his Jewish identity his whole life. But now, he said, it was time to share his story before it was lost forever. 

How could the entire Brake family be unaware of this history? If the story is true, what does that mean for Justin? Justin sets off on a quest, speaking to family and digging through provincial archives in search of answers.

Host: Jesse Brown 

Credits: Justin Brake (Writer & Reporter), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Further reading: 

• The Day the World Came to Town — HarperCollins Publishers
• Meet the rabbi who got stranded in Newfoundland on 9/11 — Canadian Jewish News

Additional music by Audio Network

Sponsors: Elijah Craig, Athletic Greens, King’s University

If you value this podcast, support us! If you become a supporter today, you will be able to listen to all episodes of The Newfoundlander.

You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support Canadaland now! Click here: canadaland.com/join

We are way off our target for our crowdfunding goal this year. When we launched our campaign a few weeks ago, we had the best launch day ever.

And then a war broke out…. 

We have so many really exciting stories to report and plans for the coming year to tell you about, and our ability to move on them depends on your support right now.

New signups have slowed down substantially, but there is still time.  

Head to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.