The Secret Life of Canada

Throughout the years, the Beothuk people have been written about as an “extinct” nation, whose numbers were few at the time of European contact to Newfoundland. By 1828, they were all gone except one woman named Shanawdithit. She is now known as "the last Beothuk" but was she? In our final episode of the season, we look at one of the longstanding myths that Canada loves to tell itself — that Indigenous people are no longer here. With guest Yvette Nolan. For more about this episode visit us at : www.cbc.ca/radio/secretlifeofcanada For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/inappropriate-questions-transcripts-listen-1.6740372

How did this place end up being called Canada? We look into the lore behind the naming of the country and the push to reclaim Indigenous place names across this land. Links: Reclaiming Indigenous Place Names: https://yellowheadinstitute.org/2019/10/08/reclaiming-indigenous-place-names/ The Squamish Language Atlas: squamishatlas.com Visit us at: www.cbc.ca/radio/secretlifeofcanada

How did the donair become the official food of Halifax? We find out how it travelled to Canada and transformed after getting here. We learn about its inventor and that famous sweet sauce recipe. Then, we discover all the good and bad versions of the donair across the country and learn why Edmonton may rival Halifax over its love of this street food. With guests Omar Mouallem and Lindsay Wickstrom. Link to the Book of Donair: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/book-of-donair-everything-you/9781772761542-item.html Link to The Last Baron: https://gem.cbc.ca/media/absolutely-canadian/s21e23?cmp=sch-the-last-baron Visit us at: www.cbc.ca/radio/secretlifeofcanada For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/inappropriate-questions-transcripts-listen-1.6740372

Historian Dr. Rhonda Hinther discusses the history of Ukrainian Canadians in Canada, including early immigration, cultural exchange with Indigenous communities, settlement patterns, and the journey of Ukrainian refugees to Manitoba.

Discover the history of the popular Canadian dessert, Puffed Wheat Squares, and why they are beloved in the west but unheard of in the east. Explore the origins of breakfast cereal and how it was invented to prevent sexual arousal. Learn about the controversial beliefs of cereal inventor John Kellogg and his influence on the rise of the cereal craze. Dive into the evolution of puffed wheat cereal and its introduction at the World's Fair, as well as the creation and popularity of puffed wheat squares in Western Canada.

Why are there so many Canadians in pro wrestling? We take a deep dive into carnival and sideshow history to find out why Canada became one of the centers of early pro wrestling. We look into the fun and problematic past of performance wrestling and conduct a very scientific poll to find who the top Canadian favorites are. With guests Scarlett Harris and Nug Nahrgang. Find Scarlett Harris’s book "A Diva Was a Female Version of a Wrestler" here: https://www.fayettevillemafiapress.com/product/a-diva-was-a-female-version-of-a-wrestler/. For more visit us at www.cbc.ca/radio/secretlifeofcanada. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/inappropriate-questions-transcripts-listen-1.6740372

Canada’s much-touted multiculturalism was hard-fought-for and started to materialize in the aftermath of immigration policy changes in the 1950s and 60s. A lot of that change is thanks to Black sleeping car porters and their ability to politic with influential passengers on their train routes.

Abolitionist, activist, teacher and trailblazer Mary Ann Shadd wore many hats in her extraordinary life. We take a look at the story of the first Black woman in North America to publish a newspaper and one of the first female journalists in Canada. Mentioned in this episode: The Indigenous connection to the Underground Railroad by CBC's Unreserved where Falen speaks with historian Roy Finkenbine. Check it out at cbc.ca/1.6061957 Visit us for more at www.cbc.ca/radio/secretlifeofcanada

When the CBRE, Canada’s railway union, was created in 1908, it intentionally shut out Black porters. What ensued was a historic and decades-long struggle for Black railways employees to be heard at the negotiating table.

Sleeping car porters were notoriously underpaid and had to fight for tips, condemning most to poverty. Historian Dr. Dorothy Williams describes how porters turned to side hustles and other entrepreneurial pursuits to survive, and to regain the agency they lost as precarious railway employees.