Telling Our Twisted Histories

By CBCSociety & Culture

Telling Our Twisted Histories episodes

October 27, 2025 Introducing | Forged: The true story behind the Norval Morrisseau art fraud
Rock star Kevin Hearn of the Barenaked Ladies is doing rock star things — like buying paintings. And what better painting for an iconic Canadian rocker to buy than one by Norval Morrisseau, one of the most iconic Indigenous artists in Canada? But when Kevin’s Morrisseau painting is featured in an exhibit, it gets taken down because the head curator says it’s “questionable.” Kevin tries to get some answers but every answer leads to more questions. Host Adrian Stimson traces Kevin’s dogged quest to find out the truth about his painting — and learns how this one painting is the key to cracking a whole underworld open. Forged is a six-part series, from CBC in Canada and ABC Australia, host Adrian Stimson, an artist from the Siksika Nation, travels from Thunder Bay to the Northern Territory of Australia, to reveal what's believed to be the largest art crime fraud in the world. More episodes of Forged are available here: https://link.mgln.ai/ForgedxTOTH
27 min
June 21, 2024 Bonus: How to celebrate National Indigenous People’s Day all summer long
Today we have a special bonus episode for you from our sibling show Unreserved, a fearless space for Indigenous voices. Host Rosanna Deerchild is ready to Indigenize your summer with a tastemaker’s guide to the best books, movies, podcasts and more.

More episodes of Unreserved are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/u2dCcads
52 min
June 01, 2023 Telling Our Twisted Histories Introduces: The Urbariginal
Rudy Kelly’s dad was a great chief of the Tsimshian Nation - a champion of the language, culture, and community. Everyone loved him. But did Rudy? As a kid, he looked up to him. Idolized him. But also feared him. And even hated him. He told Rudy that to succeed, he would have to leave everything behind: his family, friends, and culture. In this six-part series, Rudy's journey brings him back in time, to learn how colonization impacted Indigenous people, from those who lived it. To find out who and what his dad really was, and to discover more about himself - the Urbariginal. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/eQm8Crpy
26 min
June 10, 2022 Telling Our Twisted Histories Update and Introducing: Kuper Island
Kuper Island is an 8-part series that tells the stories of four students: three who survived and one who didn’t. They attended one of Canada’s most notorious residential schools – where unsolved deaths, abuse, and lies haunt the community and the survivors to this day. Hosted by Duncan McCue. More episodes are available at hyperurl.co/kuperisland
34 min
August 02, 2021 RECONCILIATION
It's made its way into Canada's political vocabulary and into Indigenous communities. Some see it as yet another empty promise; others see it as a path forward. It's a word that is both divisive and complicated. Together, we will look at the fractured relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations to look for a way forward that is balanced and fair.
For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648
26 min
July 26, 2021 GOD
Through missionary work and later, the government-funded residential school system, our rituals and spiritual practices were broken. We were forced to follow Christianity's top-down, hierarchical doctrine, under its vengeful and punitive god, but our circular worldview survived. In our view, all things coexist in an interconnected relationship with the universe. Together, we will decolonize the word GOD and uncover the richness of our spiritual traditions.
For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648
23 min
July 19, 2021 OBEY
The word OBEY does not exist in Indigenous languages. Our ancestors lived by their own systems of governance that sought to maintain harmony among all living things. The concept of obedience was forced upon us by church and government authorities. It slowly took hold and changed both our way of life and our way of governing ourselves. The time has come to consider regaining our sovereignty and reclaiming our original ways of decision making.
For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648
24 min
July 12, 2021 BANNOCK
Flour, baking powder, a pinch of salt and a bit of water. Beloved and delicious, this traditional fry bread is a staple in Indigenous kitchens, but its colonial roots come with serious health repercussions
This episode is a mouth-watering journey decolonizing the word BANNOCK.
For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648
20 min
July 05, 2021 POCAHONTAS
How do you dismantle the colonial myth of POCAHONTAS? Disney's portrait of the Indian Princess has been indelibly pressed into young minds: she is naïve and noble, sexualized, innocent, and needy of a white saviour to win her heart.
In reality, Indigenous women have always played strong and valued roles in their communities, leading by will and courage. Western society has created the archetype of the Good Indian, frozen in time, smiling and helpful. Together, we will decolonize this stereotype and examine portrayals of Indigenous people in Hollywood and beyond.
For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648
20 min
June 28, 2021 SAVAGE
How did we go from 'noble savages' to 'dirty savages'? Over time, the meaning of the word has shifted from natural, free, and pure to a derogatory word used to diminish us and cast us aside. Indigenous people were considered "uncivilized", synonymous with barbaric, bestial, and cruel. This word has inflicted deep wounds and fuels prejudices to this day. Together, we’ll recall the true meaning of the word SAVAGE, and explore its current impact.
For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648
24 min

About Telling Our Twisted Histories

From the publisher's feed

Words connect us. Words hurt us. Indigenous histories have been twisted by centuries of colonization. Host Kaniehti:io Horn brings us together to decolonize our minds– one word, one concept, one…