Artichoke Vol. 1 - The New Abnormal

“THE NEW ABNORMAL”

is is Artichoke.

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Hunter Weaymouth

ART DIRECTOR

Matteo De Sanctis

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Grace Sokolow CONTRIBUTORS

COMMUNITY DIRECTOR Megan De Sousa

WRITERS

Gabby de Manuel Inna Gordeyeva Megan De Sousa Kathrine Hiraman

Janna Eldishnawy Joshua Cea Hunter Weaymouth

FILMMAKERS

Omar Karim Mohammed Ayyad Jian Tan

DESIGNERS

Matteo De Sanctis Abby Bingham Jethro Sanchez Abigail Wiley Nieves Rocillo Rita Zhan Saumya Dimindi Nuha Aneez

Claudia Ladeira Sam Loiselle Brienna Hogben Amanda Lee Meaghan Gonsalves Kris Fan Khadija Bari Tom Dang

DANCERS MODEL PHOTOGRAPHER

Emilie Brunelle Jenica Boutiller Grace Sokolow

Eliza Szymak

A Welcome Letter from Dr. Bay-Cheng

ANNNNNNNND, WE’RE BACK!

Warm greetings to everyone arriving at York University this fall. As the Dean of the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) at York, I am excited to welcome everyone to the fall term and the start of a great new academic year at Winters College. Whether you are enrolled in an AMPD or Education program, a resident of the College, or an inquisitive student at York, Winters is a great place to find a welcoming and supportive community at the University.

Of course, York University is a big place. When I came to York in 2019, I left a small city with a population of approximately 66,000 people. With more than 60,000 students, faculty and sta learning and working at York, the Uni versity felt quite overwhelming at first. But, as I hope you will discover, this large, sprawling, and diverse community of York is made up of much smaller groups with whom you can connect and grow during your time at University. I encourage you to learn more about the many opportunities here, both those that align with your current interests and perhaps also to branch out in new areas as well. At Winters, you will encounter others like you who are interested in exploring the arts, design, teaching, learning, culture and community.

As you learn more about the University, please don’t hesitate to ask questions and make sug gestions if you’d like to contribute. Especially for those of you who are new to York, you bring something special with you. You have new per spectives, ideas, and experiences to share. This is your college and your university. Most impor tantly, this is your community.

And this community is no accident. Through out the worst of the pandemic, the great folks of the Winters College Council have worked continually to build and enhance a unique cre ative community whether gathering in person or online, in artistic collaborations or social events.

I am incredibly grateful for their hard work and commitment to others. Welcome to the new ocers of WCC and I look forward to working with them throughout the upcoming academic year to ensure that the Winters experience is positive for all students.

I hope you all have a great start to the fall term and an excellent forthcoming year in Winters and York.

Warmest wishes,

DR. SARAH BAY-CHENG Dean, School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

A Welcome Letter from WCC President

MY DEAREST WINTERS,

Welcome back to another school year! I hope the recent time o school has been productive, whether that be physically, emotionally, financially or even academically if you continued your studies throughout the summer term. I am so excited to welcome you back to the community, as we have many events planned throughout the years.

As we transition back into in-person events, it’s important to remember that we learned a lot from the online social world, and if you still need time to adjust back, that’s totally understandable. I want you to participate at the pace you believe is best for you. That being said, it’s also important to understand that you will have to be more pa tient with the council as we familiarize ourselves again with the way in-person events will work.

Be sure to sign up for SPOOOOORTS. Our calendar has been posted on the bulletin board right beside the Council o ce. We can’t wait to see you and your spirit as we represent Winters in Intramurals throughout the year.

Unfortunately, the Absinthe Pub and Co ee Shop will be closed until further notice. If you have any questions, please direct them to me. I am personally working my hardest to have it reopened a.s.a.p. and I really appreciate your patience while we sort business out.

O ce hours will resume soon, starting around mid-September. Please stop by if you need any information about services o ered at York.

I wish you the very best this school year and I look forward to seeing you around!

All my love, LEANNE CONNOR (she/her) President, Winters College Council

CASA ENCOURAGES AND coordinates opportunities, events, and student supports to enhance the university experience for creative undergraduate students at York University.

Our student-led club fosters a sense of community by encouraging the continuous interchange of ideas and mutual support among faculty, sta , and students, as well as any other relevant artistic organizations on and o campus.

Throughout the year, we provide students with the support needed to form lasting relationships with their peers to make connections, collaborate and create. We o er student grants, such as The Norma Sue Fischer Stitt and Professional Development Grants, to help students a ord their artistic projects and fund their independent creative development.

Also, we host social and professional networking events for AMPD students, which allows the arts community to flourish at York. Some past events include The AMPD Alumni Roundtable, Bring on the Arts Event, Jam Sessions, AMPD Virtual Networking Event, and the CASA Pride Event.

We love to promote creative opportunities in Toronto and local job postings on our Instagram story, as well as o er our own paid student opportunities when we can; like the Call for Artists for our new o ce mural!

CASA is always accepting new general members to come out to our weekly meetings and visit our o ce. Anyone interested in attending CASA events is welcome; our club invites all creative students to attend our initiatives and become general members, no matter your faculty!

Regards, Stephanie Pugh (she/her)

VP Initiatives of the Creative Arts Student Association

The Creative Arts Student Association (CASA) is here to help represent the interests of all AMPD students!

A Note from the CASA President:

I’m so excited for my nal year at York to be in this position and work with such a diverse and dedicated team. My goals for this year are to give AMPD students a place to belong and voice their concerns especially as we return in person. We’re planning plenty of events, grants, and opportunities for ne arts students so stay tuned on our Instagram (@casa.yorku) and get involved!

Best, Selwyn Tchang (he/him) President of the Creative Arts Student Association

BY HUNTER WEAYMOUTH

IF YOU HAVE never heard that term before or are a little unsure of what it means, that is ok. I am here to help you better understand what Winters College Council is all about and why you will not want to miss an event all year.

Winters College is made up of stu dents from the School of Arts, Media, Performance, and Design (AMPD) and the Faculty of Education. If you are reading Artichoke magazine, it probably means that you are a member of Winters College. Welcome aboard, we are so lucky to have you!

Being a part of Winters College means that you are also able to join Winters College Council (WCC). Winters College Council is the student government for Winters College, and its primary goal is to enhance and enrich the university experi ence, both in and out of the classroom, for every member of Winters College.

WCC is a great way to let o some steam, express yourself creatively in a judgement-free zone, and connect and socialize with other students you wouldn’t normally get a chance to meet. All year, Winters College Council will be hosting events like karaoke night, movie night, trivia

night, and more! Whether you are on cam pus or not, WCC will have an event for you. Follow @winterscounsel on Instagram and Winters College Council on Facebook to stay updated with all the latest happenings and events WCC has planned.

If WCC sounds like something you may be interested in joining, there will be elections for residence representatives, first-year representatives, and a few other positions, so keep an eye out for informa tion regarding that coming soon!

If you are curious or have questions about Winters, Frosh, student life, Campus, specific programs, etc., do not hesitate to reach out. Every member of WCC is more than happy to help you out! You can find each member‘s contact info by visiting the Winters College Council website.

Rock on, Winters!

DEITIES

BY GABBY DE MANUEL

I HELD HIM in the highest esteem it was like he wasn’t real like he was some sort of deity everywhere at once and no where, at the same time achieving the impossible

he asked if he could get me anything and o ered to make me tea my mind flickered on tea as a luxury and the two boxes in the cabinet he gave me a mug with a worn logo something plain and made to be sold for fundraising I watched the steaming, boiled water seep into the tea bag

he lingered in the doorway his smile was soft and genuine it was like a phrase in another language conveying things only we could understand something sad but irreplaceable precious something that made me feel like conwoman

sometimes I got buried deep in my work boxed in, late hours of the night every now and then it would occur to me that the world was still there outside my walls that his heart was beating somewhere that he was out achieving remarkable things

something deep inside my mind couldn’t fathom what I hadn’t known myself something unworldly or magical something impossible but right there in front of me

when his palm was pressed up against mine skin, bone, warmth, pressure and his fingers curled around the spaces between mine and he asked if he could get me anything he o ered to make me tea and I wanted to laugh. or cry. or perhaps do nothing at all.

he apologized for not calling and I told him it was just as well his eyes would speak that language again and then I’d realize that somehow I got rusty. knowing that it meant something so hard to be spoken like the taste of metal on your tongue my mind began to push it away and push it away as I stirred honey into my mug of tea and so the world disappeared again and him with it and I held him in the highest esteem until he manifested in between the spaces of my fingers and stung like the taste of blood.

but my mind could always fathom it even though I always denied there are deities on earth and demons in the darkest places as real as skin and bone and sweaty palms hearts beating when you aren’t there to notice and I feared them for the longest time that I willed them out of my universe and I saw them again when he lingered in that doorway and like a coward, I turned and ran.

the space he owned the air he breathed he possessed just by existing the magic he could wrangle was only a fraction of his being and he was human like me or anyone else and it gave me power to recognize what it was like to wield magic without the grief and without the crippling fear the events of trauma unfold ed due to circumstance and power thrumming underneath the surface but we both survived with our magic intact because that wasn’t what caused the pain and we could never rid ourselves of it, no matter what we did

I knocked on his door and waited for what felt like days and the knob clicked open his face was the same, godly as ever but I knew better I swallowed against the lump in my throat and looked into his eyes remembering the language I once gave up on but I had to try at a certain point my vision became blurry and he reached for my hand skin and bone and warmth his palm pressed to mine and like a friend of many years, he took me inside and made tea from one of the two boxes in a plain mug with a worn out logo he slid it towards me and whispered for me to hush and I think that for the first time in a while, I understood.

BY CINDY KEREK

Bag On The Floor

String of Pearls

Bata Shoe Museum

TO MY FIRST-YEAR SELF

BY MEGAN DE SOUSA

TO MY FIRST-YEAR self,

Take this place, community, or path not as a newness, not a fresh start, but as a continu ation of the progress you’ve made as a being so far. Think not of this as a rebirth, a fresh page or the next part in a cyclical link within your life—this is simply an evolution.

The first time you cry about how di cult it is, how you’ll scream frustrations into your pillow, look into how feasible it is to drop out, prepare a speech about how you’re okay succumbing to the o ce life you’ve been fearful of— it’s fleeting. Moments later, you’ll get a text from your new classmate about going for a picnic in Toronto and you forget why your cheeks are filled with old salty tears.

Because it’s not about relapsing into your “old self”, there is no “new self”, you will grow, mould, reshape, reshape, reshape and reshape until you become closer to being you, truly you and you’ll connect and sink into moments having conversations you’ll never remember, simply enjoying yourself and what you’re growing amongst.

Soak in every moment, every experience, love your friends, enjoy your stress, and the bad moments, knowing this is the right YOU. Don’t be yourself, just be, and you’ll evolve into a being that is beyond uniquely YOU.

Yours, Megan

PHOTOGRAPHED BY MEGAN DE SOUSA MODEL GRACE SOKOLOW

DAKOTA

BLUE

BY JANNA ELDISHNAWY

WHAT AM I most excited about this fall? Well, that is a loaded question. You see, I’m going into my third year here at York. I’m already halfway done with my program and it’s not going the way I’ve always envisioned my university experience going. You can probably guess why; stupid Covid. Covid naturally screwed everything up. The past two years have been a whirlwind and also have moved very slowly at the same time.

What am I most excited about? Having a semi-normal experience. More specifically: actually meeting my fellow classmates. It’s been two years of zoom interactions, and two years of social media group chat/direct message interactions, and while our whole group of fellow Screenwriters are friends, everyone will agree that it’s not the same. Some of us have met a couple of times when covid restrictions were lifted a little, but never the whole group. I can say with certainty that on those rare occasions, the experience was so much di erent and better than all the online interactions. There is just something about the face-to-face connection, you can feel the energy.

I’m excited about all of us learning in the same space. To just generally share common spaces. Maybe going somewhere as a group

or with a single person after class to eat or study together in a quiet place, or just hang out. You can learn a lot about a person when you learn in the same physical space as them. I have yet to even interact with anyone in my program that’s in a di erent year than me. I was excited to meet people who could possibly give me wisdom, and who’ve been in my shoes. But no, in all likelihood, I might possibly be the one giving out the wisdom. The thought of that alone is daunting.

I’ve always envisioned my university expe rience going the same way as they stereotyp ically show them in the media. I know it might not be like that actually, but stereotypes have to come from somewhere, right? I wanted to see firsthand how true those stereotypes actually were. To try new things, to make mistakes, to explore, to make core memories. With things going back to being semi-normal, I can’t wait to experience what that’s like. What am I most excited about? Having a second chance at a new beginning.

SECOND CHANCE

BEGINNINGS

BY DANNY WHINCOP

CAN HUMANS FLY?

THE NEW Abnormal

BY HUNTER WEAYMOUTH

JENICA BOUTILIER AND EMILIE BRUNELLE are two 3rd-year dance students at York. I sat down with them to talk about their experience dancing through a pandemic over the last two years, as well as what they’re expecting for this upcoming year.

Thank you both for doing this.

JB: Happy to be here.

EB: Likewise.

I’ll be the firt to admit that I know nothing about dance, let alone the dance program at York. So, for someone like me, how would you explain what the firt two years of the dance program look or feel like?

JB: Well, the first two years are super busy, and depending on how often you danced per week before coming to York, it can feel way more intense. It can be overwhelming, but it’s also very rewarding knowing how much work you’ve put into it.

EB: There are lots of early morn ings. Lots of watching people’s old dance competitions. Lots of meeting new faces and trying to remember them all. The more I talk about it, the more over whelming it sounds, but it’s really

not that bad. If you put in the work, then even when it feels like you’re in the wrong place, you’ll find a way through.

Your firt-year experience was pretty dierent from almost any other firt-year experience because both of you spent your entire firt years dancing online, correct?

Both: Yes.

I can’t imagine that it was much fun. Were there any positives you were able to get out of that experience?

JB: It wasn’t much fun, you’re right. Dancing in common rooms or in my own dorm was not a

good environment for my learning, but I think it made me much more in tune with my body. All my life, I grew up dancing ina studio where people were always around, or some thing was always going on, and there wasn’t this crazy amount of focus on yourself. On zoom, you’re dancing all by yourself, with nobody’s energy to feed o or hide behind. It really forces you to focus on yourself.

EB: Yeah, same for me. I think also it taught me a lot about resilience and how to look past certain short-term challenges that I may be facing. I learned how to keep going, knowing that whatever is happening now isn’t

a forever thing. I think it also made me a lot more tech-savvy.

That’s true. I think all of us learned a lot more about Zoom than we ever wanted to. Do you think spending that firt year dancing online aected your actual abilities at all?

EB: For sure. How could it not have?

JB: Yeah, I went to residence in my first year because I didn’t have a great space at home to be using for my classes, but even the space at Winters was less than ideal.

EB: It’s interesting though,

JENICA BOUTLIER

because I don’t think I was aware of how much it actually a ected me until this year when we had in-person classes. Getting back into routine and building back what I’d had before covid was a challenge at the start of the semester.

Because of the circumstances of the last two years, do you feel like there’s a disconnect between you and the other people who are in your classes?

EB: Having experienced first year online, I met all my peers via Zoom. If things had stayed that way in second year, I think I would feel a pretty big dis connect, but I honestly had a

positive second year because I had the opportunity to meet fellow students for the first time. We didn’t know what we were missing out on in first year, so in a way, the second year was like a redo first year.

JB: Totally. I’m very thankful to say that I don’t feel disconnected from the other students in my cohort. In first year, although we weren’t all together in person, I felt it was easy to talk with everyone online. When second year came along, I was really excited to finally meet everyone in person and I felt that same energy from the students in my cohort as well.

Pursuing a degree where your primary instrument is your body can be a challenge when thrown into the typical student life. Having to balance so many things all at once can make it easy to overlook important elements of self-care.

EMILIE BRUNELLE

JB: Personally, I am quite pleased with this decision. As a dancer, wearing a mask during class was quite frustrating at times. Breath is an incredibly important element in dance and when your breath is limited it lim its your dancing. I felt I couldn’t push myself as hard and when I did I felt extremely lightheaded and would either have to sit for a moment or leave the class for a little. I understand why the decision was made but nonethe less, it was still frustrating.

EB: Same here. Although I do feel safe at times with the mask, I have to say for some of my courses, specifically the physi cal dance ones, it’s a breath of fresh, literally, to have the man date removed. I noticed my lung capacity was a ected by having to do high-energy dance class es/performances while masked.

Although I will carry masks with me at times because crowds still feel a little overwhelming, I am looking forward to being able to breathe better in classes and see the other half of faces.

What has been your biggest challenge so far?

EB: My biggest challenge is maintaining a healthy body-soul relationship. Pursuing a degree where your primary instrument is your body can be a challenge when thrown into the typical student life. Having to balance so many things all at once can make it easy to overlook import ant elements of self-care.

JB: Hmm, that’s a good one. I think my biggest challenge has honestly been online school. It really made me question if I was in the right field and pursu ing something I was passionate about. Luckily, once things got going in second year, I realized that wasn’t the case, and it was just the circumstances of every thing, but that doubt still creeps in every now and then.

What about your biggest triumph?

JB: Not to beat a dead horse, but I think my biggest triumph so far is that I’m still here, that I still want to pursue this career after everything that’s happened these past 2 years. It has not been easy, but I feel like I’m starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

EB: I don’t know if I’m being honest…I feel like I’m still look ing for it. What Jen said is true though. Sticking with my pro gram of choice and continuing to pursue a career in what I love has been much more di cult than I expected over the last two years.

Do you have any goals for your last two years?

JB: Nothing major for me, no. I really want to focus on enjoying the present moment and not trying to rush through things.

EB: I think my goal is pretty sim ilar. I want to make the most of my time on campus after not re ally getting a chance for the past two years. I really want to spend some time discovering who I am as a person, artist and friend.

JB: Oh, that actually reminded me of a goal I have. I’d like to try a dance style that is new to me. Maybe, like, ballroom dancing or something like that.

Well, I appreciate the two of you taking time out of your busy schedules for this. To end, I’d just like to know what you love about dancing at York.

EB: For me, I love that the dance program here has a consistent schedule that’s always pretty similar throughout your four years. It gives you time to plan other things around it. I also have to give a shoutout to all our teachers, they’re amazing. Most of all, I think being able to build close-knit friendships due to the small class sizes is something I love.

JB: The community is the thing I love. Everyone is super support ive and friendly. It’s nice being surrounded by people who share the same passion as you.

How do you feel now that the mask mandate has been removed for classes?

What I Wish I Knew

BY INNA GORDEYEVA

HELLO! YES I know you are confused. It is not every day the 25-year-old version of you comes to speak to you as a teenager. So, while I have this chance, let me tell you all the things I wish I knew when I was you. Hear me out…

1.It is ok that your friend group is getting smaller than it was in high school. You are all just trying to figure out what you want to do with your lives, and sometimes saying goodbye to an old friend opens up doors to amazing new lifelong friends. Let go of the friends who do not support you and play a role in your growth. There is nothing wrong with you or with them, but it is wise to acknowledge how you a ect each other when you hang out.

2. Please do not dwell on any relationship; you are here to discover and explore not to sign a marriage document. I know first loves are like no other, and you’ll probably remember the heartbreak even when you are 80, but I promise that there is nothing in the world worse than breaking your own heart. Do not put a wall around it, but most definitely treat it like the world’s most exquisite art gallery: only those who truly appreciate the mastery and magic of you are allowed to enter. You are more than you ever needed and you will continue to grow in love. I promise.

3. Do not compare your journey to any of the people you meet. At first, it may feel very overwhelming to see new faces every few months and hear new stories and paths during brief study group sessions or random conversations. Some are passionate about their major, some are undecided, some do not have a plan, and some know what to do 20 years ahead. All of that is completely normal. Rather than questioning yourself, be curious and instead ask those around you questions, you may learn something new which expands perspective and provides insight on your next potential step. Everything always falls into place, trust in divine timing.

4. While in high school, a passing grade was attainable to graduate and move on. In university, grades play a huge role in your future opportunities. Even if you do not know what to do after graduation, please focus on your grades. Attend lectures, study the material, do your homework, and find the optimal study strategies based on the course. Take it one day, one class, one moment at a time.

Well, I do not want to overwhelm you, former me. Let’s start with taking in these 4 pieces of advice I threw your way. When you are lost, sad, depressed, confused, lonely, distracted, anxious, or rebellious, just think of me. Reach out to somebody, the resources are all around. I can just reassure you that you will get through these years of changes, emotions, and newness, coming out on the other side happier and more sure of yourself than ever.

BY OMAR KARIM, MOHAMMED AYYAD, & JIAN TAN

HOME SMELLS LIKE A

BY KATHRINE HIRAMAN

SUMMER CAMPFIRE

EVERY TIME ANOTHER summer rolls around, I think it’s a dream. That it’s not real. It happens slowly and all at once. As quick as a blink of an eye, and as lazy as a slowly exhaled breath, that’s what summer is. This summer taught me a lot about life, as it felt livelier after the e ects of the global pandemic. This summer was filled with more days by the lake and campfires at sunset, and fewer long-distance phone calls and ten-day quarantines. But most importantly, this summer for me fortified my sense of self.

The sounds of midday cicadas and late-night crickets still ring in my ears as I recall my summer memories now. In the beginning months of summer, I was a di erent person. Before the heat rose to its full intensity I was sheltered and insecure. I was unsure about what I wanted to do with my life, and I didn’t have my support circle at my fingertips. We were all busy trying to figure out this big life tran sition that is being a first-year university student. Summer provides the much-needed time o to

process all of the growth that is jam-packed into your first fall and winter semesters, it also provides time to celebrate that growth. The magical thing about summer is the possibility that flows through each cool evening breeze after a scorching hot day. Summer has its own plans; you can’t control it, you simply just experience it. It is very di erent from the rigid class and work schedule that structures our day-to-day lives in the fall and winter. Getting to see and talk to people again put life into perspective for me after feeling so alone during school. It was nice to know that everyone else was just as lost as I was.

I do believe that a strong support circle is one of the things that help you survive early adulthood. My support circle consists of my best friends that I’ve grown up with and it brought me comfort this summer that they were home again. It was so nice to see

them and listen to all of their new stories and experi ences. The memories that we made this summer will bring me strength when I feel alone this upcoming fall. I’ve also learned this summer that memories and experiences are only made based on your willingness to surrender, to say yes more often, and to be more open-minded when it comes to meeting new people. Through memories and expe riences, you create a home within yourself. A safe place that you can retreat to when times are tough. Through expe more secure in yourself. This summer helped me open up and I saw myself in a di erent light. A light where I didn’t need to be confined to the boundaries nd expectations of others. Through my friends, I was able to grow. My friends never cease to amaze and inspire me every day and getting to see them again this summer reinvigorated my drive and passion for life.

Summer has its own plans; you can’t control

it, you simply just experience it.

So, when you are going through your midterm blues this year and thoughts of summer are a distant melody, try not to forget of all the possibilities waiting around the corner, of all the people - new and old- that will give you the space to let you become yourself. This summer was full of found family and letting go of control. It was filled with late nights, laughs, and the smell of campfire smoke. Home is where the heart is no matter where you are whether that be by the lake or on campus. Home comes from within. That’s what I’ve learned this summer and that’s why I feel more secure in starting my journey in life and here at York

Indigenous Str-

BY JOSHUA CEA

IN OCTOBER 1492, Christopher Columbus landed in what is now the present-day Bahamas, paving the way for European colonial ism in The Americas. As soon as Columbus returned to Spain, word spread throughout Europe of the vast riches found in the “New World” prompting England, France, and Portugal to try to lay claim on the territory and access to its resources.

The Spanish conquest of the Aztec and Inca Empires highlighted— in the minds of many Europeans, at least—that the continent was rich in gold and silver, but the French and English turned their attention to North America, contending with each other for dominance at the expense of the natives. The establishment of Jamestown in 1607 marked the first English settlement on the continent, bringing in waves of English migration. A notable example is that of the Mayflower, the basis of what is now the backdrop story behind “Thanksgiving” day. Yet while the interactions between English and natives are illustrated in an ideal manner, the crux of the matter is that most of the interactions were based on personal interest and expansionism by the Europeans.

European Territorial expansion brought with it betrayal and broken promises between the colonists and the natives. For example, after

uggles in Light...

successfully defeating France in the aftermath of the French and Indian war, a.k.a. the Seven Years War, Britain came into an agreement with its indigenous allies and established the Royal Proclama tion in 1763, limiting colonists from settling further into the continent. The agreement was soon disregarded by Anglo-Americans and not enforced. President Andrew Jackson, who in years prior requested Cherokee tribes join the U.S during the War of 1812, expelled them as part of the Indian Removal Act to accommodate American settlement. Cherokee Leader John Ross, who participated during the war under then General Jackson felt betrayed by the false promises of the U.S government and by Jackson himself. The forceful removal led to what is now what is called the “Trail of Tears” in which around 60,000 indig enous people died moving to what later became native reservations.

Fast-forward a couple of decades to the Dominion of Canada and the Red River Settlement. Drawing parallels from decades prior, Metis leader Louis Riel was concerned about Anglo-Canadian encroach ment into what became Manitoba. The Metis were fearful that the transfer of land between the Hudson’s Bay Company to the newly established Dominion would lead to their land being disrespected and

of National Day

their people being expelled just like the many countless tribes across the continent. After an unsuccessful rebellion against the government, Louis Riel was set on trial and executed. The Metis were later rele gated from their land, forcing them to move into undesirable territory all the while their ancestral land was bought by speculators and exploited for business.

for Truth and...

Another notable event was the Battle of Little Bighorn as part of the Great Sioux War, in which the 7th Cavalry of the U.S Army led by Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer was completely wiped out by the Lakota and their indigenous allies. The basis for such war was the discovery of gold in native territory which was designated by the U.S Government as reservation land years prior. As both the United States and Canada established reservations, Indigenous people were dis criminated against, relegated, and forgotten. When light came upon the undiscovered grave sites on former residential schools, it should come as no surprise to most people that the indigenous people in Canada are still largely forgotten and underfunded by the government.

Reconciliation.

When looking back at the struggles and injustices done toward the people of this continent, the step toward reconciliation should be largely expanded by government e orts into improving the living con ditions and opening opportunities for better education and employ ment. The legacy of colonialism has ultimately shaped each nation across The Americas, and it should be up to each individual residing in such a place to make amends with each other and strive toward a better tomorrow.

BY INNA GORDEYEVA

LOTUS

our mind will persevere and our spirit is purposeful, we will integrate our knowledge of all lifetimes into this one and go in and out in light and love We awakened to experience and bloom like the lotus in mud Whatever awaits won't take away from who we are at our very core

BLUE

I get so blue sometimes I forget all about rainbows and the sun when it turns dark and I’ve almost lost all sight the stars remind me to dream again

BREATHE

Birds do not fly in the rain you see there isn’t much to gain when nature calls you to retreat when the earth pauses and repeats so when a storm within you rises do not pretend to minimize this sit through it in stillness and silence observe the lesson, hear the guidance when the clouds halt all the crying birds fly again and you proceed why fight and lose energy trying when all you have to do is breathe