The myth of the Wheat King

The fallout from the not guilty verdict in the death of Colten Boushie continues. Today in The Conversation Canada, Darcy Lindberg, an Indigenous scholar from the University of Victoria, examines the Boushie killing through a historical perspective related to the law, land and property in Saskatchewan.

“While the law opened the prairies for European settlement, it concurrently sowed much violence and discord into Indigenous communities,” he writes.

Chloe C. Hudson and Kate Harkness of Queen’s University explain their latest research that shows nearly half of all adults with autism will experience clinical depression. Their research “now reveals clear evidence that depression is highly prevalent in both children and adults with autism.”

Another Queen’s professor, Stephanie Lind, challenges the notion that video games promote real-life violence. She specifically looks at how music can play a role in immersing players into the games. “How can video games be confused for reality when its players view them as escapism and freedom from reality?” she writes.

And finally, Jiaying Zhao and Rebecca M. Todd of the University of British Columbia have teamed with Jennifer Whitman on Northwestern University on some interesting research that explains why some conservatives are “blind to clues of climate risk.”

Regards,

Scott White

Editor

Today's Featured Stories

Colten Boushie’s uncle Alvin Baptiste raises an eagle’s wing as demonstrators gather outside of the courthouse in North Battleford, Sask., on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Matt Smith

The myth of the Wheat King and the killing of Colten Boushie

Darcy Lindberg, University of Victoria

In the acquittal of Gerald Stanley we must remember how one-sided systematic remembering in Canada has been. We must remember how Canadian-state law created the myth of the homesteader as Wheat King.

New research reveals that the highest rates of depression are seen in individuals with autism who have above average intelligence. This is different to the general population, where lower intelligence is linked to higher rates of depression. (Unsplash/Ben White)

Almost half of adults with autism struggle with depression

Chloe C. Hudson, Queen's University, Ontario; Kate Harkness, Queen's University, Ontario

New research reveals the burden of depression on individuals with autism, and that depression rates are higher among those with above average IQ.

According to research, gamers are well-aware of the artificiality of the fictional video game world. (Screenshot/DICE)

Why violence in video games isn't really a problem

Stephanie Lind, Queen's University, Ontario

Do video games increase violent behaviour? A music scholar who has focused on how musical elements contribute to immersion in video games explores the issue.

Homes are surrounded by floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey in Spring, Texas on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

Why some conservatives are blind to climate change

Jiaying Zhao, University of British Columbia; Jennifer Whitman, Northwestern University; Rebecca M. Todd, University of British Columbia

Despite strong evidence that human activities have altered the climate, not everyone sees the risks. New research explains why some people seem blind to the signs of climate change.

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