January 2010

Dr. Jane McMillan, CRC in Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Communities in the Department of Anthropology, was quoted in the Globe and Mail on December 27 in a story about the continued inadequate treatment of First Nations people by the Canadian justice system. In the story by Kirk Makin, Dr. McMillan indicates that the promise of the Canadian Supreme Court decision on Gladue has not been fulfilled. There are still not sufficient resources to provide native offenders with the programs they need, and court officials do not yet understand the cultural context in which Aboriginal people live. See http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/courts-falling-short-on-effort-to-keep-natives-out-of-jail/article1412973/ for the details.

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September 2009

Anthropology has been granted department status!

In 2006 the new Anthropology program was launched at StFX, setting out honours, advanced major, and major degree structures with all courses in the discipline. Since then we have seen student interest grow as we have developed patterns of courses around the themes of development, First Nations, and archaeology, while maintaining a more flexible general anthropology option. In September 2009 StFX President Sean Riley announced that we had been given department status, allowing our administrative structure the same autonomy as our academic program. This is great cause for celebration! Join us in our activities throughout the year as we continue to build a great place to learn.