50th Anniversary Gala Keynote Address: Public policy in Canada from an Indigenous perspective

Our 50th Anniversary Gala in Ottawa featured a keynote address by Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii), associate professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto, member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, and regular Policy Options contributor.

He spoke about public policy in Canada from an Indigenous perspective, at a time when many Canadians are starting to ask what it means for us to live side by side. Professor Sanderson told the story of two neighbouring communities in Manitoba, the town of Rossburn and the Waywayseecappo Indian reserve, living on two sides of a beautiful valley. He explored how they became separate and unequal, and how their struggle for equality shows us a way forward.

His keynote was based on his recently released book, co-authored by Andrew Stobo Sniderman, Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation. You can read the full text of his speech below, head over to Policy Options for an abridged version of the text, or tune into our podcast to hear a live recording.

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Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii)

Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto

Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii)

Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto

Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii) is a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. He is an associate professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto. He earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Toronto and his LLM at Columbia University, where he was Fulbright fellow.