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Robyn Mawhinney

@discothistle.bsky.social
340 followers 260 following 393 posts

Rural community advocate; Regional Director; printmaker; gardener; lover of the wilds on Quadra Island in the Salish Sea. Ligwilda’xw Territory. settler; she/her

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Reposted by Robyn Mawhinney
The Serfs (youtube.com/theserfstv) @theserfstv.bsky.social · 4h
The story behind Orange Shirt Day
Orange shirt day was created by Phillish Webstad of Stswecemʼc Xgetʼtem First Nation. "I went to Mission for one school year in 1973/74. I had just turned 6 years old. I lived with my grandmother on the Dog Creek reserve. We never had very much money, but somehow my granny managed to buy me a new outfit to go to Mission school. I remember going to Robinson's store and picking out a shiny orange shirt. It had string laced up in front, and was so bright and exiting - just like I felt to be going to school! When I got to the Mission, they stripped me, and took away my clothes, including the orange shirt! I never wore it again. I didn't understand why they wouldn't give it back to me, it was mine! The color orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn't matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared"
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Michelle Cyca @michellecyca.com · 4h
recommended reading today — Aaron Hemens’ interview with Phyllis Webstad, published two years ago on @indiginews.bsky.social. Webstad is not even mentioned on the federal government’s webpage for NDTR/Orange Shirt Day indiginews.com/news/orange-...
indiginews.com
Orange Shirt Day’s founder fears Sept. 30 is being co-opted from residential ‘school’ survivors
‘I don’t want Orange Shirt Day to be forgotten — it was started by a survivor,’ says Phyllis Webstad, whose 11-year-old event now coincides with National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
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Anna Mehler Paperny @mehlerpaperny.bsky.social · 8h
If we're going to talk about truth and reconciliation we should talk about Canada fighting First Nations in court. ijb.utoronto.ca/news/liberal...
ijb.utoronto.ca
Liberals are playing legal hardball with First Nations over drinking water - Investigative Journalism Bureau
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government is playing legal hardball with First Nations fighting for clean drinking water — and First Nations are fighting back. Interviews and hundreds of pages o...
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Robyn Mawhinney @discothistle.bsky.social · 5h
“The land includes a salmon-bearing stream, and a Coastal Douglas-fir maritime ecosystem, which is one of the rarest ecosystems in B.C.”
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Chris Istace 🇨🇦 @stasherbc.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
For all the reasons cited in this article highlights the case for why I brought forward my successful motion last month to prohibit data centres as a land use in North Cowichan. #ai #datacentres #bcpoli #localgovt
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UBCIC @ubcic.bsky.social · 22h
"I am calling for support as we head into National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th- I urge our supporters to not sit idly by, and instead to show up and participate in events First Nations are holding, and to wear orange shirts." GCSP www.ubcic.bc.ca/fnlc_condemn...
ubcic.bc.ca
First Nations Leadership Council Condemns White Nationalist Activity in Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc Territory
Working towards the recognition, implementation and exercise of our inherent Indigenous Title, Rights and Treaty Rights
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Jen Stewart @jstewgie.bsky.social · 20h
Oak Bay, our Green candidate is a familiar face! @aaoakbay.bsky.social #YYJ #BCPoli bcgreens.ca/candidates-2...
bcgreens.ca
Andrew Appleton - Oak Bay-Gordon Head
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Spokane Rising @spokanerising.com · 29/09/2026
Send Stephen Miller to The Hague.
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Robyn Mawhinney @discothistle.bsky.social · 23h
🔥☄️ “this is fine”
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Guardian US @us.theguardian.com · 28/09/2026
ICE is now lying in wait outside convenience stores, or at busy intersections. Agents are arresting people at international airports. Local police and sheriffs, deputized by the federal government, are detaining immigrants during traffic stops. ICE is now detaining more immigrants than ever before.
A chart that shows a timeline of ICE immigration enforcement against different significant events (Los Angeles raids, Minneapolis and Chicago raids), with a line in late March 2026 that says "New enforcement strategy begins" before a peak of over 1,500 daily arrests in July 2026.
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Gord Johns @gordjohns.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Hundreds rallied in 12 coastal communities for fair federal ferry funding. Proud to stand with community and labour leaders, businesses, seniors, students and families. Thank you to everyone who joined us. I’ll carry your voices to Parliament. Sign by Tuesday: gordjohns.
Photos of tour.
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BC Green Party @bcgreens.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Former BC Greens MLA Adam Olsen endorses Emily Lowan for Saanich North & the Islands! They’re teaming up to send Emily to the Legislature, and keep Adam and Rob’s legacy of standing up for the people of Saanich North and the Islands going.
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Andrew Kurjata @akurjata.ca · 27/09/2026
Pierre Poilievre tapping into what everyone is worried about in Canada: waitresses and welders paying taxes to the EU
Pierre Poilievre tweet: How does it save money for Canadians to force waitresses and welders to pay taxes to the EU?
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Jens Wieting @globalhome.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Great Globe article about the struggle to protect the last #oldgrowth in B.C., highlighting a key finding of Sierra Club BC's state of the forest report: at-risk old growth areas recommended for protection are logged at 4x the rate of other old growth #bcpoli www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
theglobeandmail.com
Opinion: Why do people return to Vancouver Island year after year to protect the forests?
What kind of relationship will we choose to have with forests that have witnessed multiple generations of history?
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Robyn Mawhinney @discothistle.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
The strategic vote is Green
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Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 25/09/2026
The RCMP's watchdog was set to release a report this week into police conduct at Fairy Creek and Wet'suwet'en. Then David Eby's sudden snap election call prevented its release.
nationalobserver.com
BC snap election stalls report on police conduct at Fairy Creek and Wet'suwet'en
Thanks to BC's snap election, Canadians won't know for at least another month whether the RCMP division that policed Fairy Creek and Wet'suwet'en protests needs reform.
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Lauren Dobson-Hughes @ldobsonhughes.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The US in Africa is the epitome of mob diplomacy "Nice vaguely functioning healthcare system you got there. Hand us mining rights and private data or maybe it collapses" Zimbabwe held firm, and now it loses all US health funding allafrica.com/stories/2026...
allafrica.com
Zimbabwe: U.S. Announces End to All Health Funding in Zimbabwe
AMERICA will, at the end of this month, stop funding all health programmes in Zimbabwe it has been involved in for more than 20 years, Ambassador Pamela Tremont has revealed.
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Jim Vanderwal @jimvanderwal.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Anyone know if 4 days is the shortest term for a political party leader in BC?
Wikipedia page with picture of Peter Milobar MLA
Leader of CentreBC
In Office
September 18, 2026 - September 22, 2026
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Robyn Mawhinney @discothistle.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
💯
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Robyn Mawhinney @discothistle.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Bottom-dragging trawling is finally getting the sunlight it deserves. Scraping/destroying the ocean floor, literal tonnes of ‘bycatch’ killed and discarded: bottom-trawl licenses need to be revoked!
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Chris Istace 🇨🇦 @stasherbc.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
A nice surprise and a good chuckle as the #BCGreens @bcgreens.bsky.social comms team used my #bluesky post quoting @emilylowan.bsky.social 's speech at @ubcm.bsky.social this week. Great speech and worth a listen. #bcpoli #britishcolumbia #greenparty #UBCM @bcgreencaucus.bsky.social
BC Greens leader Emily Lowan addressing UBCM delegates at the 2026 delegates
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Andrew Kurjata @akurjata.ca · 18/09/2026
We’ve launched a livepage to cover ~whatever is happening~ in B.C politics today www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #bcpoli
cbc.ca
Former B.C. Conservative holds news conference with centrist party leader after 3 more MLAs leave opposition | CBC
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Robyn Mawhinney @discothistle.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I voted no. You can too
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Robyn Mawhinney @discothistle.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Yes, this. And, the current public purse (dust bunnies) being burdened by unnecessary election costs. And, contributing to a more cynical public 🤷‍♀️ #thanksbutnothanks
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Robyn Mawhinney @discothistle.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Hey Laura, asset management is important for several reasons, and it’s not free 😉 Unless you’re ‘industry’ abandoning oil wells: 200,000+ in Alberta, who’s taxpayers must fund the clean-up 🏴‍☠️🦨🛢️
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Nicolas Hénin @nicolashenin.net · 17/09/2026
Nice campaign by the Norwegian Consumer Council about the declining lifespan of products. Enjoy!
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Local BC News Headlines - Curated by CivicInfo BC @bcheadlines.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
#UBCM - Municipalities urge B.C. to restore Community Housing Fund, realign housing targets (BC) www.castanet.net/news/BC/6315...
castanet.net
Municipalities urge B.C. to restore Community Housing Fund, realign housing targets
Municipalities across B.C. are urging the province to restore funding for stalled affordable housing projects and realign its provincial housing targets with the funding available to local…
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Tarnjit Parmar @tarnjitparmar.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
👀 Premier Eby has hired a campaign manager amid rumours of a snap election. Eby denies plans for a snap election BUT Elections BC had a meeting with assigned & prospective election officers yesterday about the possibility & started calling potential voting locations to ask about space/training.
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Robyn Mawhinney @discothistle.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The percentage of women on Electoral Area Director ballots holding steady at 36%
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CHEK News @cheknews.ca · 12/09/2026
Not enough candidates have put their names forward to be councillors in two Vancouver Island villages for the upcoming election, meaning the nomination periods will be…
cheknews.ca
2 Vancouver Island villages have election nomination periods extended due to lack of candidates
Not enough candidates have put their names forward to be councillors in two Vancouver Island villages for the upcoming election, meaning the nomination periods will be extended.
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Castanet.net @castanet.net · 12/09/2026
Stephen Johnston wins West Kelowna mayor’s race by acclamation #WestKelowna
castanet.net
Stephen Johnston wins West Kelowna mayor’s race by acclamation - West Kelowna News
Stephen Johnston is the new mayor of West Kelowna.
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Robyn Mawhinney @discothistle.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
💔💔
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Zoë Yunker @zoeyunker.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Thanks to @indiginews.bsky.social for reprinting my @thetyee.ca story about Chinook salmon struggling to survive extreme drought in the Shushwap region, and the work needed to avoid crises like these.
indiginews.com
Chinook are going blind on the Salmon River amid worsening drought conditions
The waterway, which winds from the Thompson Plateau to Shuswap Lake, is shrinking and warming — experts say 'B.C.' must do more to manage water scarcity
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Shannon Waters @sobittersosweet.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
So nice to see the BC government picking "confidentiality" for oil and gas companies over transparency on how much those companies pay to profit off our natural resources 🫠 "The NDP government changed the law so that company-specific royalty payments would be shielded from public view" #bcpoli
thetyee.ca
BC Changed a Law to Keep Gas Royalties Secret | The Tyee
‘Improved confidentiality’ for oil companies leaves the public without previously available payment data.
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Joel Wood 🇨🇦 @joelwwood.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
“If”
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Robyn Mawhinney @discothistle.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Rich in relish 😍 Late night canning accomplishment… the culmination of a two day process (veg has to rest, salted, for a day). 20 pints & half-pints of spicy zucchini relish. Made with 100% home grown veggies #growyourown
A kitchen counter with an array of half-pint and pint canning jars, full of spicy zucchini relish
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Robyn Mawhinney @discothistle.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Hydronym, popularized by Carney re: Lake Ontario
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Simon Little 🍁 @simonplittle.ca · 04/09/2026
A shame the English language hasn't come up with a word for this www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Far-right Israeli minister outlines plan for removal of all Palestinians from Gaza
Itamar Ben-Gvir claims proposal for illegal forced displacement of 2 million people is ‘realistic’ and ‘concrete’
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Robyn Mawhinney @discothistle.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Nomination papers submitted! It’s been almost four years as Director: countless meetings & reports read, alongside advocacy for community priorities. I’m excited to continue the work of serving and speaking up for residents of Area C. Local government election day is October 17 #votingiscool
A smiling me in front of the Strathcona Regional District office, with the logo on the door.
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Doug Saunders @dougsaunders.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
This about the most hardcore, eschatological version of radical fundamentalism you will hear from any figure of any faith
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Robyn Mawhinney @discothistle.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
“This is a protocol that we built together as Nations,” said We Wai Kai Chief Ronnie Chickite. “We are proud to have reached this understanding so we can work together and honour the strong relationships our Nations had. We are committed to the success of this renewed relationship going forward.” 🙌🙌
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Andrew Kurjata @akurjata.ca · 01/09/2026
Listen, the U.S. administration and its supporters can either post the “I don’t think of you at all” memes or it can spend time renaming lakes and scrolling through regional Instagram pages to denigrate us, you can’t do both
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Simon Little 🍁 @simonplittle.ca · 31/08/2026
Something something digital sovereignty www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Lake America replaces Lake Ontario on multiple Canadian websites after Google Maps update | CBC News
Some Canadian websites, including for the federal government, displayed maps with Lake Ontario renamed as Lake America on Sunday, a day after Google Maps announced the change to align with an executiv...
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Chris Istace 🇨🇦 @stasherbc.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Google you failed on this one. As mentioned before, really looking forward to the Canadian Digital Service sales tax coming back 📲💲 #canadastrong #elbowsup
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Robyn Mawhinney @discothistle.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
“I was sad at first when they were taking our things. But now I’m furious” said Alex.“They’ve destroyed some of these people’s lives. With the little things they have left that bring them joy, whether it’s be a guitar or a book from their kids they don’t see anymore. They throw them in the garbage.”
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Emily Lowan (she/her) @emilylowan.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
I am devastated to learn that Joan Phillip (Amshen) has passed away. My thoughts are with Grand Chief Stewart Phillip and all of Joan's friends and family. Joan deeply inspired me - from her commitment to Indigenous sovereignty (Native Alliance for Red Power to Oka crisis) and her climate justice activism fighting pipelines on unceded lands. It was an honour to work with Joan in these final years, where she was focused on constructive solutions to serve her community, constituents and the whole living world. A woman of unparalleled courage and character who always stood for what's right, no matter the consequences. She leaves a hole as a leader and visionary that will be hard to fill. It's up to us to honour her memory by continuing her work.
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Mark Gerretsen @markgerretsen.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Have your say on the future of AI. 🤖 The Government of Canada is looking for your input on AI transparency, accountability, and public understanding. 🗓️ Share your views by September 23, 2026. 🔗 Take the survey: bit.ly/4xaepfZ
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Merlin Blackwell of Clearwater🇨🇦 @blackwellmerlin.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
And the hits just keep on coming.
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PEIPolitical 🇨🇦 @peipolitical.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
David Eby: "Even Russian forest products have better access to the U.S. market right now than Canadian forest products. And in that environment, the idea that we would be stocking U.S. liquor is absurd." #cdnpoli
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