My Canadian Playlist 🎵 - I pity the country

I’ve been living in Nova Scotia, Canada, for one and a half year now. One of the first things I turned to for connection and integration was music.

Canadian music isn’t hard to find on the radio. The government requires that at least 35% of the popular music broadcast by commercial radio stations must be Canadian content. Public broadcasters like CBC/Radio-Canada have an even higher requirement of at least 50% each week.

So, I began creating “My Canadian List” on Spotify. Every day, when I listen to the CBC Atlantic Morning Show or ICI Premiere, I add a new song to my list.

Check out My Canadian Playlist on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6d6qJ1VFFf52EMfeJxe98t?si=-Brp0tx9QjWVqqheDhELfg

Music has always nourished me along my journey here on earth, and it continues to do so wherever I may roam. Since I find it challenging to write regularly on my blog, I’ve decided to share My Canadian Playlist, and tell what each song means to me. Through these songs, I hope to share my story and this grand adventure.

I Pity the Country — A Song That Still Speaks

Today, I want to begin with a cover by artist Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, who created a powerful version of “I Pity the Country” by Willie Dunn.
The original song, released in 1971, carries a message that still resonates deeply today.

▶️ Watch the music video: 

“I pity the country, I pity the state, and the mind of a man who thrives on hate.”

When I heard the lyrics and learned who Willie Dunn was, and what he stood for, I felt the rebel in me wake up.

Why some feel entitled to take what they want and destroy whatever they consider “different” is something I will never understand. It is our diversity - the richness of our many ways of being - that makes this planet and its inhabitants so magical.

Truth and Reconciliation in Canada

In Canada - or Kanata (meaning "village or "settlement") - the word Reconciliation or renewal of the relationship with Indigenous Peoples, has become part of daily life since 2008, or at least there is a sincere effort to make it so.

Living here in Nova Scotia has made this especially real for me. This land is part of Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral home of the Mi'kmaq people, who have cared for it for thousands of years. Unlike many other regions of Canada, much of Mi’kma’ki is considered unceded territory, meaning it was never surrendered through land treaties. Instead, the Peace and Friendship Treaties of the 18th century were agreements to share the land and live in mutual respect, not to give it up.

Every morning in school children in Nova Scotia may hear O Canada sung in Mi’kmaw, as well as in English and French. Indigenous history and perspectives are increasingly being included in education, and there is growing recognition that Indigenous Peoples are the original stewards of this land.

Schools now teach about treaties - agreements made between Indigenous nations and the Crown - and many public events begin with a Land Acknowledgement, recognizing the traditional territory and ancestors of the land.

Even my email signature shows my gratitude toward those who are the original caretakers of this land and honors those who have contributed to its history:

“I am grateful to live, learn, and play on Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People, covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship. I also honor the rich history and contributions of people of African ancestry in Nova Scotia, including the Black Loyalists, Jamaican Maroons, and Black Refugees.”

I appreciate the intention behind these practices - the willingness to acknowledge past injustices and create awareness - even though reconciliation is an ongoing process and much work remains.

Reconciliation is not always seen as a necessity by everyone, because some believe it is not the responsibility of this generation to set things right, since they did not directly take part in the wrongdoing. And yet, reconciliation is intergenerational. Its impact has been passed down through generations, and so must the healing. Even those who were not personally responsible still live within systems shaped by that history. In that sense, reconciliation is part of all of our blueprints, handed down from generation to generation. There is still much to learn, much to repair, and much forgiveness needed; for others and for ourselves.

Canada has committed to this path, and it will take time, continued effort, and deeper awareness.

A Hope for the Future

Let’s be aware of our differences and accept them for what they are. I encourage all of us to learn more about the beautiful cultures that have been pushed to the edge of erasure. They carry deep wisdom; wisdom we have been lacking and so desperately need today.

That is my hope for the world.

About the Artist and Legacy

'Willie Dunn passed away in 2013, but his influence lives on through projects like this. His work offered a powerful critique of Canada and called for awareness, justice, and change for future generations.'

I Pity the Country: Leanne Betasamosake Simpson builds on a legacy of Indigenous resistance in new music video | CBC Arts