Pamela Palmater

Dr. Pamela Palmater is a Mi’kmaw lawyer from Eel River Bar First Nation. She is an author, activist and currently serves as Associate Professor and Chair in Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University in Toronto.

Articles by this author

Don’t forget the racist Canadians behind the racist systems

With the publication of photos and video showing Justin Trudeau in blackface, his personal racism was there for the world to see – something that rightly causes many Canadians a great deal of discomfort. It …

Equality delayed is equality denied for Indigenous women

Entitlement to equal status for women in the Indian Act has once again been delayed, after the House of Commons voted in favour of an amended form of the Senate’s Bill S-3 this week. The legislation …

Families, advocates left to fill gaping holes in MMIW inquiry

The federal government finally announced the details of the long-awaited national inquiry on murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls this week. Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett, Status of Women Minister Patti Hajdu and Justice …

First Nations water problems a crisis of Canada’s own making

It is hard to imagine that in 2019, First Nations in Canada could lack access to clean drinking water in their own territories — but many do. In fact, 400 of 618 First Nations were …

How Canada turned a blind eye to the suicide crises in First Nations

In February 1992, six Innu children were killed in a house fire in Davis Inlet, Newfoundland and Labrador. One year later, in January 1993, six Innu children there were caught sniffing gasoline on camera, yelling …

Priority pandemic response needed for First Nations

It is too early to tell what the coronavirus infection rates will be in First Nations, Inuit communities or amongst Métis people – but if we use past government practices as an indicator, we clearly …

Prisoner death toll will mount without releasing most vulnerable inmates

The socio-economic inequalities in any given society will always be highlighted during a national crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. Long before COVID-19 hit Canada, we could predict with a fair degree of …

Responsibility for Kashechewan’s crises lies with Crown

Bureaucrats, ministers of Indian affairs and even premiers and prime ministers have promised year after year to address the multiple, overlapping crises in the Cree Nation of Kashechewan, crises that are firmly rooted in past …

Trudeau’s empty budget promises on the nation-to-nation relationship

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won the hearts of many Canadians by finally getting rid of Stephen Harper and his decade of oppression, violation of civil rights and vilification of First Nations. Most breathed a sigh …

Will Ottawa heed UN on rights of First Nations women?

Sharon McIvor has been engaged in an epic 33-year battle against the federal government to prove that she, her children and her grandchildren are entitled to be recognized as Indians the same way her male …