berrygrounds

Jan 30 2024 15 ep. 38 mins 23

berrygrounds Podcast artwork

With an eye to power, host Justin Brake takes a closer look at key issues facing Newfoundland and Labrador. A brand new podcast from The Independent.

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Lessons from the Pitcher Plant (Ep. 14)

Jan 30 2024 47 mins

Have you ever wondered why and how the pitcher plant became a symbol of Newfoundland and Labrador, and of our collective identity? “The pitcher plant is unique, creative and resilient. It is beautiful and tenacious, tough and adaptable. It has thrived throughout all regions of our province for centuries, just as our people have done," Premier Danny Williams said in 2006 at a laun

Project Nujio'qonik & the Environmental Assessment "Act" (Ep. 13)

Oct 23 2023 33 mins

Did we learn anything from Muskrat Falls and the public inquiry that followed? Surely, a multi-billion dollar project with significant resistance from locals wouldn't be pushed through without a social license...again? That's exactly what residents of the West Coast say is happening with World Energy GH2's Project Nujio'qonik, a proposed wind-to-hydrogen megaproject that would see

Truth Before Reconciliation (Ep. 12)

Sep 30 2023 25 mins

Innu children have been taken from their families, communities and culture for decades. But now, after a years-long fight for change, Innu are sharing their stories and truths through the Inquiry Respecting the Treatment, Experiences and Outcomes of Innu in the Child Protection System. On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we speak with Simeon Tshakapesh and Anastasia

Swept by the Sea (Ep. 11)

Sep 23 2023 55 mins

In this episode of berrygrounds, we debut a short documentary from journalist Monica Kidd, who visited Channel-Port aux Basques on the eve of the one-year anniversary of post-tropical storm Fiona. In "Swept by the Sea," Monica speaks with residents and leaders from the community, as well as NTV Chief Meteorologist Eddie Sheerr, who made a phone call the night before Fiona hit that

The Foreseeable Fall of Fossil Fuels (Ep. 10)

Sep 18 2023 30 mins

With Bay du Nord on hold, Newfoundland & Labrador is at a critical juncture on energy policy and climate change. Despite the grim outlook for oil and gas, and amid climate breakdown, the Andrew Furey government continues to champion fossil fuel development. As an investigation by The Independent unearthed, the Liberals have also quietly adopted an energy transition policy devel

An Introduction to Seasplainer (Ep. 9)

Jul 27 2023 28 mins

In Newfoundland and Labrador, there are two things without which we probably wouldn’t be here: the sea, and the fish.But how much do we really know about them? In an era of offshore oil, mega hydro dams, and now an impending wind energy industry — have we become indifferent to the fisheries? What we do hear about them seems so unrelatable: quotas and metric tons, prices per pou

May Day & The Changing Face of NL's Labour Movement (Ep. 8)

May 14 2023 39 mins

On May 1, hundreds of workers marched in the streets of St. John’s and rallied at Harbourside Park. May Day hasn’t been a huge deal in Newfoundland and Labrador, or even in Canada, where we mark Labour Day in September. But the growing number of workers and allies joining the annual event in St. John’s tells us something important about this province’s labour movement, says

Pay Equity for Some Isn't Equity At All (Ep. 7)

May 03 2023 30 mins

Women and gender diverse workers have been fighting for decades to be paid the same as men for equal work of equal value. In the face of mounting pressure, the Liberals finally brought in their version of pay equity legislation. But there's a problem. I\it doesn't apply to most workers in the province, and it's missing critical details. In this episode, we speak with Telegram repor

The Smouldering Tensions at Memorial University (Ep. 6)

Apr 10 2023 38 mins

Vianne Timmons may be gone, but the controversy around her claims of Indigeneity have brought two key issues at Memorial University to the fore. Race-shifting, as it's become known: the growing phenomenon of settlers seeking out Indigenous ancestry to claim an Indigenous identity today. And the crisis in governance at Newfoundland and Labrador’s only university.In the first half

Vianne Timmons and the Race-Shifting Conundrum (Ep. 5)

Mar 27 2023 40 mins

Memorial University President Vianne Timmons says she has always been clear that she has Mi'kmaw ancestry, or heritage, and that she's not Mi'kmaw. But in a settler colonial society like Canada's, claiming Indigenous ancestry in professional biographies or on resumes is anything but clear, says Cree journalist Michelle Cyca.In a new article for The Walrus, Cyca argues that for sett