Episode 1
In his debut as host of The Laughing Drum, Tim Fontaine turns his eye to the modern Hollywood Western — which is eerily like the old Hollywood Western. He examines the long slow car crash that is Senator Lynn Beyak, and joins new contributor, Alissa Kixen, for an explosive chat about the splitting of Indigenous Affairs. Tim also sits down for an interview with critically acclaimed musician and ‘gangster academic’ Tara Williamson. They talk about her music, day job in higher education and who she would roundhouse-kick if time travel were a real thing. Also, meet the finger puppets of Canadian politics!
Episode 2
Host Tim Fontaine examines Trudeau’s hecklers, the sort-of retiring of Chief Wahoo and the mothballing of a controversial Halifax statue – but not before he downs a freshly-made bannock and tea smoothie. The Red Power Panel weighs in on offensive sports mascots and memorializing racist historical figures. Also, a new video game in honour of Ministers Carolyn Bennett and Jane Philpott!
Episode 3
Ottawa’s streamlining environmental reviews, Cheddar Man and Trudeau’s wooing of Amazon are taken on by host Tim Fontaine. “Native social media” is looked at and the Red Power Panel weighs in on Black Panther and policing comedy.
Episode 4
Host Tim Fontaine takes a look at the new, new relationship offer from the Liberals, how the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion will work and is shocked to learn who’s competing at the winter Olympics. The Red Power Panel teaches Trudeau how to snag and is judge and jury in a new segment called Shut Your Lips. Plus, the 100-meter lip-point.
Episode 5
Host Tim Fontaine channels his inner Billy Jack, attempts to stir up some political intrigue with the House of Chiefs and explains Canada’s skewed vision of reconciliation.The Red Power Panel stokes the fires of justice and decolonization before playing the first-ever on-camera game of the Lip Pointing Olympics.
Episode 6
The Laughing Drum attempts to increase the sexiness of the National Chief’s job, asks whether aliens will get cell service before First Nations get clean water and host Tim Fontaine sits down with Anishinaabe singer-songwriter Leonard Sumner. The Red Power Panel discusses all things land, including whether there’s a violin small enough for white cottagers in Saskatchewan and displaced white South African farmers.
Episode 7
Host Tim Fontaine talks fearful farmers, sled dog doping and Doug Ford before the Red Power Panel weighs in on legalized pot and whether social media is the place where Canada and Indigenous communities can turn reconciliation into reconcili-ACTION.
Episode 8
The rather genteel arrest of Green Party leader Elizabeth May, the Liberal vow to eliminate tuberculosis and a viral video of porcupine salvation are all tackled by host Tim Fontaine. The Red Power Panel weighs in on whether Indigenous folk will join #DeleteFacebook and whether they would accept corporate sponsorship from Satan if it means saving Indigenous languages.
Episode 9
Does the Pope’s refusal to apologize for the largest child sex abuse scandal in history have anything to do with the Pope’s denial of the existence of Hell? The Red Power Panel makes up some Indigenous holidays to replace Easter and discusses the pros, cons and cons of veganism. Also, rez dogs are winning the internet!
Episode 10
Host Tim Fontaine is excited the AFN election finally has another candidate before zeroing in on eagles in baseball – but not before making a canned meat on bannock sandwich! The Red Power Panel tears truth a new one by discussing Alberta Health Services’ postal gaffe and non-Indigenous folk taking up Indigenous spaces.
Episode 11
Host Tim Fontaine looks at Winnipeg’s fear of a brown neighbourhood, who said (or is silent) what about Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline and a newspaper columnist’s annoyance with anything less than a white CBC. Cree comic Howie Miller stops by and the Red Power Panel discusses Ellen’s beef with seal hunting and whether Trump has started WWIII.
Episode 12
Tim Fontaine looks at the confusion around a papal apology, apparently cares what Shania Twain thinks and predicts the Royal Baby’s moniker. The Red Power Panel tears truth a new one, tackling bears in weed-leaf headdresses, reconciliation and whether or not pipelines and oil are Indigenous business.
Episode 13
Host Tim Fontaine shares highlights from his fieldtrip to the Assembly of First Nations meeting in Gatineau, Quebec while the Red Power Panel talks the comedic dust-up surrounding Williams & Ree and the not-so-comedic-at-all controversy around the film adaptation of the Richard Wagamese novel Indian Horse.
Episode 14
Host Tim Fontaine examines Bill Morneau’s white knightedness to Kinder Morgan, the whiteness of a Halifax university’s residential schools class and the Royal Wedding. The Red Power Panel goes hard on academic freedom and what a brown mayor could mean for Vancouver, before sharing some beautiful words with the newly wed Royal Couple.
Episode 15
In The Laughing Drum season finale, host Tim Fontaine examines a political scandal involving albino Hulk Doug Ford that’s nothing at all like First Nations, and Trump’s talk of taming America. Then, the Red Power Panel weighs in on the Sixties Scoop settlement and what the hell was going on in a Globe & Mail article about the Winnipeg Jets that called Indigenous people a “stain.”
Episode 16
On this special edition of The Laughing Drum, disheveled, bearded and donning protective gear, host Tim Fontaine comes out of retirement to bring us the sights, sounds and bolo ties of the election for National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in Vancouver, BC — the homeland of the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Jesse from the Beachcombers.