Articles by Nigel Gordijk

A Gathering of Ancestors #3: Breaking the chains of ignorance

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Linking together the stories of my ancestors' remarkable lives.

Published on the 182nd anniversary of the final time my last enslaved ancestor was sold to someone else.

Lynda Chapman with Elder Nina De Shane on Lynda's wedding day. (Photo: Nigel Gordijk)

Lynda's story, Part #2: Healing as a community, growing as a person

Friday, April 14, 2023

“She has a natural inner strength, and she’s come miles. Before, she was breaking down all the time, but now that’s kind of gone away.”

Written for The Community Edition.

(Photo: Nigel Gordijk)

Lynda's story, Part #1: Lynda Chapman shares her journey from Grandview Training School to healing

Monday, March 6, 2023

Content warning: mentions of sexual assault, rape, violence, detention, abuse, mentions of homicide and violence against children. 

Written for The Community Edition.

Grandview Training School - CBC - Undated

Revisiting the legacy of Galt's Grandview Training School For Girls

Monday, March 6, 2023

Content warning: mentions of sexual assault, rape, violence, detention, abuse, mentions of homicide and violence against children. 

Written for The Community Edition.

(Photo: Nigel Gordijk)

“If you want to help somebody, this is how to do it. A place just like this.”

Thursday, January 26, 2023

One of a series of profiles that I wrote about residents at Supportive Housing Of Waterloo. I interviewed them about their experience and shot their portraits..

Fred Fox visited Wilmot on September 1, the 42nd anniversary of the end of younger brother Terry’s Marathon of Hope. “It was nice to meet so many caring people,” he said. (Photo: Nigel Gordijk)

Fred Fox thanks Wilmot for honouring younger brother Terry’s legacy

Thursday, September 1, 2022

“It was nice to meet so many caring people,” said Terry Fox’s older brother after his “Gratitude Tour” of the township.

Métis educator Tammy Gagnon, holding a bushel of sacred sweetgrass that she harvested the previous day. (Photo: Nigel Gordijk)

Cleansing and purifying with sacred sweetgrass

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Indigenous educators in New Hamburg teach about traditions and the healing properties of one of the sacred medicines

An Ontario Heritage Trust plaque in New Dundee’s Recreation Park celebrates the life of local archaeologist William J. Wintemberg. It doesn’t mention the largest Indigenous longhouse in North America, which he discovered nearby in 1902.

Digging Deep To Unearth Wilmot’s Forgotten Indigenous History

Thursday, July 7, 2022

North America’s biggest Indigenous longhouse was discovered in New Dundee in 1902 and excavated in the 1980s, but since then, it’s been largely overlooked

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