Despite an imaginary line dividing us, ‘Canadians’ and ‘Americans’ are part of one human family and we have more in common than we do differences
Most of you are likely keenly aware that emotions around our former favourite neighbour are running high these days.
On social media and in the news, we’ve been hearing horror stories about ICE raids and Canadians being locked up in immigration jails, many without access to lawyers or family. Almost everything we’re hearing about the situation south of the border right now is scary stuff, on every level — politics, economics and basic human rights.
I recently attended the Indigenous Journalists Association 2025 Indigenous Media Conference in Albuquerque, NM. When I posted about being in Albuquerque on Facebook, one of my friends advised me to be careful. I can understand why he would be worried about me, but I also fundamentally disagree with the sentiment that the “United States” is inherently more dangerous for me, an Indigenous woman, than “Canada” is.
In fact, it’s quite possible that I’m safer there.
Why? Because given the large population of the “United States” at 340 million it’s not outlandish to assume that there might be 50 or 60 million compassionate and intelligent human beings who care about social justice and are victims of the same authoritarian policies that have Canadians scared. It’s not crazy to think that there are large pockets of people who might even stand up for Indigenous people in a way Canadians won’t.
It’s possible that there are 50 or 60 million people who care about social justice in the “United States.” That’s more than the entire population of “Canada.” Think about that.
“Canada” is where a white farmer was able to shoot a young Indigenous man point blank in the back of the head in 2016 and get away with it. Rest in peace, Colten Boushie.
“Canada” is where thousands of Indigenous people have gone missing or been murdered. Their families have been waiting decades for a justice that still has not come.
“Canada” is where thousands of children were abused and died at the hands of the state and of the churches authorized by that state. It’s the home of the very loud deniers of our truths, who are frequently given platforms to espouse these ideas.
