Unsettled: Journeys in Truth and Conciliation
Unsettled: Journeys in Truth and Conciliation builds upon the 94 calls to action of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, from the perspectives of Indigenous cohost Jessica Vandenberghe, settler cohost George Lee, and their Indigenous and settler guests. We start from the belief that conciliation in Canada is an ongoing project, individually and collectively, as the country moves beyond colonial thinking to build a nation of nations—one free of racist, pro-assimiliation policies, and one that honours treaties and other commitments to Indigenous peoples. Want to keep the conversation going? Donate here: https://ko-fi.com/unsettledjourneys
Episodes
35 episodes
S4 E6: Diversity Destigmatized—How an Online Universe Celebrates Our Differences and Decolonizes Our Thinking, feat. Nicole Weatherly
Nicole Weatherly's deep connection to the art and genius of her brother, his challenges and his unique essence underpin the space for change she's created under the banner Superstar X.Cohosts Jessica Vandenberghe and George Lee talk wit...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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1:09:25
S4 E5: International Relations—How Colonial Laws Often (But Not Always) Fail Indigenous Communities and the Environment, feat. Deborah Curran
Deborah Curran's passion for the environment flows through her psyche and the work she does as a lawyer, an academic and a consultant."If you met me in my 15-year-old self and drew a line, it would be pretty straight to where I am today...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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1:09:30
S4 E4: The Afterlife of a Family Lie Gives Rise to a Powerful Mohawk Voice, feat. Tom Wilson CM
About 10 years ago, a stranger unwittingly revealed facts about Tom Wilson's adoption, pointing the singer and guitarist with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings towards life-changing truths about his identity.His origins had been hidden from him f...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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44:03
S4 E3: Ancestral Advice—Wolastoqiyik Musician Taps Culture and Language for Inspiration, feat. Mike Bern of Tobique First Nation
When your ancestors speak to you, you should probably listen. And in Mike Bern's case, that means using his talent and voice to honour them, his culture, and the loved ones he's lost.The folk rocker from Tobique First Nation in New Brun...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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48:13
S4 E2: The Fentanyl Crisis—A Kainai Woman's Survival Guide for Families and Communities, feat. Ramona Big Head
Renowned Blackfoot educator Ramona Big Head talks about overdoses and other tragedies, the ripple effect of residential school abuses through generations and families, and hope.Recent deaths in her community and family "knocked me of...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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1:28:53
S4 E1: From Trauma to Song—How Women and Community Create Musical Magic, feat. Haida-Cree performer Kristi Lane Sinclair
Rooted in her own story of domestic abuse, Kristi Lane Sinclair's album Super Blood Wolf Moon oozes strength, perseverance, pain, and vulnerability. The award-winning Haida-Cree singer-songwriter has released a searing, deeply personal...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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1:03:57
S3 E8: The Trail So Far—A Bridges and Milestones Episode, feat. Jessica Vandenberghe
In our Season 3 finale, Jessica and George look back, look ahead, and look around.Their discussion of how the podcast has affected them and others—and where it might go from here—touches on many of the truth and conciliation chall...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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1:00:45
S3 E7: All Together Now—One Person's Take on the Music, the Spirit, and the Mystery of Who We Are, feat. Kevin John
For musician and luthier Kevin John of Kaslo, B.C., delving into his Indigenous roots is an important part of his own unfolding story. But it's not everything.The full story, he says, is about who the rest of us are, too, and what we ca...
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1:02:47
S3 E6: Dream Job—It Has Special Meaning for One Indigenous Colouring Book Entrepreneur, feat. Diana Frost
Her heart told her she needed to connect her work to helping others and making a difference. Calgarian Diana Frost's dreamscape looked after the rest, giving her a fully formed outline for what her future as a social entrepreneur would look lik...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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1:17:26
S3 E5: The Vocabulary of Conciliation—What's a Language to Do in a Changing Canada? feat. Jessica Vandenberghe
Are the very constructs of English a barrier on Canada's path to becoming a nation of nations?Cohosts Jessica Vandenberghe and George Lee talk about words—how they serve us, how they fail us, and how they reflect and unlock our identiti...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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1:03:14
S3 E4: Ten Resolutions—How to Make 2023 a Year of Truth & Conciliation, feat. Jessica Vandenberghe
Learn, listen, write, share—Jessica Vandenberghe and George Lee chat about these and other ways to make your 2023 a year of truth and conciliation.Study Indigenization and Indigenous history in your community. Listen to an Indigenous radio ...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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52:23
S3 E3: Gifts of Conciliation—The How, What, and Where of Shopping Indigenous, feat. Diana Frost
On the eve of Black Friday, an Indigenous entrepreneur joins co-hosts Jessica Vandenberghe and George Lee to discuss the ins and outs of finding gifts that authentically represent Turtle Island's earliest cultures.Diana Frost, an Algonquin ...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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53:51
S3 E2: The Land, The Home, The Spirit Part 2—A Sixties Scooper Follows 'Threads of Question Marks,' feat. Jessica Vandenberghe
In the second episode of our third season, co-host Jessica Vandenberghe discusses a beautiful and challenging road home. Actually, the July trip took her and her travelling companion, Chris Dennison, through two homelands: the one she ...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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1:21:57
S3 E1: The Land, The Home, The Spirit Part 1—A Sixties Scooper Plans a Trip to Her Home Nation, feat. Jessica Vandenberghe
Our third season launches with co-host Jessica Vandenberghe and her travelling companion Chris Dennison discussing plans for a summer road trip with special meaning.Jessica is a Sixties Scooper, and this will be her first trip to her ...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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1:01:59
S2 E 12: How to Be a Better Canadian—An Ally Gives His Perspective, feat. Darryl Lagerquist
Serious about living in a country that can move beyond its colonial machinations? If so, get out of your comfort zone, take some steps to learn about Canada's Indigenous peoples, and advance your own conciliation journey.Those are some of t...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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1:01:48
S2 E11: The Healing Power of Role Models, Nature, and a Global Perspective, feat. Raylene Whitford
Raylene Whitford has not followed a typical career path. The Edmonton-born Métis woman has trudged around the jungles of Ecuador, the concrete and glass of a five-star hotel in the Middle East, and the corridors of the London Stock Exchange. Oh...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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1:02:02
S2 E10: Living it Forward—An Old Friend Discusses the Role of Culture and Language in His Life, feat. Arnie Baptiste
Co-host George Lee reconnects with a childhood friend from the Syilx, or Okanagan, territory. Arnie Baptiste teaches the Nsyilxcn language for the Penticton Indian Band at Outma Sqilx'w Cultural School. Also featured are cohost Jessica Vandenbe...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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1:12:29
S1 E7 Revisited: From Wagon Trails to a National Utilities Corridor, feat. Steven Vaivada
In this revisted episode, an Indigenous engineer gives his take on creating a better Canada for all its nations and peoples. Jessica and George chat with Steven Vaivada about the roles and approaches of his company, Scout Engineering & Cons...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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1:04:08
S2 E 2 Revisited: Can Indigenous Voices Reshape Anthropology? feat. Lydia Toorenburgh
We're celebrating Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month with a rebroadcast of our October 7, 2021, episode.In this episode Jessica and George chat with Lydia Toorenburgh, a two-spirit Métis student from the University of Victori...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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1:12:25
S2 E7: Our Sophomore Season Continues—A Bridges and Milestones Mini-Episode, feat. Jessica Vandenberghe and George Lee
Co-hosts Jessica Vandenberghe and George Lee reconnect to kick off National Indigenous History Month in Canada and catch up on things they've read and seen, apologies they've heard, and plans they've made for their podcast.
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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33:30
S2 E6: Still Angry After All These Years—A Canadian Punk Iconoclast Shines a Light on Indigenous Issues, feat. Art Bergmann
Anyone who thought the Order of Canada would tame Art Bergmann was wrong. Deeply wrong.The singer-songwriter is as biting and anti-establishment as ever, demonstrated by his latest album, Late Stage Dementia Empire, and his unflinc...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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1:02:33
S2 E5: As the Grave Count Continues to Grow, What's a Country to Do? Accept the Truth and Take Action, Say Two High-Profile Allies, feat. Shawna Bruce and Malcolm Bruce
Canadians need to work with Indigenous communities right now for real change, say two Edmontonians whose experience with Indigenous peoples spans decades and industries.Malcolm Bruce is the CEO of Edmonton Global, the economic development o...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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1:05:35
S2 E4: From the Ashes of 1913—Prince George's Improving Relationship with the First Nation it Wronged, feat. Tracy Calogheros
It took arson for the Indian Agent to force the Lheidli T'enneh people from their village in 1913. But these days the First Nation and Prince George, B.C., are working together to truthfully share their stories—and, while they're at it, build e...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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1:00:48
S2 E3: A Skate Story—Life Just Keeps Getting Better for Cree Actor, feat. Joe Buffalo
The actor Joe Dion Buffalo, from Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis, Alberta, talks about his time at residential school, his path to professional skateboarding, the perseverance of racism in Canada, and the youth charity he cofounded.Joe also...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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54:34
S2 E2: Can Indigenous Voices Reshape Anthropology? feat. Lydia Toorenburgh
Jessica and George talk about colonial attitudes and practices, inside and outside of academia, with a two-spirit, Cree-Métis student from the University of Victoria.Lydia Toorenburgh, who studies anthropology, discusses finding and refinin...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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1:12:03