Since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report in 2015, Vancouver Island University has hosted live recordings of the Indigenous Speakers Series every fall, in partnership with CBC Radio’s Ideas program. The lineup of speakers has been impressive—Riley Yesno, Wilson Williams and Connie Walker are just a few. As the Nuu-chah-nulth Elder-in-Residence for the Nanaimo campus of Vancouver Island University, I regularly do openings and welcomes. A couple times with the Métis Elder, Auntie Stella Johnson, and once with Snuneymuxw Elder, Auntie Geraldine Manson, I got to do the welcome for the Indigenous Speakers Series. (VIU Elders have the title of either “Uncle” or “Auntie.”) I am not shy about praising Ideas and the host, Nahlah Ayed, because I very much enjoy the show. The 2024 Indigenous Speaker was Brandy Morin, author of Our Voice of Fire: A Memoir of a Warrior Rising, and winner of several prestigious journalism awards. Brandy is a powerful warrior determined to ensure the truth is always shared. She was a victim of systemic police violence, and even spent a bit of time in jail for doing her work. During the 2024 keynote, Brandy shared her experiences reporting on two important British Columbia protests: the Fairy Creek old-growth logging protest, and the fight against the expansion of the Trans-Mountain Pipeline. I found it quite scary the way she was treated by the police, and how the RCMP responded to the protests. Brandy’s stories about the police brought to mind a relative of mine who went to Regina to attend the RCMP training school. On the first day, my relative arrived early to class. Several other students, also early, were sitting around chatting. Suddenly, a man rushed into the room and quickly sat in a chair. He slammed his open hands against the table and said, “I can hardly wait to kill my first Indian!” My relative walked out of the classroom and became a chef. —Randy Fred