The McGill Daily is located on unceded Kanien’kehá:ka territory
coordinating editor Emma Bainbridge
managing editor India Mosca
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culture editor Eliana Freelund
features editor Elaine Yang
science + technology editor Andrei Li
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cover design Zoe Lee contributors
Auden Akinc, Scarlett El Rafaie, Eliana Freelund, Mara Gibea, Sena Ho, Raymond Johnson-Brown, Zoe Lee, Jasper Menagh, India Mosca, Elaine Yang, Jason Zhou
McGill Must Do More for Indigenous Students
Content warning: mentions of slavery, antiIndigenous racism
This June, McGill announced their proposal for the Indigenous Tuition Initiative that seeks to waive all tuition and mandatory fees for Indigenous students from local First Nation communities. The program, which came into effect this Fall semester, positions itself as a reconciliatory effort on the administration’s behalf to cover up many of its past – and present – wrongdoings against Indigenous communities in and around Montreal.
Seven years ago, McGill’s Provost Task Force on Indigenous Studies and Indigenous Education established its now recognized 52 Calls to Action. These recommendations sought to advance the university’s project regarding the “recognition and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.” This initiative followed a 2015 report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) that called on Canadian institutions to confront their violent and harmful actions towards Indigenous communities. In an effort to fulfill these Calls to Action, McGill has only now instituted this financial aid. However, McGill’s history of acting in opposition to Indigenous activists, such as the kanien’kehá:ka kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers), makes it clear that McGill has a long way to go in mending its relationship with the Indigenous communities it has harmed, and continues to harm.
Most of McGill’s initiatives for Indigenous students have been introduced since 2015, showing how the university is still in its first steps towards recognizing and addressing its participation in settler-colonialism. Prior to the TRC’s statement, McGill had largely ignored its students’ calls for Indigenous recognition and equality. For decades, students have protested against the McGill men’s varsity athletics team name, due to its use of an anti-Indigenous slur. The university refused to listen to the requests to change the name, and it was only in 2020 that McGill rebranded its athletics department as the Redbirds and Martlets. The insensitivity that McGill has presented towards Indigenous students extends far beyond its blatantly racist actions.
between McGill administration and the Mohawk Mothers concerning the development of the Royal Victoria Hospital site. The Mohawk Mothers requested to excavate the site to search for unmarked Indigenous and non-Indigenous graves, particularly from the MK-Ultra experiments in the 1950s and 60s. McGill refused to agree to their terms until November 2023, when the courts declared that “McGill and SQI [were to] suspend excavation of the site until the parties agreed on how archeological investigations be conducted.” If left to their own devices, McGill would not have listened to the Mohawk Mothers to halt their plans for development, as seen by McGill’s appeal of the Superior Court decision.
However, last month the Court of Appeal reversed its order, leaving the courts unable to enforce McGill’s compliance with the Mohawk Mothers. The judge “misapprehended the scope of his power to make safeguard orders,” the Court of Appeal wrote. Without a court mandate in place, it’s unlikely that McGill will be willing to acknowledge the concerns of the Mohawk Mothers.
Parallel to its injustices against Indigenous communities, McGill has aggressively pushed out policies claiming to fulfill its Calls to Action. This includes its newest announcement for a mental health initiative that would “bolster Indigenous youth mental health services across Canada.” The program, co-led by McGill psychiatry professor Srividya Iyer and Lakehead University psychology professor Christopher Mushquash, aims to provide services to help mitigate generational trauma and cultural disconnect affecting Indigenous youth. The university’s eager attitude in promoting these programs seems designed to distract the public from their lack of achievement in 43 of the remaining Calls to Action.
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The same year the McGill athletics department changed its name, students from the Black Student Network and the Indigenous Student Alliance sought to call out McGill’s systemic oppression against Indigenous and Black community members. The “Take James McGill Down” movement called to remove the James McGill statue on the downtown campus, due to the university founder’s past as a slave owner of both Black and Indigenous enslaved people. Once again, Indigenous and Black students requested that McGill honour its commitments made to Indigenous and Black peoples, and reassess its behaviours that are a continuation of its colonial past. Any progress McGill has made towards supporting Indigenous students has always been a direct consequence of mobilization efforts from Indigenous students and activists themselves.
The most recent example of McGill’s resistance against Indigenous communities occurred in the legal battles
Although the university appears to be making amends, the administration has a long way to go in reconciling its destructive actions. While its policies may benefit Indigenous students now, they only address one facet of the larger mission: to hold colonial institutions fully accountable for the harm they have inflicted on Indigenous communities. Since McGill has mainly taken a reactionary stance in their proposals, acting only due to student activism, it is vital that we all participate in the fight for decolonization. Organizations such as the Indigenous Student Alliance at McGill make it possible to keep their identity alive in a society that tries constantly to assimilate them into Western ideals.
Despite McGill’s treatment of Indigenous communities, it is our responsibility to support Indigenous peoples and amplify their voices. To keep up with the Mohawk Mothers’ fight against McGill, you can follow @takebacktekanontak on Instagram or read Mohawk Nation News. Additionally, show solidarity by attending the Every Child Matters March for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. Another way to educate yourself on happenings within Indigenous communities is by engaging with media produced by Indigenous people. Within this issue, you can find pieces highlighting Indigenous achievements, such as the launch of the Tiohtià:ke: Mapping Indigenous Stories podcasts, a review of Shawnee Kish’s new single, media recommendations, and more!
The Lasting Legacy of Cathy Merrick
The beloved First Nations community leader and advocate leaves behind a legacy of compassion and inspiration after a lifetime of service.
Jason Zhou News Contributor
Cathy Merrick, a dedicated leader and advocate for Indigenous peoples in Canada, passed away on September 6 in Winnipeg at the age of 63. Her lifelong commitment to improving the lives of Indigenous communities has left a profound impact on the nation.
Grand Chief Merrick was the first woman to lead the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), where she served as Grand Chief and represented 63 First Nations. She was re-elected in July 2024 for a second tenure. She worked tirelessly to address critical issues such as education, healthcare, and social justice for Indigenous communities. After observing the state of living conditions for many First Nations across Canada, Grand Chief Merrick found it her mission to not only call out such injustices, but use her voice to mobilize policy in favor of improving public services.
Grand Chief Merrick was a proud Cree woman from the Cross Lake Band of Indians in Northern Manitoba. Her leadership journey began as a Councillor in Pimicikamak, where she served for twelve years. After 44 years of male leadership, Merrick was the second woman to be elected as Chief of Pimicikamak in 2013 and remained Chief for an impactful five years as per Pimicikamak election law. In October 2022, she made history by becoming the first female Grand Chief elected to the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.
“Grand Chief Merrick’s presence, both powerful and kind, left a lasting impact on those privileged to know and work alongside her,” the AMC said in a statement, in memory of Merrick on the day of her passing.
According to CBC News, Merrick collapsed in front of the media reporters outside of the Manitoba law courts on September 6, shortly after condemning the acquittal of a Manitoba corrections officer charged in the 2021 death of William Ahmo, a First Nation inmate at the Headingley Correctional Centre. Her passing was confirmed after she was taken to the hospital.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mourned the loss of Grand Chief Merrick in a statement on Facebook, praising her as
Auden Akinc | Visuals Contributor
As news of her passing spread, communities across Canada have been paying tribute to Grand Chief Merrick’s legacy
“a relentless and incredibly effective advocate for First Nations peoples, especially for those most vulnerable.”
Grand Chief Merrick championed the rights and dignity of Indigenous Peoples through her involvement in numerous projects and initiatives that aimed to improve the lives of Indigenous Peoples. She was a main proponent for the National Inquiry into MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls), an organization that seeks to highlight the systematic social, cultural, and economic causes behind gendered violence against Indigenous women and girls across the country.
Grand Chief Merrick alongside the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and
motivated intent. Together with the families of the victims, Grand Chief Merrick took the matter to Trudeau’s office in Ottawa. Although the authorities initially opposed searching the landfill, they ultimately stood with Grand Chief Merrick and the First Nation, allocating millions of dollars for the effort. The search for the remains of the victims in the landfill is set to begin next month.
“It sends a clear message to all predators who prey upon vulnerable Indigenous women: you will not get away with targeting our women. You will face justice,” Grand Chief Merrick said in a statement after the man was sentenced to 25 years in prison without parole on August 28. “We will continue to stand strong in
“Grand Chief Merrick’s presence, both powerful and kind, left a lasting impact on those privileged to know and work alongside her.”
- Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Girls have consistently brought this subject to the forefront of Manitoba policy addressing the crisis and fighting for the rights of the victims within Indigenous communities.
The New York Times reported her highest-profile battle for murdered Indigenous women, where she fought to recover the remains of two of four Indigenous women who were murdered by a white man in 2022 with racially
AMC and Grand Chief Merrick promoted initiatives like Rites of Passage Scaabe’s, a workshop working directly with First Nation youth who are or were dealing with the provincial Child and Family Services System. They specifically offer personalized support for First Nation youth who are aging out of care, helping them develop employment skills, organizing housing opportunities, and preparing them for integration into adulthood.
Additionally, Grand Chief Merrick advocated for reforms related to Jordan’s Principle – an act that ensures First Nations children living in Canada are given access to the services, products, and support they need, when and where they need them.
“First Nations Leadership must be empowered to take full control of the care and protection of First Nations children. Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and loving environment, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that this inherent right is upheld,” Merrick said in a statement after six First Nations children and youth lost their lives while involved with the Child and Family Services (CFS) system back in March.
Her extensive history of activism displays how influential these efforts have been to propel the Indigenous fight for equality forward. As news of her passing spread, communities across Canada have been paying tribute to Grand Chief Merrick’s legacy.
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), a non-profit political advocacy organization that has represented more than 72,000 First Nations people, released a statement reflecting on Grand Chief Merrick’s passing and said, “Cathy exemplified the strength and spirit of our people, serving as a beacon of hope and inspiration for many. She believed in the power of unity and collaboration, always striving to build bridges between our communities and fostering understanding among all Nations. Her passion, resilience, and unwavering commitment to First Nation peoples will be deeply missed.”
Cathy Merrick’s unwavering commitment to her people and community has touched many people. As Canada and the world mourn her loss, her life’s work is a testament to the impact that she had in creating a better future for the community and nation that she deeply loves.
Her lifelong commitment to improving the lives of Indigenous communities has left a profound impact on the nation.
All members of the Daily Publications Society (DPS), publisher of The McGill Daily and Le Délit, are cordially invited to its Annual General Assembly:
Wednesday, October 2nd @ 6:00 pm McGill University Centre, 3480 Rue McTavish, Room 107
The general assembly will elect the DPS Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 year.
DPS Directors meet at least once a month to discuss the management of both Le Délit and The McGill Daily and get to vote on important decisions related to the DPS’s activities.
protecting our women, uplifting all families affected by gendered violence, and ensuring that those who commit such terrible, racially motivated, and hateful acts are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” she concluded.
Grand Chief Merrick was also vocal in reforming the child welfare system in Manitoba, where roughly 90 per cent of kids in care are Indigenous. The
“Her courage, leadership, and dedication will forever inspire us. As we move forward, we will honour her legacy and continue the work she began. Today, we mourn the loss of an irreplaceable leader, advocate, and dear friend,” said the AMC.
The annual financial statements and the report of the public accountant are available at the office of the DPS and any member may, on request, obtain a copy free of charge.
Dr. Laara Fitznor Urges Universities to Feature Indigenous Perspectives in Education at Indigenous Awareness Week Talk
Fitznor promotes empowering future generations of Indigenous students
Jasper Menagh News Contributor
Kicking off the first day of Indigenous Awareness week, McGill’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives hosted Dr. Laara Fitznor for her talk entitled “Engaging Indigenous Philosophies and Practices for Mutual Respect and Leadership across University Landscapes” on September 9. At her conference, she spoke about Indigenous inclusion at Canadian universities and what can be done to advance this cause.
Fitznor is a longtime advocate for Indigenous perspectives and ideas in the classroom. She has worked with the University of Manitoba and the University of Toronto to expand positions and programs dedicated to Indigenous education. Her work was recently published in Land as Relation: Teaching and Learning through Place, People, and Practices for her essay focused on the importance of Indigenous stories and land rights to teaching in a way that supports the next generations of Indigenous students.
She has emphasized the importance of dedicated teams led by Indigenous people. Her belief is that universities must “ensure there’s a strong administrative support,” and if a team focused on Indigenous education “doesn’t have equal profile to other units, bring up that profile.”
Indigenous Awareness Week at McGill is a reminder of the work that Montreal universities must do to uplift Indigenous students and faculty. Over the summer, McGill announced a new tuition initiative that would cover educational finances for its Indigenous students, and just last week, Concordia University followed suit by revealing its
own plans to waive tuition for Indigenous students in most degree programs.
In reaction to these shifts, Fitznor stressed that championing Indigenous ideas and implementing supportive policies should happen at every level. Describing her time as a lecturer at the University of Manitoba, she highlighted the motivation her faculty had for creating progress and how this spurred important change.
“We shouldn’t have to wait for the province to tell us to do this,” Fitznor urged. “Let’s do it because it’s the right thing to do for the heart and the body of the land.”
Fiznor’s concept of “change” refers to the gains that not only educational institutions must make, but also broader, societal shifts towards a future that rewrites its colonial history. Fitznor believes that such changes should happen at all levels of influence, from students to the highest levels of government. Student involvement can look like taking classes that emphasize Indigenous perspectives. At the faculty level, this means making sure every student has access to coursework that engages with Indigenous ideas and practices. In terms of subject material that students learn at their universities, Fitznor believes being truly educated on Indigenous intersectionality is to “make sure that for every discipline there should be aboriginal perspectives of that discipline.”
Not every program currently emphasizes this at McGill. For Sophie Ou, a McGill accounting student who attended the event, Indigenous education rarely comes up in her courses.
“In my faculty right now, it’s a lot of internships, a lot of networking,” Ou described. “If
I hadn’t had that push from my professor, then I wouldn’t have been able to experience this very moving moment where I get to learn more.”
Ou attended the event for a course assignment, but expressed that it made her want to continue to learn about Indigenous education beyond her coursework.
Additionally, Manola Sob, a McGill psychology student who also attended the lecture, underscored that events like this inspire her to take action.
“It makes me want to learn more and do more,” Sob said.
In Canada, non-Indigenous youth were nearly twice as likely to complete a university degree compared to Indigenous youth as of 2023. To Fitznor, much of the disparity in education relates to a lack of representation of Indigenous topics in the classroom.
“How do we get the university to change if we don’t know who we are?” Fitznor questioned, in reference to the lack of space for
Photos courtesy of the McGill Daily Archives
conversations about Indigenous identity in university spaces that often exists.
Otsi’tsaken:ra, a faithkeeper, started the event by sharing Indigenous teachings and explaining how they are integral to Indigenous rights and representation going forward.
“What we do today will affect our children seven generations in the future,” he said, echoing generations of Elders.
As it is McGill’s 14th Indigenous Awareness Week, Otsi’tsaken:ra described the importance of events like this at universities considering the historical erasure of Indigenous perspectives.
“I’m just happy that they’re doing something like this,”
Otsi’tsaken:ra reflected. “For 100 years, nobody cared, including universities.”
Otsi’tsaken:ra has spoken at Montreal universities for decades. He says that speaking about Indigenous ways expands knowledge. For the future, he emphasized the power of spreading awareness.
“Keep talking about our ways, keep sharing the knowledge,” Otsi’tsaken:ra emphasized. “Keep feeling the feeling of what our ways talk about.”
For Fitznor, impact is paramount for creating a better future for Indigenous education.
“Don’t just come and listen,” Fitznor advocated. “What do you do with what you learn?”
“What we do today will affect our children seven generations in the future”
- Otsi’tsaken:ra, faithkeeper
Post-Secondary Institutions’ Efforts in Mitigating Barriers to Education for Indigenous Students
Examining initiatives addressing financial and language barriers for Indigenous students
Mara Gibea News Contributor
As McGill celebrates its 14th Indigenous Awareness Week, post-secondary institutions in Montreal are taking steps toward addressing disparities for Indigenous students in higher education. This is particularly evident in Concordia’s tuition exemption, announced last month, and the Dawson Student Union’s petition to exempt Indigenous students from Law 14.
These actions reflect the efforts to address the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s ninth call to action, where the federal government reports on the fiscal parity in education. They also address the need to close the education gap for Indigenous students and nonIndigenous students, including Indigenous students on and off reservations, as exhibited in the eighth call to action.
Starting this fall, Concordia will be addressing the 10th call of adequately funding education for Indigenous students. McGill announced a similar policy in June where the university would cover tuition fees for Indigenous students from nearby First Nation communities. However, Concordia is the first to implement its policy across the province. In this policy, the school mitigates fiscal barriers to post-secondary education by exempting Indigenous students in Quebec from tuition fees. This includes those who live remotely, such as in fly-in communities, as well as those inhabiting urban
communities. Canadian postsecondary institutions outside Quebec have implemented similar tuition waivers, notably Humber College, the University of Toronto, and the University of Waterloo.
While fiscal barriers to educational equity are being reduced, the same cannot be said in terms of language. Last month, the student union at Dawson College (DSU), an English-language CEGEP, petitioned for the exemption of Indigenous students from the additional language requirements enforced by Law 14.
According to this law, all students enrolled in an anglophone CEGEP must take an exit exam in French and take additional French courses, deterring Indigenous students from pursuing postsecondary studies according to the DSU. These requirements force Indigenous students to choose between attending these post-secondary institutions or learning and preserving their own languages and cultural identities.
Mia Fischlin, the Administrative Student Affairs Coordinator in the Indigenous Studies Program, further affirmed that settlers imposed their languages on Indigenous peoples and “under no circumstances should another colonial language still be enforced.” Considering many Indigenous students are learning French as their third language, they face additional barriers compared to their francophone and anglophone peers. Many Indigenous students say they will not continue employing the language after graduation as they plan to return to their
“[U]nder no circumstances should another colonial language still be enforced.”
- Mia Fischlin, Indigenous Studies Program Administrative Student Affairs Coordinator
communities or work in Indigenous organizations. Thus, as French may not coincide with their future professional and cultural paths, “learning French, for many Indigenous people, is a form of assimilation,” Fischlin said.
Other barriers to Indigenous youth’s involvement in CEGEP include Law 14’s admissions cap and prioritization of students with certificates to be taught in English. While Indigenous students may be exempt from the language exam, it is unlikely that they can avoid additional French courses, demonstrating the Bill’s lack of Indigenous consultation regarding equitable exemptions. This lack of awareness of the plurality in our education system was exemplified in Fischlin’s account of her time at McGill, where Indigenous peoples such as her own family members were excluded from academic discourses due to their time in residential schools. These institutions were created by the church and the Canadian government to assimilate generations of Indigenous children into a homogenous Canadian population. As a result, Indigenous students face different obstacles than their peers which extend to post-secondary education, a discrepancy that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission addresses.
Moreover, the Dawson Student Union plans to take their petition to exempt Indigenous students from Law 14’s language requirements to the National Assembly of Quebec. Criticism of the law has also stemmed from other English CEGEP institutions who have contacted Quebec Premier François Legault to address these discrepancies in consultation with Indigenous peoples. This exemplifies the need in Quebec’s bilingualism to address the plurality of Indigenous peoples in the province.
According to Fischlin, it is important to “account [for] the reality of all the people living in so-called Canada.” Until then, she believes our education system remains an extension of settlercolonialism as it “overwhelmingly favours settler histories.”
Sena Ho | News Editor
Mobilizing Collectively to Tackle Indigenous Homelessness
Talking with leaders of the Native Women’s Shelter and Resilience Montreal
India Mosca Managing Editor
Tiohtià:ke/Montreal is grappling with a worsening housing crisis. A recent report reveals a staggering 44 per cent increase in Quebec’s homeless population between 2018 and 2022, with Montreal being the most affected. These figures, however, don’t capture the full scope, as they do not account for ‘invisible’ or ‘hidden’ homelessness. Indigenous people are among the most represented populations experiencing homelessness. The report, published by Quebec’s public health institute (INSPQ), shows that 13 per cent of the people surveyed identified themselves as Indigenous, even though they represent 2.5 per cent of the population in Quebec.
As the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation approaches, and with McGill hosting its annual Indigenous Awareness weeks, The Daily decided to focus on the precarious housing situation for Indigenous residents in Montreal. We looked at the shortcomings of institutional and government measures, systematic discrimination, and the work of several organizations providing services to Indigenous homeless populations.
Delving into the failures of institutional and governmental responses, reinforces the understanding that colonial legacies and ongoing systematic discrimination continue to increase the risk of homelessness for Indigenous peoples. There are very limited services dedicated specifically to Indigenous peoples experiencing homelessness. The Daily had the chance to interview Na’kuset, the executive director of Native Women Shelter, and David Chapman, the executive director of Resilience Montreal, two Montreal-based organizations leading numerous initiatives and projects to help indigenous communities.
Assessing the Indigenous Homelessness crisis in Montreal
Montreal’s homeless population, totaling 4,690, is the largest in Quebec. Indigenous people are overrepresented in this number. While only making up 0.6 per cent of the
city’s population, Indigenous peoples represent approximately 12 per cent of Montreal’s visible unhoused population. Indigenous people experiencing homelessness in Montreal also tend to be underserved by shelter and transitional housing systems and experience more long-term and cyclical homelessness.
The issue goes well beyond numbers. In their April 2024 report Eyes Wide Open, the Montreal Indigenous Community NETWORK defines Indigenous homelessness as “the historic and ongoing displacement, geographic separation, mental disruption, imbalance, cultural genocide and spiritual disconnection experienced by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis individuals, families, and communities,” in addition to “[their] state of lacking permanent, stable, and/ or basic living conditions.” While aspects of this specific form of homelessness overlap with traditional material precarity, it is inextricably linked to the legacy of historically constructed and ongoing settler colonialism and racism. For generations, these systemic forces have displaced and dispossessed First Nations, Métis and Inuit people from their traditional governance systems and laws, territories, histories, worldviews, and ancestors.
Roots of Indigenous Homelessness
Today’s exclusion of Indigenous people from housing has its roots in systemic and institutional marginalization and discrimination, trickling down from Canada’s colonial history and government policy failures. The enduring impact of colonial policies, such as the Indian Act and the 1975 James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, has disrupted Indigenous communities, displacing them from their traditional lands and undermining their cultural and governance structures. The legacy of residential schools play a significant role in perpetuating homelessness among Indigenous peoples. Intergenerational trauma has disrupted family structures and community cohesion, contributing to the instability and vulnerability that often leads to homelessness.
Other causes include failures of social systems, including thorough overrepresentation in the criminal justice and prison systems and child welfare programs. Together with other failures–such as economic barriers, bad living conditions (approximately 75 per cent of reserves have contaminated water), insufficient educational structures, these factors push Indigenous people to move to urban centers such as Montreal. However, the high influx of people faced with inaccessible housing and a limited supply of appropriate services leads to the augmentation of homelessness.
Addressing the factors leading to Indigenous people experiencing homelessness requires long-term systemic change, including repairing the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization, providing culturally appropriate support services and preventative initiatives, and creating opportunities for Indigenous communities to thrive culturally, socially, and economically. Though much of the burden falls on the government, this is first and foremost a human and community responsibility.
When discussing the causes of Indigeous homelessness,
David Chapman, the executive director of Resilience Montreal, told the Daily that “the 100 years of cultural genocide through residential schools where Indigenous people lost their language and culture very intentionally [was clearly] a policy of the Canadian government.” He notes that “as people suffer the implications of this loss, it makes them more susceptible to things like addiction, for example, social problems, family breakdowns and violence. So, of course, there’s a reason why there’s such a high concentration of Indigenous peoples on the streets of Montral.” Chapman concludes that “part of the challenge is educating people on the history of genocide in Canada and when they are a little bit educated, it does help when you’re trying to implement new resources.”
What initiatives have been developed to tackle this critical issue?
In 2020, the city of Montreal launched its 2020-2025 strategy for reconciliation with the Indigenous peoples. Among the objectives stated are “Support the urban Indigenous community”,
Elaine Yang | Features Editor
“Improve the feeling of safety of Indigenous people in Montreal”, and “Support the economic development of Indigenous peoples in Montreal”. With 2025 just a few months away, are we anywhere near reaching those objectives?
Continued institutional abuses, compounded by the Government’s inability to help improve the living conditions of Indigenous communities in urban settings such as Montreal, forced local initiatives to step up to the challenge. Created in 1987, the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal (NWSM) is the only shelter in the city to provide support for First Nation, Inuit and Metis women and their children. The NWSM provides a safe space for Indigenous women and their children to heal and build better futures. Through support services and programs tailored to specific needs, they aim to accompany these women towards independence and foster empowerment. The Daily spoke with Na’kuset, the executive director of NWSM since 2004. She notes that the shelter has “programming specifically for Indigenous women who come to spend time with us. Each person who comes in is assigned a support worker, and each week we are updating to see how
“There needs to be more spaces like the Native Women’s Shelter because we are exclusively the only Indigenous shelter that serves Indigenous women and their children.”
- Na’kuset
the progress is helping them in everything that they need. And then we have the outside project, like the Cabot Square. So we go over and above to help the Indigenous population, but the demand is high of course.”
With the increasing demand in recent years, existing resources have not been able to provide sufficient support to everyone. This has also caused people to find shelter in unsafe places. Homeless Indigenous women are particularly affected, facing gender-based violence in addition to a lack of material support. “There needs to be more spaces like the Native Women’s Shelter because we are exclusively the only Indigenous shelter that serves Indigenous women and their children. No one else does that,” Na’kuset told the Daily.
She then added that “every woman who comes in has different issues. It’s not like just painting everyone with the same brush, right? We accept them when they come in, and then we find the appropriate resources for them. We support them with what they need, and we accompany them because there are issues with all the institutions, whether it be education, whether it be hospitals, whether it be welfare, whether it be finding housing. There’s always challenges. We actually get used to it. But when we support the women, we go with them because they shouldn’t have to deal with it for themselves. And when you have a staff that accompanies them, then that door gets jammed open, which is what we want.”
Last June, Resilience Montreal held a memorial to honour the lives of over 30 homeless people who have died since 2021. Chapman observed that “when
you look at the photos, about half of the people who’ve died–who’ve used our services in the last few years – have been young Indigenous women.”
First founded in 2019 by the Native Women’s Shelter, Resilience Montreal has established itself as an independent day shelter. The organization provides basic need services, including three meals a day, showers, and hygiene, as well as Intervention Services such as Indigenous-centered wellness services, government documentation assistance, and a housing program.
Challenges to carrying out efficient services
“What’s interesting to me is that people love the idea of accessible services to unhoused populations. In theory, this is a very popular idea that people will support. The problem lies in trying to implement these accessible services. And the problem is no one wants a homeless resource in their neighborhood.It’s worse than that, when you try to implement a homeless resource, sometimes not only will neighbors try to block you but some may even try to sue you. In fact and in fact right now there’s a class action lawsuit in the Plateau,” explained Chapman to the Daily Class action suits have been brought by neighbours and nearby business owners against Hotel Dieu hospital on St-Urbain Street (serving as a shelter since 2021) and the Open Door Montreal shelter on Park Avenue.
“They’re suing for 25.000$ per citizen for diminished quality of life,” added Chapman. Resilience Montreal has faced similar issues in the past years.
Cohabitation is one of the biggest challenges faced by organizations helping homeless people. Class actions such as this one are also a reminder that difficulties don’t solely come from the government, but also fellow citizens.
Chapman elaborated on this, saying that “everyone’s demanding their rights. One of the challenges is to have a bigger conversation in human society about, what does collective human flourishing look like, you know? Instead of these human rights standoffs, which is what we’re looking at right now, and it’s growing in Montreal.” He then added that efforts went beyond pointing fingers at the government.
“What’s hard to come to terms with is that we talk about the precarity of services for Indigenous women, for Indigenous peoples in general, in the city of Montreal. Yet in trying to move forward and
implement these services you’re always given many obstacles and frequently you just can’t succeed,” said Chapman before adding that “I’ve had this conversation with people where I’ve explained that by blocking homeless resources from your neighborhood, you’re just going to have more unnecessary deaths of unhoused persons. Unfortunately it’s a sad reality but your average citizen doesn’t care, and governments don’t care because your average citizen doesn’t care.”
On September 30, the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, citizens of Montreal must ask themselves, what sacrifice should we be able to make for healing and efficient solutions to occur?
Discussing the ninth anniversary of the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Na’kuset told the Daily that “the TRCs were created for institutions, and for institutions to apply, which they don’t, and nobody’s forcing them to. So although it may be a government thing, I would say it’s across the board for people to choose not to apply them. [...] There’s many different ways that social services or youth protection could amend their ways, but they don’t do it. So everyone is ignoring these recommendations that they’re supposed to implement, and the government, again, is not doing anything to enforce it. So it’s pretty distressing that we continue to be ignored.”
Emerging new initiatives and hope for healing process to take place
Although both Na’kuset and David Chapman highlighted the dire circumstances faced by Indigenous peoples and the limitations of the organizations trying to assist them, they also
spoke about emerging initiatives that offer signs of hope. Na’kuset mentioned the new two stage housing program launched by the Native Women’s Shelter, Miyoskamin.
New initiatives include the Mitshuap near Cabot Square, which has recently opened its doors for homeless people to find refuge. It is the first urban shelter created and run by Indigenous people. Chapman explained how it was an initiative by the Innu Nation in response to the tragic death of Raphaël André, an Innu man who froze to death in an outdoor public toilet in January 2021. At the time, homeless people had to hide during the night because if they were found by the police, they would receive a $1,000 fine.
“This example is a representation of Indigenous leadership resurgence, where in the past Indigenous leaders living on reserves would not involve themselves in the processes of larger cities. But there’s been an Indigenous resurgence in Quebec and other parts of Canada as well, and we’re seeing a new pattern of Indigenous leaders taking more initiative to make sure that their community members are well treated in urban centers and I think this is a good sign. I think we’re going to see more and more Indigenous-led initiatives in urban centers and this will be part of the healing process,” expressed Chapman as a sign of hope.
Efforts and work towards healing and restoring dignity to Indigenous peoples is going to take a long time; even if the city were to approve the building of new centres, they would take years to build. But efforts are there, and people need to continue contributing to organizations such as Resilience Montreal and the Native Women’s Shelter.
“There’s a reason why we call Resilience Montreal, Resilience Montreal, and it’s because
“There’s been an Indigenous resurgence in Quebec and other parts of Canada as well, and we’re seeing a new pattern of Indigenous leaders taking more initiative to make sure that their community members are well treated in urban centers and I think this is a good sign.”
- David Chapman
obviously we’re recognizing the strength of the people we’re working with and we’re recognizing their resilience,” concluded Chapman.
Getting more involved as students and residents of Montreal
The issue of Indigenous homelessness should be of the utmost priority in government policy-making. It should also be part of the citizen’s responsibility to work towards healing and restoring dignity to the Indigenous peoples.
“Volunteering is a great way to set an example of how societies can look at solving the challenges we face collectively. With people who are afraid of a new homeless community,or project in their neighborhood, if they would just come in and actually volunteer in a homeless resource for a few days somewhere, they would find that many of their fears are reduced,” said Chapman. Resilience Montreal has daily volunteering shifts, where the main tasks include either assisting in the kitchen, service or working in the clothes distribution section of the shelter.
“Students should try to do fundraising initiatives for the Native Women’s Shelter, they should show up when we have vigils, they should show up when we have marches, said Na’kuset. “They should find a way of trying to challenge the institutions that are not applying the recommendations for the TRC, asking them why they’re not doing it. Who does it serve when you don’t apply them?”
The NWSM is organizing the Every Child Matters: A Day of Action for Truth and Reconciliation March in partnership with Pop Montreal and the David Suzuki Foundation. The rally will start at 1 p.m. in Parc Mont Royal.
Indigenous housing precarity has been ignored for too long. It is necessary to move beyond a competition of rights and privileges that sets a dynamic of us versus them. We must strengthen bonds between individuals and communities and tackle this issue as a collective community, because it is a matter of common good.
Shawnee Kish’s New MustListen Single “Reclaim” A powerful reflection on Indigenous resilience
Scarlett El Rafaie Culture Contributor
“ Unashamed, I take back my story in all of its glory. Oh I reclaim.”
Powerful words from a powerful artist.
Attention all McGillian music lovers – Mohawk singersongwriter Shawnee Kish has released her latest single “Reclaim.” This empowering anthem details Kish’s journey of resilience and healing in reclaiming her sense of self, and has yet again served as a demonstration of why her work deserves a spot on your current playlist. “Reclaim” is a window into Kish’s personal experience with embracing her heritage. Her journey in transforming suffering into strength is embedded within the song’s powerful lyricism. “Reclaim” highlights the intricacies of the Indigenous experience in contemporary society and serves as a rallying call for the reclamation of Indigenous stories. Kish’s moving and soulful voice commands for past narratives to be redefined into stories of pride and perseverance that must be listened to.
As we observe McGill’s 14th annual Indigenous Awareness Weeks, running from September 19 through October 2, the significance of Kish’s message becomes even more apparent. Celebrated at McGill since 2011, Indigenous Awareness Weeks have fostered spaces to honour, celebrate, and uplift Indigenous cultures both in and outside of our school community. Through
Culture Editor
genre. They focus on a variety of topics from empowerment, individuality, grief, and acceptance, to love. Kish’s 2024 single “Dear Dad” pays homage to her late father, honouring him through a touching and heartfelt piece. The song opens with an overlay of an old recording of her father’s voice, setting the tone for a capsule-like composition that memorializes her father’s impact, while showing the ongoing place he holds in her heart. This is all followed by her most recent release “Reclaim:” an essential example of voicing the stories of Indigenous strength and resiliency.
It was through singing and songwriting that during her experience with depression, Kish was able to navigate mental health struggles and find a renewed sense of strength. Kish’s vulnerability in her lyrics, evident in her latest EP Revolution, offers a space for reflection to listeners who have gone through, or are currently going through similar experiences.
McGill’s Annual Pow Wow, the Lacrosse Legacy Game, and a farmer’s market contributed to and presented by Indigenous artisans and artists. You can also participate by incorporating more Indigenous artists into your daily life. By spotlighting artists like
hosting events, welcoming guest speakers, and providing opportunities for engagement, these Indigenous Awareness Weeks call to mind the significance and value in recognizing Indigenous perspectives and contributions both to our school, and to our community at large. I would highly recommend that you keep up with the events offered by McGill’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Some of these events from the past few weeks included
Kish, who provide avenues to gain an understanding of Indigenous perspectives, we amplify voices and histories integral to our ongoing work towards understanding and reconciliation.
Accoladed as a “Musician You Need to Know” by Billboard, it is clear that Shawnee Kish is not an artist to miss. Originally from Welland Ontario, Kish is a twospirit singer and lyricist now based in Alberta. Growing up, music had a great impact on Kish in providing space for emotional release and solace in times of darkness. It was through singing and songwriting that during her experience with depression, Kish was able to navigate mental health struggles and find a renewed sense of strength. Kish’s vulnerability in her lyrics, evident in her latest EP Revolution, offers a space for reflection to listeners who have gone through, or are currently going through similar experiences. I’m sure we can all attest to the fact that connecting with art – music in particular – in times of sadness provides profound comfort. We feel listened to. We feel understood. We feel we are not alone.
When interviewed on the intention behind sharing such personal experiences with her
listeners, Kish expressed that using her music as a vessel is her purpose and strength. She added:
“All of the sudden I had this [...] purpose [...] ‘I can share what I’ve been through, I can share what I’ve gone through’ and that is a reason to be here. That is my strength.”
Shawnee Kish has been professionally sharing her music with the world since early 2021. In just four years time, Kish has garnered over 10,000 monthly
Kish’s music is a powerful, soulful mix of contemporary pop and rock. Her 11 singles stick true to this genre. They focus on a variety of topics from empowerment, individuality, grief, and acceptance, to love.
listeners on Spotify and released a total of 13 projects encompassing everything from singles to EPs. Her debut and self-titled EP Shawnee Kish, released in 2021, contains six tracks that successfully introduce her style and sound. Kish’s music is a powerful, soulful mix of contemporary pop and rock. Her 11 singles stick true to this
Shawnee Kish’s work has caught the ears of critics and listeners worldwide, leaving her with many awards. Kish won CBC’s 2020 Searchlight talent competition and was named by MTV as one of North America’s Top Gender Bending Artists. Her critically acclaimed work led her to being nominated for the 2022 JUNO’s Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year, with two more JUNO nominations in the categories of Contemporary Indigenous Artist Of The Year and Adult Alternative Album Of The Year for her 2023 EP Revolution Kish’s dedication in the studio extends to her advocacy work, particularly in the sectors of mental health, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQ+ awareness. In 2023, Kish participated in a recording of “What I Wouldn’t Do,” a charity single by Serena Ryder released to support the Kids Help Phone’s Feel Out Loud campaign for youth mental health. In addition to this, she created and performed “Music Is My Medicine,” with the National Arts Centre Orchestra for Undisrupted – a CBC Gem series that showcases the talents, struggles, and stories of Indigenous youth. Ultimately, I hope this quick snippet into Shawnee Kish’s brilliance has given you more than enough reason as to why she should be on your listening radar. Her passionate lyricism in partnership with her powerful voice and authentic messages deem her an accomplished artist not-to-be-missed, with a promising future ahead.
Eliana Freelund |
culture 11 September 30, 2024
mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily
Mapping Indigenous Stories at Mont-Royal
A review of the Tiohtià:ke: Mapping Indigenous Stories podcast launch
Raymond Johnson-Brown Culture Contributor
Jamais Lu, in collaboration with Musique Nomade, has built a pathway into restoration with their latest project, Tiohtià:ke: Mapping Indigenous Stories. Under the artistic direction of Alexia Vinci, this initiative highlights the rich Indigenous heritage of Tiohtià:ke (Montreal) through the words of Indigenous authors, allowing us to connect not just to the stories but to the land itself as a living entity.
I had the privilege of attending the performance celebrating the launch on September 21, in which an actor and team of volunteers led us up Mont-Royal, immersing us in the stories that form the heart of this project. But it wasn’t just about hearing the words; it was about feeling them through every step we took, with the earth beneath us and the sky above, making the experience deeply meaningful.
As we gathered at the MordecaiRichler Pavilion, we were met by volunteers wearing orange T-shirts –a reminder of the legacy of residential schools and a commitment to the promise that every child matters. The pavilion had been filled with bannock, jams, and homemade berry punch for attendees. There was an openness in the air – people were
sharing stories of what brought them to the event, and why these kinds of gatherings are so important. As for me, I took a moment to acknowledge the power of community: of coming together not just to witness, but to meaningfully engage in something larger than ourselves. During the launch, I had the chance to speak with the artistic director Alexia Vinci, and explore
our shared Mi’kmaq identities. There’s something deeply grounding about those kinds of chance encounters – discovering similarities and differences between my being from Millbrook, and Alexia from Gespeg. We reflected on our variety of experiences, and how that diversity of perspective has enriched our collective understanding of what it means to be Indigenous on these lands. We found that these stories are present in all Indigenous peoples who call this place home.
I especially appreciated how the Tiohtià:ke: Mapping Indigenous Stories project honours both our land-based traditions and our oral histories, weaving the two together throughout various texts. These texts, written by six different Indigenous authors, offer perspectives on Tiohtià:ke/Montreal that challenge what we might know about these lands. Following earlier iterations in 2022 and 2023, the project has now expanded into a podcast series, co-produced with Musique Nomade. As of September 21 two podcasts, Sous les branches du pin blanc (Under the Branches of the White Pine) from Moira-Uashteskun Bacon and L’étoile du jour (The Star of the Day) from Jocelyn Sioui, are available online for all to experience. (But even so, there’s something special about hearing them while being on the very land they speak about that can’t quite be matched.)
Our journey up Mont-Royal was more than a walk; it reminded me of land-based ceremonies at home. As we moved between stops, we listened
to the actor give voice to the stories from the second podcast – Jocelyn Sioui’s L’étoile du jour (The Star of the Day). Even when I couldn’t grasp every word due to the language barrier, the tone and raw emotion of the actor’s performance transcended
about their respective roles in reconciliation. Relationships and connections are essential to our worldview, and this experience showed me just how much can be gained from these spaces – how storytelling and connection can foster new understandings and growth amidst fractured relations.
Although the live performances introducing this project are over, the podcasts are still available to be listened to at any time. I would encourage listening to them while walking through your own landscapes – whether up MontRoyal like we did, or through any place that holds meaning for you. There’s power in engaging with these stories while moving physically across the land, allowing them to shape your experience in real time.
As an Indigenous anglophone in Quebec, I often feel like I’m navigating two worlds. There’s a duality to my experience here, and one that can feel isolating at times. But projects like Tiohtià:ke: Mapping Indigenous Stories remind me that there is strength in choosing to participate in these collective events anyway, even when I couldn’t fully understand the language of
I would encourage listening to [these podcasts] while walking through your own landscapes – whether up Mont-Royal like we did, or through any place that holds meaning for you. There’s power in engaging with these stories while moving physically across the land, allowing them to shape your experience in real time.
language and I felt connected to something much deeper – something that spoke to the land, to our shared histories, and to the invisible threads that braid us all together.
While I had the privilege of being accompanied by a fellow, bilingual McGill student who helped translate parts of the text, it’s clear that these performances weren’t merely to be heard, but to be felt. You don’t need perfect linguistic comprehension to engage with them: sometimes, letting go of the need to understand every word opens you up to a fuller experience, as I felt it did in my case.
Another important aspect of the experience was connecting with other attendees who were not Indigenous. It was powerful to hear their reflections on how this project impacted them and
the performance. There is power in sitting with discomfort, in letting the land and the stories speak to us in ways that go beyond words. Sovereignty, after all, is not just about asserting our rights over land – it’s about Indigenous people reclaiming our right to experience and engage fully with the world around us. By connecting with these podcasts, you wouldn’t just be listening to stories: you’ll be actively participating in an act of restoring sovereignty, an act of connection – an act of healing. So take a walk, listen to their stories, and see what they awaken in you: moment by moment, story by story.
To listen to both podcasts, visit www.nikamowin.com.
Raymond Johnson-Brown | Visuals Contributor
Courtesy of Jamais Lu and Musique Nomade
Indigenous Awareness Weeks Media Recommendations
The McGill Daily editorial board recommends...
POETRY COLLECTION – TheWhiteWampum by E. Pauline Johnson (Tekahionwake)
Originally published in 1895, this collection of 36 poems is a true gem of Indigenous-Canadian literature. E. Pauline Johnson (Tekahionwake) paints a hauntingly beautiful picture of Mohawk family life at the turn of the century. Johnson draws on themes of memory, motherhood, and memorial to create a rich web of emotional threads that tug on the heart of the reader. These are the kinds of poems that stay with you forever – Johnson’s masterful imagery and distinct authorial voice seem to seep their way into your very soul. I especially recommend “Dawendine,” which skillfully uses epiphora to add complexity to the idea of the titular “white wampum.”
–
Eliana Freelund, Culture Editor
When the
BOOK - Kukum by Michel Jean
“Kukum,” meaning “grandmother” in Cree, is a heartfelt story by Michel Jean, recounting the life of his grandmother, Almanda Siméon. An orphan raised by her aunt and uncle, Almanda defies cultural boundaries by falling in love with a young Innu man. She chooses to share her life with the Pekuakami Innu community. The story follows Almanda as she integrates the Innu community, the beautiful descriptions of their expeditions in the mountains, but also the tragic interuption of their livelyhoods by colonial endevours and loss of their land and confinement to reserves. This is a journey that Michel Jean tenderly brings to life in this touching narrative.
– India Mosca, Managing Editor
This book is on the reading list of the McGill Daily, recommended by Christopher Reid. When The Pine Needles Fall was published this month, telling the perspective of Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel, who was the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) spokesperson during the siege of 1990 of Kanehsatà:ke and Kahnawà:ke. Written in conversation between Indigenous land defender, human rights activist, and feminist leader Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel and the historian Sean Carleton, it offers an in-depth and personal narrative of the violent events that unfolded in 1990 and reflects Indigenous relations to their land. It’s also a call to action against both colonialism and capitalism as we face the climate crisis.
– Editorial Board
Haudenosaunee writer Alicia Elliott reflects on her life experiences growing up in Six Nations, examining how the themes such as generational trauma, mental illness, poverty, parenthood, and love have shaped her life. This memoir describes not only Elliott’s life, but offers insight into many common experiences shared by other Indigenous women. Elliott is a masterful storyteller whose writing draws you into the compelling story of her life and its intersections with larger systemic issues.
– Emma Bainbridge, Coordinating Editor
Jaune Quick-to-See Smith reimagines modernist art traditions through Indigenous art styles. Her work, much of which is collage-inspired, incorporates techniques utilized often in Indigenous artwork, such as print-making and petroglyphs. Modern media, layered texts, and commercial slogans are often woven in her work as well to provide socio-political commentaries on the past and present colonial abuse, inspired in part by her personal experience. We are often exposed to the modernist style through a Western lens, but Smith’s take on this art movement exposes and contextualizes the traditionally white and privileged foundations of many popularized styles. Her artwork was presented at the Whitney Museum of American Art as a part of her “Jaune Quick-to-See Smith: Memory Map” exhibition last summer. This collection displays some of her most salient creations that transcend common discussions about American Pop art and neoexpressionism.
– Sena Ho, News Editor
BOOK -
Pine Needles Fall: Indigenous Acts of Resistance by Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel, with Sean Carleton
BOOK – A Mind Spread Out OnThe Ground by Alicia Elliott
