Janina Fisher | Jul 14, 2021


Thanks for the background information you provided on the Bob Lovelace issue. I attended Queen's University part-time between around 2000/2001, until I got my B.A. in Global Development in 2007. Bob Lovelace taught in the department and, although I did not take one of his courses (so many great courses, so little time!) I heard much about him on campus and in the community, as what a well-respected teacher and human being who had been adopted by the Ardoch Algonquins, and as a well-known advocate and leader who fought for local Algonquin and indigenous causes. Who he was and was not was never in question - it was always clear that he was "adopted." By the time I moved to Central Frontenac at the end of 2008, his reputation for standing up for Algonquin rights (he even went to jail for them!) was cemented in my mind. It was never an issue about whether or not he had indigenous blood. In his heart and in his life and actions and leadership over many, many years, he was part of the local indigenous community. How sad that after a lifetime of contribution to indigenous people, regardless of his or their bloodlines, that some anonymous report leaked on Twitter should cast aspersions on the reputation of Bob Lovelace.

Isn't it interesting, too, how quickly lines in the sand are drawn once money comes into the picture?

The seemingly never-ending limit to human unkindness and greed is appalling. Let us give credit where credit is due, and stop hurting people - particularly those who have dedicated their lives to a necessary and worthy cause.

Janina Fisher

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