the hidden island

There’s something about the flickering light of a campfire that brings out the storyteller in everyone. Ghost stories, creation legends, family history – you name it, it’s been talked about. Today’s episode is inspired by those summer storytelling nights. We discuss different folklore found on Epekwitk/Prince Edward Island, including supernatural creatures and spooky forerunners. We’ll also hear about some old home remedies and traditional Acadian wedding customs. Features guest interviews: Julie Pellissier-Lush, Marian Bruce, Dutch Thompson and Georges Arsenault.

BIPOC USHR is hosting a takeover episode of ‘the hidden island!’ Listen to Sobia Ali-Faisal, Kendi Tarichia (King Kxndi), Amirah Oyesegun and Stephanie Arnold talk about their experiences living on the Island – beginning in the 1980s up until today. They discuss the many barriers and discriminating experiences BIPOC folks living on the often Island face, and what the road to joy has looked like through it all. BIPOC USHR's website: https://www.bipocushr.org Features: Sobia Ali-Faisal, Kendi Tarichia (King Kxndi), Amirah Oyesegun and Stephanie Arnold

Did you know that before European colonization, Epekwitk/PEI was 98% forested? For the final episode in season three, we go back to the last Ice Age, tracking the history of PEI’s forests before, during, and after colonization up until today. We travel through the eyes of the forest, stopping to learn about the early French settlers, the English shipbuilding regime, and what a PEI forest feels like today when you’re walking through it. Finally, we look at how important forests are to the Island, and what’s being done to protect them. Features guest interviews: Kate MacQuarrie, Alena MacLean, Caitlyn Paxson, Daniel McRae and CJ Cleal.

Anne of Green Gables isn’t exactly hidden history here on the Island, we know. It’s a timeless tale loved by many, and millions have visited ‘Anne’s Island’ over the years. But what about the real Green Gables? The story behind one of Canada’s most visited National Parks is a surprising one. It involves the unwilling expropriation of land from local residents, Maud Montgomery’s mixed feelings about the park, and a two-week eviction notice to the original owners of the Green Gables home. Features guest interviews: Dr. Alan MacEachern and Carolyn Strom Collins.

Fiona is joined by Evelyn Bradley as co-host in this episode all about 2SLGBTQIA+ history on the Island. We discuss how and where members of the queer community gathered in the 1970s to the 1990s (think: emails and word of mouth invitations before the internet came into play), and what our history might look like if it wasn’t heteronormative. Features guest interviews: Dave Stewart and Treena Smith. Peers Alliance youth programming: https://www.peersalliance.ca

In episode four, Tamara Steele, Executive Director with the Black Cultural Society of PEI, is hosting a panel with Aaron Sardinha and Debbie Langston. Listen to them chat about Black history on the Island, as well as an education initiative Aaron and Debbie are spearheading: The Black Women’s History Project. https://bcspei.ca Features: Tamara Steele, Aaron Sardinha, and Debbie Langston.

In part two of PEI’s wild and wacky 1970s, we learn about The Kitten Club. It opened in 1970, and it was something like a Playboy Bunny Club that operated in Brudenell. Yes, you read right. We also discuss the Ark – an experimental bio-shelter built at Spry Point and designed to be a world-leader in renewable energy. Finally, we celebrate the founding of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation. Features guest interviews Dr. Ed MacDonald, Catherine Hennessey and Dr. Alan MacEachern.

The 1970s are known for being a groovy decade, but on PEI they brought massive changes. In Part 1, we learn about how the Comprehensive Development Plan is the reason why we have fewer family farms, zero one-room schoolhouses, and an economy more focused on tourism today. We also discuss Junction ’71 – the rock festival that never happened because the PEI government shut it down. Features guest interviews Dr. Ed MacDonald and Doug MacArthur.

Did you miss us? We're back again for season three! Check out this trailer and join us on September 13, 2022 for the entire season.

Meet Canada's most prolific woman murderer: Mary "Minnie" McGee. Minnie McGee was born on PEI in 1875, and she lived a quiet life until 1912 when 6 of her children suddenly died of poisoning. Please note this episode contains explicit descriptions of infanticide, so it may not be suitable for all listeners. Features guest interview Dr. Sharon Myers.

Who doesn't love a great drinking story? For the final episode we go back to the late 1800s when prohibition was first introduced on PEI. Although prohibition lasted for 70 years on the island, you could still get your booze… if you knew where to go. From rumrunners to moonshine makers to speakeasy bars, we discover just how inventive islanders were in skirting the law for a good drink. Features guest interviews: Dr. Heidi MacDonald, Reginald "Dutch" Thompson, J. Clint Morrison and Ken Mill.

Islanders and the ocean have been connected for centuries, beginning with the Mi'kmaq who travelled in birch bark canoes. Before modern vehicles came into play, the water was basically a road. It was often quicker to travel by water than by horse and carriage - as we learn in this episode. But with the ocean comes danger. In this episode, we discover how many ships sunk off the coast of PEI - some as recent as the late 1900s. Features guest interviews: Junior Peter-Paul, Georges Arsenault and Paul Gallant.

Have you ever wondered what PEI looked like 290 million years ago? In episode 2, we explore PEI's geological history, beginning even before the time of dinosaurs, flowers, and birds. Learn about why our soil is red, how we were once at the centre of the world, and what incredible fossils have been found on the island. Contact the provincial archaeologist by email (archaeology@gov.pe.ca) or by phone (902-368-6895) if you believe you've found a fossil. Contact Parks Canada at 1-877-852-3100 for potential fossils found in PEI National Park. Features guest interviews: Dr. John Calder, Bob Sweet and Samantha Kelly.

In Part 2, we explore the concept of "islandness" and how it relates to the feeling of home, how nostalgic home can feel when you're stuck living off-island. We also touch a hot topic: do you have to be born an islander, or can you become one by choice? Finally, we talk about what keeps islanders away today, whether that's lack of work, racism and xenophobia, and the way PEI is slow to accept other people. Features guest interviews: Dr. Laurie Brinklow, Georges Arsenault, Dr. Ed MacDonald, Isabelle Gallant and Thinh Nguyen. Thinh's blog: https://thepeithinhker.wordpress.com/

We start off season two at the beginning: the creation of Epekwitk told by Mi'kmaq legends. Skipping centuries here and there, we learn about the many people this island became home to and follow their patterns of migration. Whether expelled by the English in the mid-1700s, looking for work, or yearning for somewhere new, not all islanders stay on PEI. We explore what that looked like, and more importantly, what it meant for islanders to have to leave home throughout the centuries. Features guest interviews: Riley Bernard, Georges Arsenault, Dr. Ed MacDonald.

And we're back! Listen to our season two trailer, then return Sept. 22, 2021 to catch the entire season.

The 2SLGBTQIA+ community on Prince Edward Island has been campaigning for change and equal rights for decades. In episode 2, we explore the history of queer pride on the Island, and what it's like for members of the community today. Features guest interviews: Dr. Nola Etkin, Rory Starkman, Amanda Creamer, and Luke. **Content warning: this episode contains homophobic slurs and mentions of sexual assault. Please take care of yourself while listening. PRIDE PEI: https://pridepei.ca/ PEERS Alliance: https://www.peersalliance.ca/

This Island has strong roots in storytelling, beginning with the Mi'kmaq people that inhabited Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island) thousands of years ago. In episode 3, we talk about this Island's history with storytelling among Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, and explore some Island ghost stories. Get ready to be spooked! Features guest interviews: Julie Pellissier-Lush, Eric Creamer, Brandi Coughlin, and Meg Preston.

Public statuary has been a part of the Prince Edward Island landscape for over a hundred years now, and yet there's a lack of women representation. In episode 1, we talk about the history of public statuary and monuments on the Island and why it's so difficult to find statues featuring women today. Features guest interviews: Dr. Edward MacDonald, Jane Ledwell, and Amanda Creamer.

Check out the trailer for our new podcast series, "the hidden island." Come back on Sept. 4, 2020 for the first few episodes!