Tag Archives: history

Module 4: Post 2 – The Secret Life of Canada

The Secret Life of Canada is a podcast about the history of Canada that may have been untold to many. Their catchphrase is, “A podcast that highlights the people, places and stories that probably didn’t make it into your high school textbook. Join hosts Leah and Falen as they explore the unauthorized history of a complicated country.”  The podcast is not specific to Indigenous history but also to other minority groups in Canada.

One of the episodes, The Secret Life of Water, discusses current environmental concerns about water, as well as how water is used and viewed historically by Indigenous people. The podcast is perfect for classroom use because it accompanies a teacher guide. The teacher guide includes a lesson plan, slideshow, episode transcript, activity sheets, and a bonus mini-episode.

The podcast is an excellent format for utilizing technology to teach the historical teachings of Indigenous Cultures and to support reconciliation by understanding the truth of Canadian history. I believe that it is essential that we know the truth of the issues that we are facing before we can act on reconciliation; this podcast starts these difficult conversations.

Module 1: Post 1 – What is America?

I read What is America? A Short History of the New World Order, a book by Ronald Wright, over 10 years ago. I recently found this book on my bookshelf; it was one of about 20 books that I kept after getting rid of hundreds of books that used to line my shelves.

I remember it as a short, surprising, and powerful book that I learned a lot from. In fact, it’s full of dog-eared pages and my pencil underlines and notes in the margins. It dispelled two common stereotypes of Indigenous Americans (the author’s term). First, that Indigenous peoples have never over-hunted or over-consumed resources. Dispelling this myth doesn’t – in my opinion – negate the sacred relationship Indigenous peoples have with the land or their status as land- and water-keepers, but gives us a more nuanced, realistic, and pluralistic view of Indigenous peoples. It helps dispell a one-note stereotype. Second, that Indigenous peoples were highly nomadic and had simple social structures. He talks about the many complex, hierarchical, and agrarian peoples that lived in America before it was America. He also discusses how many settlers thought Indigenous peoples were just as smart and capable as anyone else, and the ways in which settlers and Indigenous peoples co-existed for a long time. The book subverts the idea that settlers instinctively thought Indigenous people were savage, and describes how the eradication of Indigenous peoples was actually a lot more purposeful and intentional – driven by greed for the land more than ignorance of Indigenous people’s humanity.

Here is a short review in The Walrus: https://thewalrus.ca/book-review-what-is-america/

Ronald Wright has also written A Short History of Progress, Stolen Continents, and Gold Eaters – all of which feature information about Indigenous peoples in North America.