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Telling Our Twisted Histories

CBC·12 episodes

SocietyCulture

Words connect us. Words hurt us. Indigenous histories have been twisted by centuries of colonization. Host Kaniehti:io Horn brings us together to decolonize our minds– one word, one concept, one story at a time.

Episodes

26 min
Oct 27, 2025
Introducing | Forged: The true story behind the Norval Morrisseau art fraud

Rock star Kevin Hearn of the Barenaked Ladies is doing rock star things — like buying paintings. And what better painting for an iconic Canadian rocker to buy than one by Norval Morrisseau, one of the most iconic Indigenous artists in Canada? But when Kevin’s Morrisseau painting is featured in an exhibit, it gets taken down because the head curator says it’s “questionable.” Kevin tries to get some answers but every answer leads to more questions. Host Adrian Stimson traces Kevin’s dogged quest to find out the truth about his painting — and learns how this one painting is the key to cracking a whole underworld open. Forged is a six-part series, from CBC in Canada and ABC Australia, host Adrian Stimson, an artist from the Siksika Nation, travels from Thunder Bay to the Northern Territory of Australia, to reveal what's believed to be the largest art crime fraud in the world. More episodes of Forged are available here: https://link.mgln.ai/ForgedxTOTH

52 min
Jun 21, 2024
Bonus: How to celebrate National Indigenous People’s Day all summer long

Today we have a special bonus episode for you from our sibling show Unreserved, a fearless space for Indigenous voices. Host Rosanna Deerchild is ready to Indigenize your summer with a tastemaker’s guide to the best books, movies, podcasts and more. More episodes of Unreserved are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/u2dCcads

25 min
Jun 1, 2023
Telling Our Twisted Histories Introduces: The Urbariginal

Rudy Kelly’s dad was a great chief of the Tsimshian Nation - a champion of the language, culture, and community. Everyone loved him. But did Rudy? As a kid, he looked up to him. Idolized him. But also feared him. And even hated him. He told Rudy that to succeed, he would have to leave everything behind: his family, friends, and culture. In this six-part series, Rudy's journey brings him back in time, to learn how colonization impacted Indigenous people, from those who lived it. To find out who and what his dad really was, and to discover more about himself - the Urbariginal. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/eQm8Crpy

33 min
Jun 10, 2022
Telling Our Twisted Histories Update and Introducing: Kuper Island

Kuper Island is an 8-part series that tells the stories of four students: three who survived and one who didn’t. They attended one of Canada’s most notorious residential schools – where unsolved deaths, abuse, and lies haunt the community and the survivors to this day. Hosted by Duncan McCue. More episodes are available at hyperurl.co/kuperisland

45 min
Feb 3, 2022
Telling Our Twisted Histories Introduces: The Secret Life of Canada

The Secret Life of Canada is a podcast about the country you know and the stories you don't. Join hosts Leah-Simone Bowen and Falen Johnson as they reveal the beautiful, terrible and weird histories of this land. The Secret Life of Canada is back with season 4 and in this episode, you’ll hear the story behind a now famous "before and after" photo of a little boy who was taken to residential school in Regina, Saskatchewan. Who is this boy? Where is he from and what happened to him after he was taken away from home? More episodes are available at http://hyperurl.co/secretlifeofcanada

36 min
Oct 20, 2021
Introducing: Stuff the British Stole

Throughout its reign, the British Empire stole a lot of stuff. Today those objects are housed in genteel institutions across the U.K. and the world. They usually come with polite plaques. This is a series about the not-so-polite history behind those objects. Hosted by Marc Fennell. More episodes are available at: smarturl.it/stuffthebritishstole

25 min
Aug 2, 2021Episode 12
RECONCILIATION

It's made its way into Canada's political vocabulary and into Indigenous communities. Some see it as yet another empty promise; others see it as a path forward. It's a word that is both divisive and complicated. Together, we will look at the fractured relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations to look for a way forward that is balanced and fair. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648

22 min
Jul 26, 2021Episode 11
GOD

Through missionary work and later, the government-funded residential school system, our rituals and spiritual practices were broken. We were forced to follow Christianity's top-down, hierarchical doctrine, under its vengeful and punitive god, but our circular worldview survived. In our view, all things coexist in an interconnected relationship with the universe. Together, we will decolonize the word GOD and uncover the richness of our spiritual traditions. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648

23 min
Jul 19, 2021Episode 9
OBEY

The word OBEY does not exist in Indigenous languages. Our ancestors lived by their own systems of governance that sought to maintain harmony among all living things. The concept of obedience was forced upon us by church and government authorities. It slowly took hold and changed both our way of life and our way of governing ourselves. The time has come to consider regaining our sovereignty and reclaiming our original ways of decision making. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648

19 min
Jul 12, 2021Episode 8
BANNOCK

Flour, baking powder, a pinch of salt and a bit of water. Beloved and delicious, this traditional fry bread is a staple in Indigenous kitchens, but its colonial roots come with serious health repercussions This episode is a mouth-watering journey decolonizing the word BANNOCK. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648

19 min
Jul 5, 2021Episode 7
POCAHONTAS

How do you dismantle the colonial myth of POCAHONTAS? Disney's portrait of the Indian Princess has been indelibly pressed into young minds: she is naïve and noble, sexualized, innocent, and needy of a white saviour to win her heart. In reality, Indigenous women have always played strong and valued roles in their communities, leading by will and courage. Western society has created the archetype of the Good Indian, frozen in time, smiling and helpful. Together, we will decolonize this stereotype and examine portrayals of Indigenous people in Hollywood and beyond. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648

23 min
Jun 28, 2021Episode 5
SAVAGE

How did we go from 'noble savages' to 'dirty savages'? Over time, the meaning of the word has shifted from natural, free, and pure to a derogatory word used to diminish us and cast us aside. Indigenous people were considered "uncivilized", synonymous with barbaric, bestial, and cruel. This word has inflicted deep wounds and fuels prejudices to this day. Together, we’ll recall the true meaning of the word SAVAGE, and explore its current impact. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648

16 min
Jun 21, 2021Episode 5
INDIAN TIME

Running late? The importance of being on time is cultural, as are differences in priorities and perspectives. Together, we will decolonize INDIAN TIME and examine how Indigenous perceptions of time persist, even while 'running late'. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648

23 min
Jun 14, 2021Episode 4
FAMILY NAMES

Where do surnames O'Bomsawin, Mukash, and Ikey come from? In our culture, names are powerful gifts given us by our ancestors, highlighting a character trait that shows up at birth, or designating a life mission for each of us to embrace. But ever since settlers arrived on our shores, our names have been distorted, or flat-out fabricated. Together, we will explore and decolonize the stories of our FAMILY NAMES. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648

23 min
Jun 7, 2021Episode 3
SCHOOL

For over 150 years, Indian Residential Schools were one of the primary means by which the government assimilated us in order to “kill the Indian in the child.” These compulsory SCHOOLS shattered our families, our languages, and our cultures. This great pain was passed down from generation to generation and impacts our communities to this day. Together, we will decolonize the word SCHOOL and share our truths about learning. The Indian Residential School Survivors Society has created a helpline for residential school survivors and can be reached at 1-866-925-4419. If you are a survivor and you need to talk, please call. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648

24 min
May 31, 2021Episode 2
RESERVE

We lived in balance with nature for thousands of years, inhabiting this land without borders or titles. We were relocated to tiny parcels of land, owned by the Crown, in order for colonial authorities to gain unhindered access to our lands. Today, we still dream about the vastness of our lands and waters. In this episode we'll decolonize the word RESERVE together, and discuss how land is so much more than property. Telling Our Twisted Histories is a Terre Innue and CBC co-production. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648

22 min
May 31, 2021Episode 1
DISCOVERY

70 conversations. 15 Indigenous communities. 11 words with the power to hurt. In this first episode, host Kaniehti:io Horn decolonizes the word, 'discovery'. Christopher Columbus, Jacques Cartier, even Leif Erikson all claimed to have found a 'new' land. But by the time they reached the shores of the Americas, millions of people had already been living here for at least 11,000 years. The Doctrine of Discovery –a papal bull from the 1400's– justified the dispossession and displacement of the First Peoples from their Lands. Together, we’ll explore words that are now helping us to rewrite our history. Telling our Twisted Histories is a podcast series made by Indigenous people for anyone who wants to start decolonizing their vocabulary – and their histories – one word at a time. Telling Our Twisted Histories is a Terre Innue and CBC co-production. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/telling-our-twisted-histories-transcripts-listen-1.6868648

1 min
May 20, 2021
Introducing Telling Our Twisted Histories

Words have the power to shape how we see the world and each other. Listen up with Kaniehti:io Horn as she guides us through conversations with more than 70 people from 15 First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. Coming May 31 2021.

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