Author Archives: Maureen

A new television drama began airing on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network called Blackstone. The hour-long show deals with tough issues such as addictions, family violence, suicide, corruption and nepotism on the fictional First Nation community of Blackstone in western … Continue reading →

I’ve know the story of Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash my entire life. It’s one of those stories I often heard told by the adults during my childhood. Anna Mae, although her friends and family affectionately refer to her as “Annie Mae,” … Continue reading →

I figure that I’ve made three dramatic moves away from home in my entire 37 years of existence. The first time was when I was 18. I had recently graduated from high school and got accepted to Saint Mary’s University. … Continue reading →

For as long as I can remember, the St. Anne’s Mission has been in Chapel Island and in Merigomish. The “mission” is an annual summer gathering of Mi’kmaq to honour St. Anne, the patron saint of Mi’kmaq people. St. Anne’s … Continue reading →

As a journalist, there are times I find it difficult to remain unaffected by the stories I cover on a daily basis. That’s especially true when it comes to dealing with the topic of suicide. I found myself in one … Continue reading →

Last month, I travelled to the Pleasant Point Reservation near Perry, Me., to speak to people in the Passamaquoddy community and surrounding area about a controversial proposal: An Oklahoma-based company called Quoddy Bay LNG wants to lease land from the … Continue reading →

(Note: This column is the unedited version I submitted to the Ryerson Review of Journalism. The edited version can be read by clicking here.) It was August 2000 and here I was in Burnt Church, N.B. covering the daily showdowns … Continue reading →