What is Active History?
ActiveHistory.ca connects the work of historians with the wider public and the importance of the past to current events.
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Andrew Nurse and Roberta Lexier explore how historians work to address current manifestations of right-wing populism.
This is an ongoing series, and they are asking for submissions. Find the submission information at the end of the post:
activehistory.ca/blog/2026/02...In today's post, Bob Joseph looks at his new book, 21 Things™ You Need to Know About Indigenous Self-Government, for the second post in the ongoing Indian Act 150 series.
Make sure to check out this post and the entire series!
Looking Beyond the Indian Act
By Bob Joseph This post is part of the Indian Act 150 series. Bob Joseph’s new book, 21 Things™ You Need to Know About Indigenous Self-Government. This year, 2026, marks 150 years of the Cons…
In today’s post, Meredith J. Batt discusses the importance of using oral history and archival documents together when exploring community history.
Check out this post and the entire Queering Atlantic Canada series!
The power of oral history in piecing together archival fragments documenting 2SLGBTQ+ community histories
Meredith J. Batt P918-1067 Mullins Photography Ltd. fonds, PANB, Fredericton, N.B., October 1998. I have made an error. These are not words that come easily to a historian, when evidence is t…
Katherine Wilson-Smith explores Woodsworth and the settlement movement.
“The Testing Place of our Canadian Citizenship is Going to be Our Cities”: J.S. Woodsworth and the Settlement Movement in Britain and Canada.”
Katherine Wilson-Smith “A View From the Roof of the Residence.” Twenty One Years at Mansfield House, 1890-1911. Plaistow: W. S. Caines, 1911. 1. “From the roof of the Settlement one loo…
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In today’s post Sean Carleton and editors Katie Carson and Sarah Kittilsen introduce a new series that will explore the Indian Act throughout its 150th anniversary.
Indian Act 150: An Introduction
By Katie Carson, Sarah Kittilsen, and Sean Carleton Canada 150—the sesquicentennial celebration of the country’s confederation—was marked with pomp and circumstance, as the Federal Government encou…
Lilia Scudamore explores the NDP’s approach to abortion rights in British Columbia during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Spying and Lying: The Abortion Scandal that Helped Sink the Socreds
By Lilia Scudamore Few Canadian governments — federal or provincial — have been so embroiled in scandal as William “Bill” Vander Zalm’s Social Credit Party (known colloquially as the ‘S…
Samir Shaheen-Hussain (
@samir0s-h.bsky.social) conducts a book review on “Inventing the Thrifty Gene: The Science of Settler Colonialism” by Travis Hay.
Inventing the Thrifty Gene: The Science of Settler Colonialism (book review)
By Samir Shaheen-Hussain The “thrifty gene” has a decades-long history that can be traced back to James V. Neel, an American physician-scientist, considered by many in his field as the “father of m…
Ella Prisco’s second post explores women’s opposition to the Winnipeg General Strike.
Crossing the Line: Women’s Opposition to the Winnipeg General Strike
Ella Prisco This essay is part of a 2-part series. See the other entry here. Women Volunteers at Gas Pumps. May 1919. University of Manitoba Digital Collections. “They have borne the lonely hours…
Aaron Boyes and Sean Graham offer their ‘two cents’ on 1925 for their annual Year in Review (100 Years Later) series!
13th Annual (?) Year in Review (100 Years Later)
By Aaron Boyes & Sean Graham We offer our two cents on the events of 1925. Let us know in the comments what you would have ranked as the year’s top event. It’s hard to believe that we’re …
Today’s post, by Ella Prisco, is the first of a two part series exploring working women and the Winnipeg General Strike.
“We’ll Fight To The End:” Working Women and the Winnipeg General Strike
Ella Prisco This essay is part of a 2-part series. The second post will be published next week. “Girl Strikers Urged to Stand Firm by Unions.” The Winnipeg Tribune, May 26, 1919. De…
Carol F. Lee explores the life of her mother, Mary Quan, and her experience of dual Canadian and Chinese identity.
Between Two Worlds
Author Carol F. Lee explores the writings of her mother Mary Quan Lee, with a focus on her experiences in the 1930s and her sense of dual Canadian and Chinese identity in the 1940s. Lee notes that …
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Today’s post is the last of our Telling Truths about the Settler Colonial Project series. Kristin Burnett and Shannon Stettner explore the role the YWCA played in Indian Hospitals and Residential Schools.
“to take a normal place in the business and social world”: The Work of Women’s Voluntary and Service Associations in Residential Schools and Indian Hospitals
The kinds of assimilatory activities run by the YWCA, and other volunteer associations, were about providing material and ideological support for the Residential School and Indian Hospital system i…
In today’s post Miranda Jimmy explores Indigenous data sovereignty in archives.
This post is part of our Telling Truths about the Settler Colonial Project Series. Make sure to check it out!
Respecting Data Sovereignty Starts With the Stories We Tell About the Past
As I reflect further on archives and western approaches to historical research, it is clear that institutions of colonial memory are consistently used against Indigenous Peoples as a weapon. This u…
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Today’s post, by Evan J. Habkirk and Alanaise Ferguson, explores the responsibilities of churches, dioceses, and settlers in reconciliation.
This post is part of our Telling Truths about the Settler Colonial Project Series, check out the entire series!
Untangling the Web: Church and Public Accountability in National Reconciliation
All Catholic and Protestant churches in Canada need to undertake this painful work of disentangling the spiritual call to service from the presence of imperialism, colonialism, racism, and white su…
Today’s post, by Matthew Dance, explores naming policy in Edmonton.
This post is part of our Telling Truths about the Settler Colonial Project Series, make sure to check out the entire series!
Who decides our place names? Power, Policy, and Memory in Edmonton
Tuck and Yang’s Decolonization is not a metaphor provides an interesting touchpoint to identify a pattern of “settler moves to innocence.” What does this mean, and what is the pattern? As Indigenou…
Today’s post, by Kristin Burnett and Shannon Stettner, is an introduction to a new series exploring truth and reconciliation.
A new post will be published every day this week, make sure to stay tuned in!
Holding Ourselves Accountable: Reconciliation and Truth Telling in a Post Truth World
To date what has become painfully clear is that the responsibility and burden of truth telling has fallen largely on Indigenous Peoples, communities, and Nations. Survivors have been forced to cont…
The latest History of Education Quarterly is now online. In this thread, I'll post non-paywalled versions of the whole issue.
In today’s post, Andrew Nurse explores the repatriation of Indigenous culture, through artifacts, by the Vatican
“An Historic Day”: Concern and Celebration of the Vatican’s Repatriation of Indigenous Culture
By Andrew Nurse On November 15, a media release announced that Pope Leo XIV, following an audience with members of the Canadian Roman Catholic hierarchy, “gifted sixty-two artefacts belonging to th…
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In today’s post Aly Firth explores drag during the First World War through the life of Ross Hamilton from Nova Scotia.
This post is part of our Queering Atlantic Canada series. Check out this post and the entire series!
Duty in Drag: The Life of First World War Drag Star Ross Hamilton
The rich history of drag has strong roots in Atlantic Canada; one notable example being Ross Hamilton, the famed female impersonator from the concert party troupe the Dumbells. During and following…
In today’s post, Avery Monette (
@averymonette.bsky.social) discusses the Nazi occupation of Winnipeg.
The Day Manitoba Fell to Nazi Germany
Avery Monette In the early morning hours of Thursday, February 19, 1942, residents of Winnipeg and the surrounding towns were shaken from their sleep by the sound of air raid sirens. German Luftwaf…
In today’s post, Donald Wright reflects on the life of Jim Miller and his experience with him.
Jim’s Vision: Some Reflections on J.R. Miller
Donald Wright When I learned that Jim Miller had died, I reached out to his partner, Lesley Biggs, to express my condolences. A few weeks later, she invited me to share a few words about him that w…
Call for proposals for the 2026 Atlantic Canada Studies Conference. “From Harbour to Horizon: Recharting Atlantic Canada Studies.”
The 2026 Atlantic Canada Studies Conference
From Harbour to Horizon: Recharting Atlantic Canada Studies The Faculty of Arts at the University of Prince Edward Island is pleased to host the 2026 Atlantic Canada Studies Conference in Charlotte…
In today’s post, Matthew Hurst explores Hong Kong’s colonial history and ongoing challenges accessing archives. This post is written in conversation with two previous posts by June Chow.
Restricted Records: How Hong Kong Communities Lose Out When Archives Stay Closed
Britain colonised Hong Kong in the 19th century through two treaties, which lasted in perpetuity, and a lease, set to expire in 1997. Much research into Hong Kong’s colonial history relies upon rec…
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Inspired by Mi’kmaq History Month Emily Pictou-Roberts and Jess Wilton explore Mi’kmaq queer culture and history for our Queering Atlantic Canada Series.
Queering Mi’kma’ki: Sharing the Story of the Puoinaq
In the Mi’kmaw language, puoin (boo-oh-in) refers to a shaman or witch. In Mi’kmaki — the area we now call Atlantic Canada and parts of Maine and Québec—these puoinaq (plural of puoin) are sa…
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Today’s post, by Michael Dawson, explores Jell-O in Canadian and American history.
Jell-O Comes to Canada: “America’s most famous dessert” and the Politics of Place
During the 1920s, Jell-O advertising in North America focused on both the product’s convenience (the fact that it could be consumed almost anywhere) and its connection with idealized domestic setti…
Julia Grummitt explores historical interpersonal and kinship connections that build the foundation of Northwestern Ontario’s Métis Community.
Métis Kinship in Northwestern Ontario: A Tale of Two Families
Julia Grummitt In the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Métis communities emerged across a region of North America known as the historic North-West. These communities were formed by Indigen…
Nir Hagigi explores the use of social media during conflict and in the midst of violence. This post is part of our Media History series, make sure to check out the rest of it!
Read it here:
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In today’s post Thomas Schlich and Bruno J. Strasser explore historical and contemporary trends of masking and vaccination.
How the History of the Anti-mask and Anti-vaccination Movements Hang Together
Thomas Schlich and Bruno J. Strasser Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is best known as a vaccination skeptic, but he is also skeptical about using masks for infection control. At the Libertarian National Conv…
Stan Vassilenko explores the perception of Russian civil society in today’s post.
https://activehistory.ca/blog/2025/10/09/soviet-revisionist-turn/
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Call For Contributors: Join the Active History Project This Fall!
Interested? Click here for more information:
activehistory.ca/blog/2025/10...Cara Tremain discusses the future of Canadian museums and the need for continued support and policy change.
The Continuing Relevance of Museums in Canada
This summer, the Government of Canada helped to promote visits to museums through the Canada Strong pass. While initially focused on seven of the country’s nine national museums, other provinces an…
Hailey Baldock explores the intersection of feminist and media history through the 1970 Abortion Caravan.
When Protest Becomes News: The 1970 Abortion Caravan and the Politics of Media Coverage
By Hailey Baldock With a black coffin strapped to the top of their van and a fiery determination to scrap Canada’s abortion laws, the women of the 1970 Abortion Caravan knew they had to make a scen…
Today’s post is in recognition of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
Read more about the shared ressources here:
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In today’s post, Abigail Beckett (
@abbybeckett.bsky.social) explores the Indigenous and colonial history behind Jean de Brebeuf’s Feast Day, celebrated on September 26th.
Jean de Brebeuf: Colonial Tensions and Spiritual Healing c. 1649-1660
This case study of Jean de Brébeuf emphasizes the intricacies of colonial tensions and complicates colonial narratives and ideas of civilization hierarchies. Indigenous cannibalism was used as a me…
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Today’s post, by Aidan Hughes from
@uguelphhist.bsky.social, explores the history of women’s bodybuilding.
Triceps, Traps, and… Tiaras?: Gender Performance and Subversion in Women’s Bodybuilding through Pumping Iron II: The Women (1985)
In 1985, filmmakers George Butler and Charles Gaines produced Pumping Iron II: The Women. It followed women bodybuilders at a bodybuilding show in Las Vegas during 1983, but mainly focused on two v…
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In today’s post, Hannah Roth Cooley explores early social media in Indigenous communities.
Kainai News: Social Media before Social Media
Hannah Roth Cooley Over roughly the last decade, settler Canadians and Americans have started to take note of Indigenous activist initiatives, thanks in large part to social media. Beginning with t…
Today’s post, by June Chow, explores the preservation of Chinese Canadian records at Library and Archives Canada. It is a sequel to a previous post by Chow published in March.
Almost Destroyed: Chinese Canadian records at Library and Archives Canada
Author’s great-grandfather on his first trip back to China to marry. Note the poor quality of the microfilm image and especially photograph. “Wong Guey Yem,” Department of Employment and Immi…
Today’s post by Daze Jefferies and Rhea Rollmann explores transfeminine histories in Newfoundland.
On Wave Relationships and Struggle at the Margins: Transfeminine Histories and Echoes in Newfoundland
Photo of Jeannie Sheppard (The Daily Register, December 18, 1980) overlaid with waves. Daze Jefferies and Rhea Rollmann Editor’s note: the following work by Daze Jefferies and Rhea Rollmann is a pi…
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In today’s post, Christine Cooling looks at the history of Canada’s broadcasting policy.
From Static to Streaming: Canada’s 100-Year Fight for Cultural Sovereignty
By Christine Cooling When Canadians tuned into their first radio broadcasts in the 1920s, much of what they listened to wasn’t Canadian. American stations with stronger signals and flashier program…
Today’s post, by Laura Ishiguro, Nicole Yakashiro and Ayaka Yoshimizu, explores their creation of an OER (open educational resource) on the life of Kiyo Tanaka-Goto, a Japanese woman who lived in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Kiyo Tanaka-Goto: An Open Educational Resource on a Life of Defiance and Relation-Making in the Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside
Hand towel, Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre Kiyo Goto Collection, 2003.7.37, photo by Tadafumi Tamura. Laura Ishiguro, Nicole Yakashiro and Ayaka Yoshimizu What can one racialized migr…
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In today’s post Andrew Nurse explores the use of media in history and the value of community newspapers.
Read it here:
activehistory.ca/blog/2025/09...John Price’s second post on Canada’s history of involvement with Palestine is out now.
Elizabeth MacCallum and the Global South Confront Partition
Lester Pearson chairs the meeting on Palestine at Committee 1, United Nations Special Session of the General Assembly, May 6, 1947. Credit: UN Photo, UN7520510. John Price This is the second post i…
Today’s post, by John Price, is the first of a two part series exploring Zionism and Palestine through the work of Elizabeth MacCallum.
In the Shadow of Genocide: Elizabeth MacCallum Challenges Anti-Jewish Racism and Zionism
Elizabeth MacCallum. Source: Queen’s Alumni Review Vol. 27, November 1952, p. 215, photo by Van’s Studio Ottawa. John Price This is the first post in a two-part series based on a recent…
Read Erin Gallagher-Cohoon’s post on queer histories of family and divorce in Nova Scotia
activehistory.ca/blog/2025/07...In today’s post Sean Carleton and Adina Williams discuss their collaborative research on the residential school system as part of the Yúusneẇas Project.
Taking Care of the Truth: A Call for Collaborative, Community-Engaged Residential School Research
The Squamish Nation’s Yúusnewas project demonstrates the importance of data sovereignty, big data analysis, and the need for collaborative, community-engaged residential school research as pa…
In today’s post Francesco Coirazza explores Quebec’s Bill 84 and immigration.
Two Lefts, Two Paths: Quebec Left Politics and the Immigration Question through Bill 84
Francesco Coirazza “Multiculturalism finally no longer applies to Quebec! […] It’s a model that has always been harmful to Quebec,” claimed Minister of the French Language Jean-François Roberge in …
In today’s post Nancy Janovicek and Karissa Patton explore recent book bans in Alberta and what it means for 2SLGBTQ+ youth.
2SLGBTQ+ Youth, Parental Rights, and Alberta Standards for School Libraries
Nancy Janovicek and Karissa Patton This button is from Nancy’s political button “archive.” She first wore it in the 1990s when groups attempted to ban books from libraries, including Lesléa Newman’…
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Join Maegan Ellis as she reviews Peter Fortna’s The Fort McKay Métis Nation: A Community History.
A Review of Peter Fortna’s The Fort McKay Métis Nation: A Community History
Ultimately, The Fort McKay Métis Nation: A Community History makes a vital contribution to Métis historiography and to the growing body of scholarship that centers Indigenous voices in historical r…
We are hiring a part-time site manager! Applications due July 11th.
For more information:
activehistory.ca/blog/2025/05...Adam Bunch’s
@adambunch.bsky.social post is part of our Essays on the Future of Knowledge Mobilization and Public History Online series. Read along as he explores how he practices and promotes public history.
activehistory.ca/blog/2025/07...Mack Penner and Edward Dunsworth continue the conversation on the use of AI in education and history. Their post was written in response to a previous one by Mark Humphries.
Check out this post and the previous ones here:
linktr.ee/activehistory
