ActiveHistory.ca
@activehist.bsky.social
What is Active History? ActiveHistory.ca connects the work of historians with the wider public and the importance of the past to current events. #ActiveHist
In today's post, Daniel R. Meister writes part two of his 2024 post "Soundbite Histories." Miester discusses his renewed analysis of the Pierre Elliot Trudeau quote: “We’ll keep them in the ghetto as long as they want."
Soundbite Histories – Part II (the Mea Culpa)
“Prime Minister Trudeau raises his hands as he jokingly encourages stronger applause from students at Carleton University Tuesday night at the taping of a television show. The confrontation between…
activehistory.ca
February 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM
In today's post, Daniel R. Meister writes part two of his 2024 post "Soundbite Histories." Miester discusses his renewed analysis of the Pierre Elliot Trudeau quote: “We’ll keep them in the ghetto as long as they want."
@nichecanada.bsky.social is calling for contributors for their Canada’s Great Acceleration Series.
Proposals should be a short 200-word expression of interest and are due February 18, 2026.
Find more info here: activehistory.ca/blog/2026/02...
Proposals should be a short 200-word expression of interest and are due February 18, 2026.
Find more info here: activehistory.ca/blog/2026/02...
February 9, 2026 at 4:22 PM
@nichecanada.bsky.social is calling for contributors for their Canada’s Great Acceleration Series.
Proposals should be a short 200-word expression of interest and are due February 18, 2026.
Find more info here: activehistory.ca/blog/2026/02...
Proposals should be a short 200-word expression of interest and are due February 18, 2026.
Find more info here: activehistory.ca/blog/2026/02...
Reposted by ActiveHistory.ca
February 6, 2026 at 12:23 PM
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...
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...
February 2, 2026 at 4:39 PM
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...
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!
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…
activehistory.ca
January 30, 2026 at 3:37 PM
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!
Make sure to check out this post and the entire series!
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!
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…
activehistory.ca
January 21, 2026 at 5:30 PM
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!
Check out this post and the entire Queering Atlantic Canada series!
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…
activehistory.ca
January 19, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Katherine Wilson-Smith explores Woodsworth and the settlement movement.
Reposted by ActiveHistory.ca
Today on @activehist.bsky.social, we are launching a new year-long series - Indian Act 150 - looking at the 150th anniversary of the Indian Act. As part of the introduction to the series, I offer some reflections on the history and historiography of the Indian Act: activehistory.ca/blog/2026/01...
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…
activehistory.ca
January 16, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Today on @activehist.bsky.social, we are launching a new year-long series - Indian Act 150 - looking at the 150th anniversary of the Indian Act. As part of the introduction to the series, I offer some reflections on the history and historiography of the Indian Act: activehistory.ca/blog/2026/01...
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…
activehistory.ca
January 16, 2026 at 2:45 PM
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.
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…
activehistory.ca
January 14, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Lilia Scudamore explores the NDP’s approach to abortion rights in British Columbia during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
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…
activehistory.ca
January 8, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Samir Shaheen-Hussain (@samir0s-h.bsky.social) conducts a book review on “Inventing the Thrifty Gene: The Science of Settler Colonialism” by Travis Hay.
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…
activehistory.ca
December 23, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Ella Prisco’s second post explores women’s opposition to the Winnipeg General Strike.
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 …
activehistory.ca
December 20, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Aaron Boyes and Sean Graham offer their ‘two cents’ on 1925 for their annual Year in Review (100 Years Later) series!
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…
activehistory.ca
December 18, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Today’s post, by Ella Prisco, is the first of a two part series exploring working women and the Winnipeg General Strike.
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 …
activehistory.ca
December 12, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Carol F. Lee explores the life of her mother, Mary Quan, and her experience of dual Canadian and Chinese identity.
Reposted by ActiveHistory.ca
Ok, @activehist.bsky.social, I'm listening!
www.threads.com/@activehisto...
You can find the rest of their Telling Truths about the Settler Colonial Project series on their website
www.threads.com/@activehisto...
You can find the rest of their Telling Truths about the Settler Colonial Project series on their website
Active History (@activehistory.ca) on Threads
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.
Check out the link in our bio for t...
www.threads.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Ok, @activehist.bsky.social, I'm listening!
www.threads.com/@activehisto...
You can find the rest of their Telling Truths about the Settler Colonial Project series on their website
www.threads.com/@activehisto...
You can find the rest of their Telling Truths about the Settler Colonial Project series on their website
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…
activehistory.ca
November 28, 2025 at 1:37 PM
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.
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!
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…
activehistory.ca
November 27, 2025 at 1:27 PM
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!
This post is part of our Telling Truths about the Settler Colonial Project Series. Make sure to check it out!
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!
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…
activehistory.ca
November 26, 2025 at 3:06 PM
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!
This post is part of our Telling Truths about the Settler Colonial Project Series, check out the entire series!
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!
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…
activehistory.ca
November 25, 2025 at 3:35 PM
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!
This post is part of our Telling Truths about the Settler Colonial Project Series, make sure to check out the entire series!
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!
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…
activehistory.ca
November 24, 2025 at 4:16 PM
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!
A new post will be published every day this week, make sure to stay tuned in!
Reposted by ActiveHistory.ca
The latest History of Education Quarterly is now online. In this thread, I'll post non-paywalled versions of the whole issue.
November 21, 2025 at 2:40 PM
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…
activehistory.ca
November 19, 2025 at 4:33 PM
In today’s post, Andrew Nurse explores the repatriation of Indigenous culture, through artifacts, by the Vatican
Reposted by ActiveHistory.ca
From our own holdings, a photograph of The Dumbells while on tour in London in 1918, including two members of the troupe -- Ross Hamilton and Allan Murray -- dressed in drag.
![A black-and-white studio portrait of 16 members of The Dumbells troupe, taken while on tour in London, showing two troupe members in drag. [Dalhousie University Archives, PC2 (Waldren Studios Photograph Collection), Box 260, Folder 10]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:slvyok6xucq2neh2zknfh4yf/bafkreih6hbq2bi7ukwitc4dojmhh4xdshmc2tdhkwgsv7owux3yav2ae44@jpeg)
November 18, 2025 at 5:41 PM
From our own holdings, a photograph of The Dumbells while on tour in London in 1918, including two members of the troupe -- Ross Hamilton and Allan Murray -- dressed in drag.