The Current

The Current for June 4, 2021

Today on The Current: How poetry has helped Dennis Saddleman heal from abuses of Kamloops residential school; what awaits Canada’s music industry on the other side of COVID-19; William Prince on reconciliation and hope; and Rosemary Barton on the federal government’s response to remains identified at Kamloops
Matt Galloway is the host of CBC Radio's The Current. (CBC)

Full Episode Transcript

Today on The Current:

Earlier this week we played Monster, a poem by Dennis Saddleman about the abuse and resulting trauma that he suffered at the Kamloops residential school. Saddleman talks to Matt Galloway about how writing has helped him to heal, and shares a new poem, written this week.

Plus, with the Juno Awards just days away, we take a look at the Canadian music industry — one of the hardest hit by the pandemic — with Chris Frayer, artistic director of the Winnipeg Folk Festival; Amy Millan of the band Stars; and Darren "Young D" Metz and Quinton "Yung Trybez" Nyce are the hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids.

Then, award-winning musician William Prince should be celebrating his Juno nomination, but his mind right now is firmly on his role as an Indigenous father. He joins us to discuss residential schools, reconciliation and hope. 

And CBC's Chief Political Correspondent Rosemary Barton discusses the federal government's response to the remains identified at Kamloops, and public anger over Canada's residential school system.