The Jig Is Up

Our thoughts on everything from sexual assault charges in Alberta to lateral hate being practiced in Saskatchewan.

Patrick Harriott is a proud Métis, President of the Métis Nation of Greater Victoria, and running for election in the upcoming MNBC elections.  We have a great conversation about why he is running for election, what he hopes to accomplish if elected, and his views on a number of issues Métis are facing these days.

The recent rejection of a suicide prevention bill by the Saskatchewan Government sparked Tristen Durocher and Christopher Merasty to begin to walk more than 600 kilometres to raise awareness of, and call for action for, the high suicide rate in northern Saskatchewan.  

Manitoba court upholds the right of the Manitoba Government to cancel the 50 year hydro deal. We also discuss some recent social media posts detailing times with the MNO allowed staff to say racist and derogatory remarks towards specific participants in some of their programs.

Police violence, protests, riots, still in a pandemic, what a year so far.  We also talk about what some Métis Nation employees are calling the destruction of the Métis Nation.

In our first ever zoom podcast Jason and I discuss the many aspects of the Covid 19 response from the Métis Cartel.  We talk about how they are being very quiet about what they are doing, where the money is going, and who is getting any help at all.  Through all of this where is the daily or even weekly updates from these so called leaders as to how many have been able to receive help, the safety of Métis communities, or even how they are handling things administratively.

I am joined by Caitlin McCarthy, an award winning screenwriter and educator and is currently working on a new book.

Johanne Brissette is a Métis from Quebec, former board member of the Métis Federation of Canada and a researcher who brings extensive knowledge of Métis history and culture.

Dr. Sebastien Malette is a researcher, academic, author and expert in Indigenous law.  He co-authored the book Songs Upon the River.  The Forgotten History of the Northwest Pacific Métis.   His most recent book Brois-Brûlés: The Untold Story of the Métis of Western Québec, which came out in French in June of 2019 will be available in English on May 1.  With his co-authors Guillaume Marcotte and Michel Bouchard, Bois-Brûlés examines archival and ethnographic evidence to challenge two powerful nationalisms – Métis and Québécois – that interpret Métis identity in the province as “race-shifting.

The book is available to order on Amazon.ca 

We are excited to welcome David Bouchard to the show.  David is a well known author with many books published and enjoyed by readers across North America.  You can find out more information about David and his work on his website www.davidbouchard.com