Undercurrents

Vol. 1 Issue 2
Spring 2014
Vol. 1 Issue 2
Spring 2014
I On Tibb’s Eve, one of the MacDonald brothers (nobody was sure which) told the little Kerry boys that Santa Claus lived in the woods, up where Abe Leroux cut his wood. He said that was how Abe got nice things for his children when they were small, that he used to meet Santa Claus there and trade him slab wood for toys. Stan, the youngest, was suspicious, but he was only 4 years old and did what his older brothers told him. They were 5 and 7, and knew better than him. Sam, the oldest, said he knew the way to the place where Abe cut his wood, because their father had taken him there once. He was proud that their father had taken him and not the other boys. He had in fact ridden there in the sled with his father, but had fallen asleep. But he was…
With spring comes new life, and a thawing reminder of human activity’s cumulative effects on the natural environment.
The provincial snow crab fishery suffered a big hit in the marketplace this year thanks largely to Covid, and cod
Fishing can still be an important part of our lives. Preserving the cod and traditional fishing approaches requires reverence for
Blinded By The Numbers? Implementing the Modernized Fisheries Act Goes Beyond Acting On What Stock Science Tells Us.
Mining brings challenges but also immense opportunities to the North
It is depressingly ironic that, while many other countries are steadily switching from fossil fuels to clean and renewable sources
I have a confession—I am moderately addicted to reading negative stories about President Trump. I think it’s because I loathe
Feedback from readers of my earlier essay “Who benefits from government policies?” was mostly positive, but a few thought I
Inuit women working together to find solutions to the unique challenges of small business in the North
Sports take on a special importance in the North
Nowadays, being from Newfoundland is like being some sort of exotic bird.
The beauty and simplicity of the rural life shines forth with a special glow at Christmas
What does it mean to be Canadian when you're living abroad?
A unique project aims to reduce conflict between two of the world’s top predators: human and polar bear
Earlier this year, “A Home for Nature” was released for public comment. Feedback for phase one of the plan is
"We do not need this plastic in our environment," says environment minister after Liberal Party joins a growing call to
Environment Minister’s mandate letter is a hopeful sign.
Experiencing search and rescue first-hand in the North…
Cecil the lion, trophy hunting, and humanity’s desire to dominate.
Memorial’s strategic investments in Arctic oil pose environmental risks in the region and to the planet
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador didn’t get the memo about climate change
From Yonge Street to Hudson Bay…
Supporting a fiscally irresponsible P3 “solution” for wastewater defers true costs and make immediate budgets look more 'responsible.' Is that
The findings and recommendations of the MMIWG Report may be dismissed, but its charge of genocide cannot be ignored.
This past weekend, St. John’s was graced by the first federal political rally of our long pre-election season. People’s Party
Iqaluit is a beautiful city, but just one part of a very diverse North
Nowadays, being from Newfoundland is like being some sort of exotic bird.
The beauty and simplicity of the rural life shines forth with a special glow at Christmas
Returning home sparks reflections on the complex lifestyles many of us pursue in this province, and questions about why we
Note: 61st Parallel will be published every four weeks, instead of bi-weekly, to make room for Charlene Paterson’s new column “Remote Control”
Despite the fanfare for their service, food retail employees themselves are not convinced they're 'recognized' in ways that actually improve
The supply chain is not a series of equal links dependent on the ‘weakest link’ to operate. Rather, the middle
Newfoundland and Labrador has the highest rate of food insecurity in Canada. It also has the second lowest minimum wage.
The internet plays a special role in daily life in the North
Supporting a fiscally irresponsible P3 “solution” for wastewater defers true costs and make immediate budgets look more 'responsible.' Is that
The findings and recommendations of the MMIWG Report may be dismissed, but its charge of genocide cannot be ignored.
This past weekend, St. John’s was graced by the first federal political rally of our long pre-election season. People’s Party
Keith explores one of the North’s annual traditions
Memorial’s strategic investments in Arctic oil pose environmental risks in the region and to the planet
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador didn’t get the memo about climate change
Nowadays, being from Newfoundland is like being some sort of exotic bird.
When home becomes the home away from home, and a reminder of the things left behind.
As celebrations of Canada’s 145th birthday proceed through the weekend, what and whom reside in the periphery of our national consciousness?
For some, the solitude, isolation and distance of the north is a primary reason to visit…
"I’ve seen many blue and red governments come and go, taking turns at the reins, going around in the same
Memorial’s strategic investments in Arctic oil pose environmental risks in the region and to the planet
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador didn’t get the memo about climate change
For those who move there, raising children in the North is a learning experience for everyone
Is corporate concentration a central part of the province’s long-term strategy for the fishery? How does that benefit Newfoundlanders and
There was something weird spotted in the sky above Main Brook on Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula in January 2020.
“We just started last week. I feel like this is the beginning of something.”
Spring in the North is a well-deserved spectacle
Memorial’s strategic investments in Arctic oil pose environmental risks in the region and to the planet
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador didn’t get the memo about climate change
Nowadays, being from Newfoundland is like being some sort of exotic bird.
Even in the era of big mining, traditional industries still play an important role
It wasn’t until Marlene Creates decided to ‘think oppositely’ that she found her niche. She graduated art school and did
An interview with poet and activist Andrea Gibson.
An open letter on the refugee crisis, from a Newfoundlander in Iraq.
Mining in the North requires unusual levels of cooperation from everybody involved…
Nalcor's use of court injunctions and the government's approval of RCMP deployment to quell resistance to Muskrat Falls are common
"In this day and age, silence is being used to the advantage of those who wish to quell any resistance
Water levels in the Muskrat Falls reservoir have dropped 60 centimetres since a June 21 commitment from Nalcor that the