Valerie Freeland
@valeriefreeland.bsky.social
Senior Policy Analyst, author of Power, Patronage and International Norms: A Grand Masquerade
There's a key element missing from these recommendations: integrate Indigenous knowledge into every aspect. The long-term advantage goes to those with intimate knowledge of, and robust social networks across, rugged terrain. Reconciliation is not only about justice, but also national security.
December 12, 2025 at 2:42 PM
There's a key element missing from these recommendations: integrate Indigenous knowledge into every aspect. The long-term advantage goes to those with intimate knowledge of, and robust social networks across, rugged terrain. Reconciliation is not only about justice, but also national security.
That's Mat Presumably Baynton for you.
Oh God!
Those shorts look even shorter than last time.
Those shorts look even shorter than last time.
December 3, 2025 at 3:47 PM
That's Mat Presumably Baynton for you.
No society can claim to have gender equality when the first reaction to a woman reporting pain is to refer her to a psychologist, whereas a man's report of physical pain leads to medical testing.
As women with ‘invisible illnesses’ struggle to be believed, a report on chronic pain could help | CBC News
Medical professionals say a 2021 report supported by Health Canada could have a major impact on how the medical system can better understand chronic pain and the best ways to diagnose it — but with it...
www.cbc.ca
December 2, 2025 at 8:25 PM
No society can claim to have gender equality when the first reaction to a woman reporting pain is to refer her to a psychologist, whereas a man's report of physical pain leads to medical testing.
Misogyny in public life, as elsewhere, is rampant, and translates into verbal threats (you know the type) and physical intimidation. And it continues to be a major factor in women's decisions not to enter public life.
www.brandonsun.com/opinion/2025...
www.brandonsun.com/opinion/2025...
December 1, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Misogyny in public life, as elsewhere, is rampant, and translates into verbal threats (you know the type) and physical intimidation. And it continues to be a major factor in women's decisions not to enter public life.
www.brandonsun.com/opinion/2025...
www.brandonsun.com/opinion/2025...
Fun fact: the Alberta government absolutely knew this was the case.
An AFN council says the new Alberta laws affecting young trans individuals directly threaten the safety of Indigenous youth in the province.
Hear more on APTN News Brief:
Hear more on APTN News Brief:
APTN News Brief: November 25, 2025—AFN council says new Alberta laws threaten safety of Two-Spirit Indigenous youth
Our featured story: the Assembly of First Nations 2SLGBTQQIA council claims new Alberta laws affecting young trans individuals—laws exempt from Charter-based court challenges for 5 years under th...
pod.fo
November 25, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Fun fact: the Alberta government absolutely knew this was the case.
I would say he is calling for another, very specific form of political violence.
November 20, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I would say he is calling for another, very specific form of political violence.
WHAT
By the way, AI is a mirror.
By the way, AI is a mirror.
November 20, 2025 at 3:05 PM
WHAT
By the way, AI is a mirror.
By the way, AI is a mirror.
Reposted by Valerie Freeland
Trans youth who are hurting in Alberta right now, please know SO many of us see you, care about you, and know you deserve to be protected.
We’ve got your back and will do everything we can to keep you safe in the face of attacks from craven, pathetic politicians ❤️
We’ve got your back and will do everything we can to keep you safe in the face of attacks from craven, pathetic politicians ❤️
November 19, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Trans youth who are hurting in Alberta right now, please know SO many of us see you, care about you, and know you deserve to be protected.
We’ve got your back and will do everything we can to keep you safe in the face of attacks from craven, pathetic politicians ❤️
We’ve got your back and will do everything we can to keep you safe in the face of attacks from craven, pathetic politicians ❤️
Reminder that all politicians have been informed that the policy of making parents/caregivers "consent" to a child's identity yields an increase in unhoused children and a smaller but massively important increase in child deaths. This policy kills kids, and they know it when they make this choice.
November 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Reminder that all politicians have been informed that the policy of making parents/caregivers "consent" to a child's identity yields an increase in unhoused children and a smaller but massively important increase in child deaths. This policy kills kids, and they know it when they make this choice.
Technically true, but it looks like citizen petitions have no automaticity for consideration in Australia even if they adhere to language conventions, which this one does not, as outlined in this link. And cutting off a major means of communication with a mad hostage-taker is usually unadvised.
November 18, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Technically true, but it looks like citizen petitions have no automaticity for consideration in Australia even if they adhere to language conventions, which this one does not, as outlined in this link. And cutting off a major means of communication with a mad hostage-taker is usually unadvised.
Still the most powerful of independent variable in terms of large positive change for relatively minimal investment I have encountered in any field of study: FEED THE SHORTIES, and keep those strings unattached.
Today's kids news:
Harvest Manitoba expands its' snack kits to more schools and communities, ensuring Manitoban kids have accessible, healthy food to take home from school each weekend.
Side note: my own kids school is part of the program. It's awesome.
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
Harvest Manitoba expands its' snack kits to more schools and communities, ensuring Manitoban kids have accessible, healthy food to take home from school each weekend.
Side note: my own kids school is part of the program. It's awesome.
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
Harvest Manitoba expands weekend snack program in province
Thousands more children will get nutritious snacks to eat on weekends thanks to Harvest Manitoba.
www.winnipegfreepress.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Still the most powerful of independent variable in terms of large positive change for relatively minimal investment I have encountered in any field of study: FEED THE SHORTIES, and keep those strings unattached.
Reposted by Valerie Freeland
The single most impressive variable in ANY research area I've ever analyzed is universal school meals programs. It's cheaper than means-tested (definitely per kid, maybe total), and notably enhances about EVERY outcome of interest. This is so rare, and that alone means it takes an idiot to say no.
Dean Blundell🇨🇦 @deanblundell.bsky.social #cdnpoli
"JD Vance's Canadian couch-humping buddy wants to starve Canadian kids to teach their parents a lesson."
"JD Vance's Canadian couch-humping buddy wants to starve Canadian kids to teach their parents a lesson."
November 17, 2025 at 9:03 PM
The single most impressive variable in ANY research area I've ever analyzed is universal school meals programs. It's cheaper than means-tested (definitely per kid, maybe total), and notably enhances about EVERY outcome of interest. This is so rare, and that alone means it takes an idiot to say no.
Prepostor syndrome?
Nuzzi confirmed first case of “Postor Syndrome”
November 17, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Prepostor syndrome?
You don't have allies. Allies are, at bare minimum, countries you DON'T threaten to invade and slaughter. Your president started doing that a year ago, and we have far longer memories than Americans do for survival reasons. Once the unthinkable becomes fact, it stays thinkable for generations.
November 14, 2025 at 2:59 PM
You don't have allies. Allies are, at bare minimum, countries you DON'T threaten to invade and slaughter. Your president started doing that a year ago, and we have far longer memories than Americans do for survival reasons. Once the unthinkable becomes fact, it stays thinkable for generations.
ARE YOU LATE FOR YOUR BOAT???
It’s a biggie tonight. The grand final of Series 20 and it couldn’t be closer. Tune in to Channel 4 at 9pm to see who wins Greg’s glorious golden head.
November 13, 2025 at 3:22 PM
ARE YOU LATE FOR YOUR BOAT???
Two important truths to note. 1) No political party or government on earth doesn't have a sex abuse problem, because patriarchy, rape culture etc. 2) The scale and institutionalization of the problem in the current US regime is nothing short of staggering, even against such a problematic backdrop.
🚨 BREAKING: Colombian President Labels Trump Regime A "Global Pedophile Protection" Network. #cdnpoli open.substack.com/pub/deanblun... @deanblundell.bsky.social
🚨 BREAKING: Colombian President Labels Trump Regime A "Global Pedophile Protection" Network
Warships. Oil. Epstein. Slavery. This isn’t a movie plot—it’s Latin America’s powder keg, and President Petro just lit the fuse.
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Two important truths to note. 1) No political party or government on earth doesn't have a sex abuse problem, because patriarchy, rape culture etc. 2) The scale and institutionalization of the problem in the current US regime is nothing short of staggering, even against such a problematic backdrop.
The line between idiocy and collaboration is, in this case, a fine one. But for them to consistently fall for the invariably - across all time and space - false assumption of "it can't happen here" for decades, both do seem to be in play.
In other words, they're idiots.
seems to me that those democrats inclined not to fight perceive themselves as living through a somewhat ordinary cycle of presidential overreach and backlash and not something much more significant and dangerous
November 10, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The line between idiocy and collaboration is, in this case, a fine one. But for them to consistently fall for the invariably - across all time and space - false assumption of "it can't happen here" for decades, both do seem to be in play.
This gives me a new nickname for the *actual* trade (etc) threat south of the border: the New World Screwworm.
New World screwworm not seen as trade threat
Veterinarians say arrival of the parasite in the United States would not likely close Canada to American cattle.
www.sasktoday.ca
November 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
This gives me a new nickname for the *actual* trade (etc) threat south of the border: the New World Screwworm.
Federal scientists are not muzzled from saying "climate change," but in terms of funding and overall priorities, the parallels to the Harper era are vomitorious. We avoided our own proto-fascists grabbing the seat of power, but at what cost?
Ah well, it's not like climate change affects our lives, our economy, or the future of the planet or anything.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first budget scales back rules around greenwashing, cuts environmental spending and hints an emissions cap on the oil and gas industry is unlikely. VIA @meyer.bsky.social thenarwhal.ca/carney-budge...
November 6, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Federal scientists are not muzzled from saying "climate change," but in terms of funding and overall priorities, the parallels to the Harper era are vomitorious. We avoided our own proto-fascists grabbing the seat of power, but at what cost?
It's worth a reminder. They knew what would happen and did it anyway. And he was part of the regime that oversaw installation of the surveillance state today's fascists use. They were warned about that, too. Let us refuse to romanticize the proto-fascists by comparison to the actual fascists.
November 4, 2025 at 2:52 PM
It's worth a reminder. They knew what would happen and did it anyway. And he was part of the regime that oversaw installation of the surveillance state today's fascists use. They were warned about that, too. Let us refuse to romanticize the proto-fascists by comparison to the actual fascists.
The dude who explained in great detail why it would have been catastrophic to push through to Iraq in the first Gulf War, then supported that action a decade later? In my head, I'm singing the closing lines to "Nothing" from A Chorus Line.
Cheney, who extolled the power of the presidency, died Monday, according to a statement from his family. The cause was complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.
Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful vice presidents in American history, dies at 84
Cheney, who extolled the power of the presidency, died Monday, according to a statement from his family. The cause was complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.
n.pr
November 4, 2025 at 2:45 PM
The dude who explained in great detail why it would have been catastrophic to push through to Iraq in the first Gulf War, then supported that action a decade later? In my head, I'm singing the closing lines to "Nothing" from A Chorus Line.
It reminds me of a Will Reno maxim from our grad school days. To paraphrase: a good time for anthropologists in terms of their mass employment and deployment, as in the early days of the USSR, foretells a bad time for humanity.
I stand by my view that Minnesota's bipartisan opposition to REALID, resulting in multi-decade nationwide delays in its adoption, is one of the state's greatest accomplishments of the 21st century. No good comes from citizen registries in the hands of tyrannical governments.
DHS Wants States to Hand Over Driver’s License Data for Citizenship Checks talkingpointsmemo.com/news/dhs-wan...
November 4, 2025 at 2:42 PM
It reminds me of a Will Reno maxim from our grad school days. To paraphrase: a good time for anthropologists in terms of their mass employment and deployment, as in the early days of the USSR, foretells a bad time for humanity.
Another reminder that, no matter the threats from south of the border, the most dangerous call is still coming from inside our own house. The scourge of white supremacy, which picks up numerous other structural hatreds along the way, is increasing. Fight it. Fight fascism, all day every day.
NEW: Whether you measure it by number of supporters, fundraising ability, or by the size of its militant groups, the white nationalist movement in Canada has never been larger or more of a threat.
White Nationalism in Canada: Organized, Emboldened, and Growing
Canada’s white nationalist movement has consolidated into a network that includes three key branches: Diagolon, the propaganda arm; the Dominion Society of Canada, an incorporated political arm; and S...
www.antihate.ca
October 30, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Another reminder that, no matter the threats from south of the border, the most dangerous call is still coming from inside our own house. The scourge of white supremacy, which picks up numerous other structural hatreds along the way, is increasing. Fight it. Fight fascism, all day every day.
Bye bye mon rodéo.
I'd comment on the content, but oh my do I love a snarky Mitsou brush-off. Levez les coudes le monde.
I'd comment on the content, but oh my do I love a snarky Mitsou brush-off. Levez les coudes le monde.
Did anyone think that Trump would sign a trade deal with Canada?
His latest silly tantrum says it all. The American "century" is over. A malignant narcissist killed it all.
Canada is moving on.
We will do business with China and Europe.
Bye Bye Mon Cowboy.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yijT...
His latest silly tantrum says it all. The American "century" is over. A malignant narcissist killed it all.
Canada is moving on.
We will do business with China and Europe.
Bye Bye Mon Cowboy.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yijT...
TRUMP TANTRUM: CANADA TURNS TO CHINA - BYE BYE MON COWBOY
YouTube video by Charlie Angus
www.youtube.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Bye bye mon rodéo.
I'd comment on the content, but oh my do I love a snarky Mitsou brush-off. Levez les coudes le monde.
I'd comment on the content, but oh my do I love a snarky Mitsou brush-off. Levez les coudes le monde.