YOU(TH) INSPIRE Newsletter - Fall 2022

Julia Usaak & Haily May JUsaak ulia Usaak & Haily May Usaak

Heyreaders,

I'mJulia!I'vebeenpartofMoreThanWords&Pathways2Equityforthepastfew yearsandIloveit.Ilikeworkingwithkidsbecauseit'sreallyfuntoteachthemnew thingsaboutmyculture.WhenI'mnotparticipatingintheprogram,Iliketoread booksandhangoutwithfriends.Iliketospendtimelisteningtomymomtell storiesofwhenIwasakidandtoshareallourmemories.Ihopeyouenjoyreading thisnewsletterandaboutalltheyouthartgroupsacrossCanada!

More Than Words

Pathways2Equity

ROOTS

Pathways2Equity(P2E)isrootedincommunity based,youth ledresearchtoaddresssexualandgender basedviolence(SGBV)starting in2014withNetworksforChangeandWell being:Girl led‘fromthegroundup’policymakingtoaddresssexualviolenceinCanadaand SouthAfrica InNetworksforChange(N4C),Blackgirlsandyoung womeninSouthAfricaandIndigenousgirlsandyoungwomenin Canada used art and activism to advocate for not only their rights to safety, but freedom in their communities From N4C, youth in Eskasoni, Rankin Inlet and Treaty 6 continued to address SGBV in their communities through arts based, youth led and Indigenous focussed work with the More Than Words (MTW) Project P2E builds on the leadership of the girls and young women in these three sites,workingwithboysandyoungmentoaddressSGBV

WHO'S INVOLVED?

P2E and MTW are youth led projects working with girls and young women and boys and young men in Eskasoni, Rankin Inlet and Treaty

6 The youth in all three sites are supported by a network of adults, including aunties, site leaders/community scholars, academic supporters and more! Site leaders and community scholars are adults in the community facilitating activities themselves and supporting youth mentors as they facilitate activitiesaswell.Theacademicsupporterscome from different universities across Canada; York University, Mount St Vincent University and DalhousieUniversity Additionally,allthesitesare supported by the implementation team at McGill University in Tiohtià:ke/Montréal MTW andP2Eisalsoconnectedtopartnersites, These groups are working towards the same goals as MTWandP2Eandtryingoutpracticesfromthe projects.

GOALS

TofostertheleadershipofIndigenousgirlsandyoungwomen ToengageIndigenousboysandyoungmeninendingsexualand gender basedviolence

To create local and culturally relevant dialogues and knowledge sharingeventsaroundendinggender basedviolence

ToestablishaPathways2Equity:YouthFrameworkNetworkbased on local and national engagement, which will support and strengthenboygroups/girlgroups'workanddialogue through the artsengagement

Rankin Inlet

Treaty 6 the traditional homelands of the Métis

Eskasoni Eskasoni

Chokecherry CStudios hokecherry Studios

Ayouthfoundednon-profitofferingarts-based programmingandmentorshiptoyoungand emergingartistsininner-citySaskatoonon Treaty6Territory; theHomelandoftheMétis.

1stGuysWorkworkshops

GuysWork aims to improve mental and sexual health and reduce male perpetrated violence by supporting guys to deconstruct and resist health harming gender norms Conversations take place in a simple circle of chairs and are grounded in the idea that boys and men can present their masculinity in different ways some that are healthy or helpful, and others that are unhealthy or unhelpful. In these conversations,guysdiscussidentity,drugsand alcohol use, consent and sexual violence, healthy relationships, pornography, and seeking help. GuysWork strives to encourage guys to feel comfortable displaying masculine identities that are more authentic and to support the authentic identities of their male peers

Moe, Delano, and Dave facilitated two GuysWork talking circles at Chokecherry Studios from June 6th to June 9th, with a small but very engaged group of guys Though GuysWork lasted only a handful of workshops over a few days, Delano will be continuing to facilitate this work as the Nistês Coordinator at ChokecherryStudios,usingtheirdiscussionsof identity, relationships, and mascunility as a foundationtoaddressviolenceagainstwomen withboysandyoungmen.

TREATY T6 REATY 6

Morris (Moe) Green is a health education consultant from Halifax, Nova Scotia, who has worked with teenagers for 40 years across a wide range of youth health issues, including injury prevention, physical activity, and healthy eating. His most recent work focuses on the pressures and expectations around masculinity and their impact on the health of young men.

DaveShanksistheAssociateDirectorat The Students Commission of Canada in Saskatoon, a non profit organization supporting young people to participate in the activities of local, provincial, national and international organizations and governments. Dave cares deeply aboutputtingyoungpeople’sideasinto action and fostering a society that values and cares about children and youth. Dave also works as a yoga instructor and instills a social justice orientedlensinhispractice.

Delano is originally from Sweetgrass and Little Pine First Nations located in Treaty6Territory. Delano has joined the Chokecherry team as the Nistês (older brother) Coordinator! This new project focuses on combating colonial and gender based violence and exploring healthy masculinitywithyoungmen.

As the Nitas (Older Brother) coordinator I wanted to approach this work by decolonizing what “Healthy masculinities” means, especially to the worthy young men I had the honour to work with this past summer. As you may have noticed my job title is not the cliché “youth worker” title nor have I never wanted to be seen as such so I opted back to the Nehiyaw (Plains Cree) language and the kinship teachings that came with it Nitas (nee st aas) is a general term that anyone can use meaning “Older Brother”

ButWhy?ButWhy?

In our teachings kinship is strong and it is what kept us together in times of peril and in times of flourishment for our people It is the mentorship that we as young boys would have learned, not only from our immediate nuclear family fathers but from our grandfathers, our uncles, older brothers and adopted fathers In those times of living in wigwams and later teepees for the Cree, we were rich and vibrant with extended family holding us To celebrate the many firsts such as uttering our first word to honouring our first kill (hunting) with ceremonies, aunties and uncles sticking their tongue out in laughter, to be and feel loved.

Nowadays due to colonisation, our systems have been disrupted and polluted with white patriarchal norms. You may hear in the news of young Indigenous men harming others, although I don't condone violence, the perception can still affect other worthy young men that it is normal to be angry all the time and to take it out on others

TREATY T6 REATY

Not only would I have taught these young men about some men's teachings, they also had a chance to express what they felt through hip hop with Dash Throughout the summer we had the privilege to witness the deadliness these young men bring to the Studio, once you put on a deadly beat and they vibe with it Man I tells ya these guys have potential, seriously These guys are the next level storytellers in the way they construct their rhymes, the way they tell their story, it is a truly powerful gift.

The goal of this project is not to “empower” meaning they would need external sources to find said power this is problematic But rather “inpower” meaning they already have that power within themselves It is not to be the “perfect healthiest man” that’s just impossible. On the first day, I told these guys that I’m not here to save them, that whole saviour mentality is a whole other conversation, but rather a guide on their journey.

The goal is to be our most authentic selves, to acknowledge the mistakes we made by owning up and apologising, to forgive not only others who have caused us harm, but to forgive ourselves for holding on to the pains, and to let go

The topics we have discussed include the human drama triangle, non personal awareness (NPA) and emotions, Cree teachings, and relationships are just a few examples

Delano Kennedy D(he/him) elano Kennedy (he/him)

Young Indigenous Women's YUtopia oung Indigenous Women's Utopia

Wearethankfultobeabletobringgreetingsand sharewhatYIWUGen1and2havebeenuptothis pastyear!ThisfallandwinterYIWUwassurviving school and COVID19 …. again …. We welcomed SarahandZachonSeptember30th,2021tobegin thepiecingtogetherthephotosforourupcoming book Someofusgirlswerehangingbyathread butwemadeit.Weworkedonandreceivedan amazing care package collaboration with The AssemblyofSevenGenerationandwereceived someSWAGfromIndigenousartists,businesses and clothing lines This definitely cheered us up and helped us get through the winter and we wereabletogivesomeotheryouthcarepackages toremindouryouththeyaresacredandloved WethankA7Gforalwayswantingtoworkwithus andforkeepingfundsfunnellingintograssroots organisationslikeYIWU!

We were working with Zach to pull together our very own special book over the winter months. This book wasn’t like the first time … all of our interviews were over video chats and messenger and with someone all thewayinToronto Wesharedgoogledocstoco writeourpiecesforthe books Thankfully,wehadacouplegirlsgroupsinpersonmeetingsinthe beginningstagesatChokecherryStudio’sandatJenn’splacewherewe gottowritetogetherinthesameroomtofinalisethismuchanticipated sequelkîyânawocêpihkComeintomysacredspace Weareinthefinal stagesofdesignandlayoutandwillbelaunchingintheFallof2022

Draft book cover designed by Gabby Giroux at Encore Graphics

Writing & photo selection activity - September 2021

Zach and Sarah’s visit to put together photos for Gen 2s book - Fall 2021

YOUTH GROUP NEWS

TREATY T6 REATY 6

Cancel Canada Day, Tr

July 1st, we collaborated with Chokecherry to Cancel Canada Day! I (Harmony) was asked to speak on the behalf of our girls group and my cousin Kalan Kakum Mckay wasaskedtodanceinherjingledresstohonoursurvivors,MMIWGTW+andallofthe babieswhowerestolenfromourfamiliesandcommunities CancellingCanadaDay isn’tjustaboutanevent,it'samovementandconstantreminderofthegenocidethat we continue to experience celebrating a country that has failed in their relationship withIndigenousPeople’sjustdoesn’tmakesensetous Ihavehadtheopportunityto speakinfrontofmanypeoplebeforeandI’vemc’edeventsatmyschoolmanytimes and a lot of people would say I crushed it everytime So it did not worry me in the slightestbittorepresentYIWUonthisday!I’mproudthatIwaschosenandinvitedto speakandwillbegratefulforeverthatIwasgivenaplatformtousemyvoice

Visiting the Creator, Save the Matriarch! mural with our GET ART sisters from Rankin Inlet June 2022

In July 2022 Haily May, Julia & Jennica fromtheGETARTyouthgroupinRankin Inlet visited us in Treaty 6 We wanted to show the Rankin Inlet girls how we put community,self loveandactiontogether and we planned and hosted a BBQ and free haircuts and brow tinting and threading at one of our favourite spots, Chokecherry Studios We served over 400 community members and quite quickly. Stephanie Love and Trish Gardypie were busy all day and put so many smiles on our youths' faces This eventwasaHUGEsuccess

Upcoming stuff for YIWU is that youth from the Assembly of The Seven Generations are coming from Ottawa to come and hangout with us and get the Young Indigenous Women's Utopia Experience. The next month of summer we will be relaxing, scrolling Instagram, watching movies, enjoying time with family and our book will hopefully be at the printers When that comes, we will do our book launch and celebrate the long awaited book that our family and friends have been excited for the past year! YIWU plans to stay connected, pick safe, give back to our community, make art and make a difference just by existing and we can't wait to do many more things and achieve and create many more memories together!

Take Care! Kinananskomin!

Mel And Harmony McKay

Aunt Jen, Sarah and Zach and the YIWU FAM

Mopedding with Rankin Inlet Sisters June 2022

Chokecherry Studio promotes Harmony!

Cancel Canada Day, Treaty 6

Rankin RInlet ankin Inlet

Girls Expressing Themselves Through Art (GET ART) is a youth arts program in Rankin Inlet supported by community scholar Jennica Barcial. Julia Ussak & Haily May Ussak started out as program participants, developing facilitation and leadership skills over the past few years. They are now mentoring the next generation of GET ART youth, which includes girls and young women together with boys and young men.

In June 2022 Haily May, Julia & Jennica headed to Winnipeg to attend Auviqsaqtut Inuit Studies Conference and visit Qaumajuq, an innovative new museum and home of the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art in the world. During this trip they took the opportunity to visit sister youth-group Young Indigenous Women's Utopia in Treaty 6, Traditional Homeland of the Métis, Treaty 6.

Rankin Inlet, NU

Treaty 6 & the Traditional Homeland of the Métis, Saskatoon, SK Winnipeg, MB

JuliaUssak: ThissummerIwentonatripfortheGETARTprogramI’mworkingforWe wenttoWinnipegandSaskatoonandIhadanamazingtime!InSaskatoon, wemetanothergirlgroup(YIWU)thatisdoingthesametypesofprogram thatwedoAllofthegirlswemetaresokindandwelcomingWealso learnedsomuchabouttheirculture.Iwouldliketothankthegirlsand AuntieJenn,AuntieTeganandAliciafortheplacestheytookusandthetime theytookoutoftheirdaytoshowusaround.

Eskasoni Eskasoni

ASI share updates on the presentation on their Facebook Page

SummerPolicyForum

2022

Three youth from Eskasoni; Hannah, Angelo, and Hugh Paul, were invited to speak at the Atlantic Summer Institute (ASI) Summer policy forum 2022. The theme for the Summer policy forum is "Together Again: Regenerating the Power of Connection". Hannah, Angelo, and Hugh Paul will present on their work withSpaceandPlaces.Theyareusing their platforms at the conference to discuss the work they have done and how it contributes to community resilience. They will also present two workshops with me about youthengaged community problem-solving tools.

ASI agenda detailing the presentation by the Eskasoni youth.

NORTH VAN GIRL NGROUP ORTH VAN GIRL GROUP

Hello from the shared territories of the xʷməθkwəyəm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səlílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil Waututh) Nations! A Girl Group to Empower Youth was a Pathy Foundation Fellowship funded project, working with female and femme youth in North Vancouver, BC, my home community! I (Emily Booker) have worked as a research assistant with the MTW project for the last three years and was thrilled to have the opportunity to bring the principles and practices from More Than Words to my home community

Watch Emily's final fellowship presentation here!

As the group was coming to an end we had a number of different conversations reflecting on all the work the youth had done. In these reflections, the youth noted that they had spent 8 months doing the hard work of building self love muscles and confidence and working to end Sexual & Gender based Violence (SGBV) in our community. These reflections also included that the youth don’t want to continue this work alone; boys and young men need to be participating in the work as well! As a group, we talked about what we currently see happening in our community, why boys and men should care, and what they could do This conversation prompted discussions of how jokes or “small” comments have big impacts on female and femme youth, how boys and young men have the potential to make spaces safe or unsafe, and what might be holding them back from participating and calling on them to listen respectfully After this discussion, the youth created collages thinking about what it would look like to engage boys and young men in ending SGBV in North Vancouver.

COLLABORATIVE CMASCULINITIES OLLABORATIVE MASCULINITIES

On February 24th, 2022, The Collaborative Masculinities Virtual DialoguebroughttogetheryouthinvolvedinMoreThanWordsand adult allies to discuss the opportunities and complexities of calling in Indigenous young men and boys to the movement to end gender based violence. The speakers spoke about the importance of including boys and young men in the fight to end SGBV, while acknowledging the challenges Some of the challenges identified included how masculinity is often associated with not being emotional, which can prevent men from being in touch with their feelings and how engaging in this work can be deeply emotional and upsetting. The speakers also talked about how involving men requires careful consideration of how to broach these topics and provide spaces and support for processing difficult realities, in particularwhenweconsiderthatmensometimesoccupyboththe roleoftheperpetratorandvictimofviolence Somepracticeswere identifiedtoincludeboysandyoungmen,including:

Create separate spaces for boys and young men and girls and youngwomenandalsoexplicitopportunitiesforthemtocome together

Use intentional strategies to challenge patriarchal norms that dictate that boys and young men can't or shouldn't show emotions

Challenge top down academic researching and youth work normsbycenteringyouth

"I think boys should be able to have their own space with stuff they want to share that has happened or that they want to talk about. And girls should have their own space, and have two different groups, one maingroup… it’ sgoodtohavesafespaces, so boys with the boys and girls with the girls.Youtalk,youshareandthenyoucome togetherasone"

"Beyond the empowerment of girls and youngwomen,itiscrucialtoaddress“what hasbeentheimpactofcolonialmasculinity in our communities, how has colonial masculinity reframed those relationships thathaveputwomenoutofrolesthatwe see as traditional roles, how has colonial masculinity pushed out twospirit and LGBTQandthebroaderspectrumofgender identityoutofourcommunitiesandcreated thisdichotomythatissorigidnowwithin ourcommunities"?

Gabby Daniels

Robert Henry

MEN AND

MEN AND GENDER-BASED

MEN AND

VIOLENCE VPREVENTION IOLENCE VPREVENTION IOLENCE PREVENTION

Hi! I'm Grace and I've been working at the Participatory Cultures Lab as a research assistant with the Pathways2Equity project since September 2021. Through Pathways2Equity, I have deepened my knowledge of young Indigenous men’s involvement in gender based violence prevention which has nurtured my own Masters research in invaluable ways My Masters, which I am pursuing in McGill’s Department of Integrated Studies in Education, focuses on exploring the life experiences and events which lead young men to become interested in gender based violence prevention.

In the context of working on Pathways2Equity, I drafted a literature review which explored issues facing Indigenous young men and boys in Canada, as well as examples of existing initiatives, programs and interventions targeting this group The literature review is entitled “Collaborative masculinities” to speak to the many ways in which the development of healthy masculinities is supported Explicitly addressing gender norms and violence is one way to nurture positive masculinities, however this review additionally explores how supporting men in all dimensions of their health and wellbeing and accounting for ongoing colonial contexts in which gender based violence happens supports the development of positive masculinities.

Developing this review necessarily involved exploring intergenerational trauma, centering the context of historical and ongoing colonial violence in which we live in Canada, and examining the link between patriarchy and colonialism This is vital for framing the issues that Indigenous young men and boys currently face but this lens also provides an essential foundation for framing the Canadian context of gender based violence more broadly. In this sense, this lens continues to inform my ongoing research on this subject by foregrounding the systemic and structural forces that form and maintain harmful notions around masculinity. This perspective is crucial for not only critically discussing these issues, but also for gaining a clearer understanding of how to broaden and deepen men’s involvement in gender based violence prevention

L-R: Maya Johnson, CTV, interviews Grace Skahan

ECHOS OF A PROUD

POWWOW, KAHNAWAKE

As the other IMPRESS interns and I walked into the 30th annual Kahnawake Pow Wow, the excitement in the air was almost tangible Every area of the Pow Wow was bustling with people, and my co intern Jess, who lives in Kahnawake, remarked several times throughout the day that they were sure this was the busiest Pow Wow in their nation’s history It was clear that the absence of the Pow Wow for the last two years had created a strong sense of anticipation This was the first Pow Wow that I had ever attended and I was eager to see (and taste) everything I had come with three objectives: Create content for the @mtw p2e Instagram story takeover Jess and I were conducting, collect business cards from artisans and makers to add to our indigenous artist directory, and try the Indian tacos and strawberry juice that I had heard so much about

The process of collecting business cards inevitably led to amazing purchases, as well as lovely conversations with the artists themselves A gorgeous pair of earrings (thebirchtrailcom) that I bought were made even more wonderful by Michelle, who explained the process of creating the resin jewelry. Makers had come from all over Canada and parts of the United States to be at the Pow Wow, and the distance they had traveled added to how special the event felt

One of my favorite parts of the Pow Wow was the traditional dancing, particularly that of the hoop dancer I was transfixed by the way she was able to effortlessly create different shapes with the hoops as they stretched across her arms and legs The competitive dancing was also stunning, and the details of the dancer’s regalia was a sight to behold. The fact that I got to watch it with a frozen strawberry juice in my hand made it all the better

The IMPRESS program that my fellow interns and I have been participating in this summer has been truly a wonderful experience that has provided the opportunities to bond with fellow indigenous students and foster a sense of community with one another. Getting to spend the day with them at the Pow Wow made it that much better, and left all of us eagerly waiting for next year

(BACK TO) WARRIOR (WAYS BACK TO) WARRIOR WAYS

My girlfriend and I dash to Tekakwitha island as we anticipate the first Kahnawake Echoes of a Proud Nation pow wow in 2 years In Kahnawake, a Mohawk (Kaniehkehaka)

reservation in Quebec 15 minutes south of Montreal, we call this area of the reservation simply “the island”. The island is known for the natural surroundings, during the warmer months you can find kids swimming and fishing, community members walking the path and others going to the west end of the island for the marina

This summer I’ve been working in the education department with Dr. Claudia Mitchell and their team at the Participatory Cultures Lab. I was hired through a new pilot program at McGill called IMPRESS, an internship program for Indigenous undergrad students Our main subjects revolve around gendered violence and MMIP (Missing and Murdered Indigenous People), a side task I was given for this day is to talk to vendors and collect their business cards

Despite the two year hiatus, the pow wow seemed in full swing, if anything, much busier than previous years I usually go to the powwow around 10 or 11 am to beat the crowds, this year the crowd's excitement surpassed my usual plan Waiting for the crowds to thin in front of vendors, I slowly make my rounds, visiting new and returning vendor stalls Moccasins, tee shirts with ‘rez jokes, handmade lacrosse sticks, buckets of lemonade, medicine tinctures, corn meal, Indian tacos, beaded jewelry and much more.

Earring by Ben Sickles

While visiting vendors, I was strategically planning what I should buy, making a note to get at least one pair of earrings before I left. The next vendor, Ben Sickles, an artist from Eskasoni who told me how he is a 3rd generation silverworker That is when I saw them, a pair of diamond shaped silver earrings, in the earrings were a design of a traditional Mohawk warrior tattoo

As a Queer Kanienkehaka, I’ve recently taken interest in our traditional tattoos and their teachings. Seeing those earrings sparked something inside of me. Warrior teachings and societies tend to be aimed at men in our communities, due to those reasons, I never truly felt a sense of belonging in the binary of our cultural roles I thought I made a mistake buying the warrior earrings, I began to feel a fraud, like I was potentially telling lies by wearing them When we take on a symbol or roles, we must live up to them, we must be mindful of our duties and use a good mind when conducting ourselves. Later that night, I realised I took on a warrior’s role in my everyday life whether I believed it or not. I’m a big sister, a first born, a protector, a nurturer, an artist, an activist, a student, a teacher, a harm reductionist, a listener I’ve devoted the last 10 years of my life to making space, using my voice and advocating for all At my core, without the earrings, without the tattoos, I’ve always been a warrior We may not be fighting hand to hand battles anymore, though we are still fighting against the deep impacts of colonial capitalism.

Youth Created: Collaborative Playlist!

Check out the More Than Words and Pathways2Equity collaborative playlist on spotify We asked youth and others involved in the projects to share their favorite song, one that makes them feel strong and empowered. Listen here and add a song!

Youth Recommended Artist Spotlight: Dakota Bear

Dakota Bear is a Saskatoon born, Vancouver based Indigenous hip hop artist and activist. His melodic rhymes carry stories of Indigenous peoples across Canada leaving listeners enlightened, inspired and instant fans of his music and message. Listen to his music here.

YouthCreated:TheCircleBack

Podcast

All four episodes of the Circle Back Podcast are out now! In the final episode, the notions of connections, connectedness and connecting is explored by young women in South Africa as they share written pieces and speak about collages they have created We hear from Siya Faku, Phelokazi Nyamakazi, Xabisa Bless, Zethu Jiyana and Carol Matiza These young women discuss their aspirations, the impacts of COVID 19 on their lives, connecting among genders for a better future, and connections made from participating in Networks4Change. Listen here

The Marrow TThieves he Marrow TThieves he Marrow Thieves

by Cherie bDimaline y Cherie bDimaline y Cherie Dimaline

Humanity has nearly destroyed its world through global warming,butnowanevengreaterevillurks.Theindigenous peopleofNorthAmericaarebeinghuntedandharvestedfor their bone marrow, which carries the key to recovering something the rest of the population has lost: the ability to dream. In this dark world, Frenchie and his companions struggle to survive as they make their way up north to the old lands. For now, survival means staying hidden but what they don't know is that one of them holds the secret to defeatingthemarrowthieves.

Motor Cycles and Sweet MGrass otor Cycles and Sweet MGrass otor Cycles and Sweet Grass

by Drew Hayden bTaylor y Drew Hayden bTaylor y Drew Hayden Taylor

A story of magic, family, a mysterious stranger . . . and a band of marauding raccoons. Otter Lake is a sleepy Anishnawbe community where little happens. Until the day a handsome stranger pulls up astride a 1953 Indian Chief motorcycle and turns Otter Lake completely upside down. Maggie, the Reserve’s chief, is swept off her feet, but Virgil, her teenage son, is less than enchanted. Suspicious of the stranger’s intentions, he teams up with his uncle Wayne a master of aboriginal martial arts to drive the stranger from the Reserve. And it turns out that the raccoons are willing to lend a hand.

Young YIndigenous oung Indigenous

Women’s Utopia by WYIWU omen’s Utopia by YIWU

HearfromthegirlsandyoungwomeninYIWU, their aunties, cousins, community and supporters in this celebratory book! The book features poetry, reflections, words of advice, art andphotographs.“Thisbookisyourcelebration that you are still here! Our existence will continue to reclaim our traditions and cultural teachings. You have everything you need to continue to resist the violence enacted on our people. Never give up! Rest if you need and always remember that your mind is beautiful and your spirit is exactly how Creator intended ittobe”.Keepaneyeoutforvolume2:kîyânaw ocêpihk,comingthisfall! Readitonlinehere.

Hannah Battiste is a young Mikmaw poet and artist from Eskasoni, Unama'ki. She has been writingpoetrysinceshewasayounggirl,using it as a space to process her experiences and heal from her wounds. She is a well published poet,withherfirstpoembeingpublishedatthe age of 16. She has also done numerous public presentations of her work. A brief descriptor of the book: “This collection of poetry navigates my personal journey through post traumatic growth. The poems are reflections on my healing after childhood trauma and my evolvingpersonalgrowthandself image.Atthe same time, writing these poems has shaped my own healing and growth. Poetry has been centraltomywell being.Becauseofthis,Idraw on my own experiences and include poetry prompts for others to use in their own life journey.”

Poem "A Native Mind" by Angelo Bernard, Eskasoni First Nation, featured on Eskasoni Crisis Center posters

A New Promise

By Harmony McKay

Broken promises That shattered our nations Across each province

They made a termination

So they took us away And destroyed generation after generations

St Marys took the first chance To heal our children

They taught us how to dance SO we can carry on our traditions I'm glad I saw the day, Where there was change

Cause we played the silent game For far too long People didn't say A dam thing

Until they saw those unmarked graves That's when they knew were strong.

It feels like everyday another sister is missing! Bring them home!

Drawing by Melody Mckay

July 2022

Keep the circle strong - we root!

Drawing by Melody Mckay

July 2022

Follow us on social media for project updates and upcoming events!

Check our the project website for project updates, recent publications and more!

Follow us on issuu.com for recent publications!

Team:

Girls Expressing Themselves Through Art (GET ART) Break The Silence, Be The Change Young Indigenous Women's Utopia (YIWU)

Jennifer Altenberg, YIWU

Jennica Alhda Barcial, GET ART

Leann Brown, McGill University

Emily Booker, Pathy Grace Skahan, McGill University

Claudia Mitchell, McGill University (Lead PI) Sarah Flicker, York University (Co PI)

Linda Liebenberg, Dalhousie University (Co PI)

Marnina Gonick, Mount Saint Vincent University (Co PI

Claudia Mitchell, Project Director claudia.mitchell@mcgill.ca

Leann Brown, Project Coordinator leann.brown@mcgill.ca

mcgill.ca/morethanwor

@mtw

https://twitter.com/MTW

Leann Brown & Emily Booker