Canada, the 51st State? B. Lorraine Smith on National Identity, Tariffs, and the Illusion of Borders

Everyday Ancestral with James Barry

Is Canadian pride a distraction from deeper truths? What if borders are just an illusion, and immigration debates miss the point entirely?

In this thought-provoking conversation, I sit down with B. Lorraine Smith to explore the unseen layers of national identity, economic interdependence, and the ancestral wisdom of bioregional living. Lorraine isn’t just forward-thinking, she’s upstream-thinking. From indigenous sovereignty and Quebec’s autonomy to the fabricated drama around tariffs and trade, she invites us to examine what it really means to belong to a place. Spoiler: it’s not about passports or patriotism.

We also dig into the myth of economic simplicity and the media narratives that cloud our understanding of immigration and borders. If you’ve ever questioned the validity of nation-states or wondered what migratory birds might teach us about sovereignty, this episode is for you.

Lorraine’s voice is one of the rare few asking us not just where we’re from but how we live where we are.

Key Takeaways

Borders Are a Human Construct – Lorraine challenges the very premise of nation-states, urging a return to bioregional belonging over artificial boundaries.

Rethinking Immigration Narratives – Instead of fear-based immigration rhetoric, she encourages a systems view of movement, identity, and economic flow.

The Truth About Canadian Pride – Patriotism may obscure the realities of indigenous sovereignty, inter-provincial trade dysfunction, and Quebec’s autonomy.

Economic Drama vs. System Complexity – Tariffs, trade wars, and financial policies are often oversimplified in political discourse. This episode exposes their layered impacts.

Why Bioregionalism Matters Now – Amid global migration and ecological shifts, thinking locally and ecologically offers ancestral wisdom for modern problems.

From Tariffs to Truth – Lorraine’s economic insights ground abstract policy debates in real family stories, making complex issues deeply relatable.

Where to Find Our Guest

B. Lorraine Smith’s Website: https://www.blorrainesmith.com/

B. Lorraine Smith on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blorrainesmith/

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