Speaking Up: New Voices on War and Peace in Nova Scotia

The story of Nova Scotia is usually presented through the lens of military history. Lost in that narrative are the less visible stories of war and peace: contemporary stories told from outside the military community; anti-militarist stories; and stories of soldiers who don’t fit the white, cisgender male, heterosexual norm.

Speaking Up: New Voices on War and Peace in Nova Scotia brings many previously neglected voices to the fore — voices of current members of the Canadian Armed Forces and military veterans, members of the African Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaw communities, refugees and immigrants displaced by war, historians and other academics who study war and militarization, artists who reflect on war’s impact, and peace activists who vigorously protest against the militarization of the region.

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“This collection includes stories from the province’s diverse communities, ranging from former members of the Canadian Armed Forces to members of the African Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaw communities, refugees and immigrants displaced by war, historians and other academics who study war and militarization, artists who respond to and reflect on their impact, and peace activists who vigorously protest against the militarization of the region.”

– Saltwire, NS, Canada

“…The revisited historiography of war and peace in Nova Scotia makes Speaking Up an important book for readers interested in Nova Scotia’s long history of war and peace. Beyond this, the volume impressively demonstrates that an inclusive and decentered approach to the telling and sharing of history can be done exceptionally well, and as such could appeal to a much broader spectrum of readers interested in the craft of “doing history.”

-Dr. Emily Burton, Oral Historian, Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

“… With first-hand stories of people—from refugees to those in military service—the reader gets to peek behind the curtain to see a different perspective of war; one that goes beyond news tickers and Remembrance Day memorials. This book shows the human experience and consequences of a country and a province built on a foundation of colonialism and trimmed with patriotic rhetoric. Speaking Up is a challenging read but a must for everyone if we are to see the full scope of war and how it impacts our perceptions of society and people.”

-Rebecca Thomas, Mi’kmaw Author

“… Many of the voices in Speaking Up are new, previously unheard, but the editors have done an excellent job of connecting them with the more traditional narratives. Collectively, these voices and stories offer new patterns of understanding and challenge us to think differently about the vital issues of war and peace.”

-Stephen Kimber, Author of Sailors, Slackers and Blind Pigs: Halifax at War

“Speaking Up is an insightful anthology that explores Nova Scotia’s complex relationship with the military. While Canadian military stories typically focus on an overseas battlefield, with soldiers, sailors, and aircrew fighting the enemy, Speaking Up instead relates the often-overlooked narratives of women, men, and LGBTQ2S+ peoples fighting against racism, sexism, colonialism, and homophobia in relation to the military….”

-Dr. Nancy Taber, Professor, Adult Education Program Director, Brock University