SAY Magazine - Back2School 2020 - Indigenous Lifestyle

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ISSUE 104

SINCE 2002

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Youth Chief Ashley Daniels Advocates for Change Hoop Dancer Ty Defoe Grammy Award-Winning Artist

Mi’gmaq Culture

Thriving through Education PM 43436539 PRINTED IN CANADA $6.99

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SINCE 2002

CONTENTS ISSUE 104

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Performing Artist Ty Defoe Shares His Latest Work with the World

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SAY MAGAZINE Volume 19, Issue 4 SAY Magazine publishes eight times a year: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, as well as Health and Fitness, Back2School, Economic Development and Education Guide issues. SAY Magazine is published by Spirit of Aboriginal Youth Inc. Mailing Address: Kildonan Place, RPO Box 43084 Winnipeg, MB Canada R2C 5G7 E: info@saymag.com www.saymag.com Publishers Dominick Blais and Kent Brown

info@spheremediaagency.com Submissions are welcome.

Articles, letters, queries, etc. should be sent by email to the editor at editor@saymag.com.

SAY Magazine assumes no responsibility for submitted material.

SAY Magazine assumes no responsibility for statements made by advertisers or in submitted material.

Graphics, photographs, editorial content and other printed material are the property of SAY Magazine and may not be used without the written permission of SAY Magazine.

Editor-in-Chief Danielle Vienneau editor@saymag.com

ISSN: 1707-3049 All copy copyright 2020

by SAY Magazine

Content Creator Terra MacPhail terra@saymag.com

GST: 856627534RT0001

Manitoba Youth Leader Ashley Daniels Has Big Dreams for Herself and the Youth in Her Community Beverly Jacobs, New 25 Dr. Associate Dean at Windsor Law Bridges of 26 Building Understanding

Robotics 11 Indigenous Team 12 Meet Cynthia Sewell Strength of 18 Enduring Indigenous Women

20 Music You Be One of the 24 Could Next Student Ambassadors?

Belcourt, 28 Christi Métis Artist 29 New Safety App for Women Educational 30 Online Resources

Contributing Editor Sarah Ritchie Art Director Orli Gelfat - Orli G. Design Ad Sales Megan Henry advertising@saymag.com Terra MacPhail terra@saymag.com Printed in Canada Website and Social Media Sphere Media Agency Connect with us: www.facebook.com/saymagazine www.twitter.com/SAYMagazine www.instagram.com/say_magazine www.pinterest.ca/SAYMagazine

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Try this Delectable Recipe from Igloolik that Uses Caribou

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Cover Story: Pabineau First Nation’s Cultural Education Program is Helping to Foster Mi'gmaq Identity Among Youth

On the cover: L to R Elected Band Councillor Carolyn Fraser, and her Granddaughters Brooklyn Beckwith, Makayla Lavigne. Community Guest Grace Vienneau.

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EDITOR’S MESSAGE

“Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.”

- Sitting Bull

A

s the days become shorter, and the air cooler, many families across Turtle Island are preparing for the uncertainties that come with the fall season and all that it entails, including going back to school in the midst of an ongoing pandemic. This year, back to school has already begun for some depending on where you live, and the return to academic learning will vary greatly for all, from continuous online learning, a return to classroom instruction, or a combination of both.

Regardless of your situation, all of us at SAY Magazine extend our wishes for a safe and an uncomplicated return to studies in all its forms.

diverse cultures, traditions and languages.

Featured on the cover is the Mi’gmaq community of Pabineau First Nation in New Brunswick, Canada. Flip to page 14 to find out how they are supporting historical and cultural content for local students.

Meet inspirational leaders like Ojibwe and Oneida performance artist Ty Defoe (page 6); Manitoba Youth Chief Ashley Daniels (page 8); Michif visual artist Christi Belcourt (page 28) and many more. Another unique story we’ve chosen to share in this issue is how Indigenous Knowledge Keepers are contributing their voices to address the issue of nuclear waste management—see page 29 to read more.

Finally, SAY Magazine is proud to welcome a new team member. Terra Kerani MacPhail is a proud Métis woman from Saskatchewan (Swampy Cree, Scottish and Polish) with ancestral roots in Cumberland House, Saskatchewan, and the Red River. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge as a communications professional, with expertise in content strategy, advertising sales, digital marketing and graphic design. Her love of writing and connecting with people has made her a wonderful fit for our team.

Welcome, Terra!

One thing that remains constant is that SAY Magazine will continue our commitment to sharing the positive stories of Indigenous Peoples as a source of inspiration and learning.

In this Back2School issue, we highlight some incredible programs and Indigenous leaders who are working tirelessly to preserve our

Danielle Vienneau, Editor-in-Chief

Next Issue: Business

Issue Name

Issue # Theme

Space Material Reservation Deadline

Publication Dates

Fall 2020

105

Business

Sept. 25, 2020 Oct. 2, 2020

Oct. 26 2020

Special Edition

106

Art and Entertainment

Oct. 23, 2020

Nov. 6, 2020

Dec. 7, 2020

Winter 2021

107

Health and Fitness

Nov. 20, 2020

Nov. 30, 2020

Jan. 11, 2021

Ed. Guide 2021

108

Education

Jan. 15, 2021

Jan. 25, 2021

Feb. 22, 2021

Spring 2021

109

Environment

Feb. 8, 2021

Feb. 26, 2021

Apr. 5, 2021

Special Edition

110

Leadership

Apr. 2, 2021

Apr. 12, 2021

May 17, 2021

Dates subject to change. Advertising inquiries contact: megan@saymag.com or terra@saymag.com Order your subscription from the webstore at: saymag.com 4 | BACK2SCHOOL

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2020/21 UNTIL SEPT 30

Canada World Youth (CWY) Innovation Challenge Have an idea that will help young people in Canada or abroad?

Canadian Youth between the ages of 15-30 can apply now! canadaworldyouth.org/cwy-innovation-challenge

AUG 31-OCT 5

Vision Maker’s Indigenous Online Film Festival Online Film Festival visionmakermedia.org

NOV 10-11

21st Annual TribalNet Virtual Conference & Tradeshow Platform to connect with various tribal technology business leaders. tribalnetconference.com

NOV 26-29

SEPT 16

Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto (IFWTO) The 2020 online edition presents Indigenous-made works, fashions, crafts and textiles from around the globe. ifwtoronto.com

SEPT 25-OCT 25

National Conference on “Indigenous Peoples and the Law” Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada ciaj-icaj.ca

Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) Business Recovery Forum Online event to network, collaborate and exchange ideas in this new reality and uncertain economy. ccab.com/events Culture Days Indoors, Outdoors and Online Find out about all the Indigenous events happening during this dynamic cross-Canada, cross-cultural arts festival. culturedays.ca

OCT 7-10

The 28th Annual Concert of Colors The largest free world music and diversity festival in the Midwest (USA).

Expanded dates to be streamed online worldwide. concertofcolors.com

OCT 20-25

APR 28-30

MAY 18-20

24th Annual Vision Quest Conference and Trade Show Promoting Indigenous business, community and economic development.

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada vqconference.com

MAY 22-23

1st Annual International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards Canadian and American Indigenous musicians and artists can submit their work for consideration until Feb. 1, 2021.

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada indigenoushiphopawards.com

imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival Online event presenting a selection of media created by Indigenous artists from Canada and around the world. imaginenative.org

SAY has made every effort to ensure our calendar of events is up to date; however, we encourage you to check event websites regularly for updates due to interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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ARTS

Grammy Award-Winning Performing Artist Presents his Latest Work “The Circle is a story about how we are all connected.

Two-legged, fourlegged, winged, rooted and finned.

Interconnected to all living things.

From water to stone, from earth to sky, from river veins to Wampum, from blood to earth. On foot, linked arm in arm.

The circle is made of red willow, forged in the great lakes, soaked and then wrapped around, and around and around with sinew. Animal tendons dried and tied to hold the shape together. Learning to move in and out of design, in and out of spaces, in and out of danger, not too fast and not too slow, for my own safety and yours.”

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T

y Defoe’s poetic words and calming voice immediately create a sense of calm as he takes listeners on a beautifully articulated journey with the sacred hoop in his latest work, CIRCLE. CIRCLE is a tribute to the journey of learning balance with the sacred hoop, always striving towards peace for all living things. The teaching of the great hoop of life is passed down from generation to generation, and he now shares it as his offering to the world—one of 100 offerings in a larger campaign about peace.

This new powerful work of art speaks to Defoe’s Ojibwe and Oneida ancestry and the teaching he received when he was given the sacred hoop dance.

“It [the teaching] was that we are all connected in this great circle of life. The symbol of the hoop is important because it unifies all living things. In a circle, there are no corners in which to hide, and in this circle unifying all living things, we must stand next to and across from each other as equals. Healing, celebrating, telling together, though our stories differ. A new nation of theatre.” - Ty Defoe (howlround.com. A Red Face in the Crowd. 25 February 2015) CIRCLE is a part of the 100 Offerings of Peace campaign, which brings together both known and emerging creatives to generate new works about what peace means to them during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impassioned protests for racial justice.

The compilation of innovative and diverse videos highlights why peace matters and encourages viewers to take meaningful action towards peaceful efforts.

Defoe (Giizhig) is a Grammy award-winning performance artist who identifies as TwoSpirit. As a writer and interdisciplinary artist, he aspires to bring an interweaving approach to artistic projects with social impact, indigeneity, indiqueering and climate justice. Defoe won a Grammy for Best Native American Music Album for his collaboration on Come to Me Great Mystery: Native American Healing Songs,

Ty Defoe

which features the work of several Native American musicians, and in 2017, he was a recipient of the Jonathan Larson Award.

Defoe is a member of All My Relations Collective and currently lives and works in New York City, USA. He has earned various degrees from the California Institute of the Arts, Goddard College and New York University’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. Through his artistry, writing and storytelling, he continues to advocate for the voices that are not often heard and honours the Elders of the Anishinabe and Six Nations by continuing to educate and preserve Native American traditions.

There is such a need for positive stories about the people who are trying to uplift communities and create peace during this unrest, and using arts as a tool to do so proves incredibly powerful. SAY is pleased to support and share this incredible work of offerings.

For inspiration, you can view Ty Defoe’s full offering at thepeacestudio.org/day-9.

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PROFILE

Youth Chief Shares her Academic Journey and Hopes for the Future

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By Terra Kerani MacPhail

shley Daniels is a 23-yearold Dakota Ojibway woman (Anishinnabekwe-Dakota Winyan) proudly from a Treaty 1 community called Swan Lake First Nation in Manitoba, Canada. In March 2018, Daniels became the Female Youth Chief of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) by unanimous vote.

Established in 1999, the SCO represents 36 southern Manitoba First Nations. Not only does Daniels serve youth from all 36 communities, but she also votes with the Chiefs at the decision-making table.

Daniels helped to build the SCO Youth Council from the ground up and is now also the appointed Manitoba representative for the Assembly of First Nations National 8 | BACK2SCHOOL

Youth Council. Living in Manitoba, where the odds are stacked high against Indigenous youth, Daniels advocates for the systems inherent in the dominant culture to become more Indigenous-led for the future generations. One of her current goals is to deliver Indigenous language and culture to the youth of Southern Manitoba.

Daniels is about to begin her last year as a student at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Native Studies and a minor in Biology.

SAY Magazine caught up with Daniels and asked her a few questions about what drives her passion and mission in life. In this

interview, she shares her post-secondary experience and how it has influenced her to grow and succeed.

SAY: What do you hope to accomplish in your career after you earn your undergraduate degree?

Daniels: I am in university because I dream of attending medical school to become a doctor. Going to university is the first step in achieving this goal.

SAY: What advice would you give to other Indigenous youth and prospective students?

Daniels: My advice to prospective students is to find the Indigenous student centre or Indigenous student association on the

PROFILE

campus you plan to attend.

Finding like-minded people will help you transition into this new institution. Introduce yourself to your professors, be honest with them about what you need help with in the classroom. Tutors are the most helpful resource on campus.

There are free resources that most Indigenous centres can provide. Put every single assignment in your calendar with a reminder a week, two weeks and three weeks before.

SAY: Why would you recommend post-secondary education to Indigenous youth?

Daniels: I recommend post-secondary education because it can open doors. Remember, post-secondary doesn’t just mean university. It includes colleges and trade schools. More education and knowledge won’t hurt you, but instead, it will benefit whatever career you want to pursue.

SAY: Which student supports at the University of Manitoba have you found most helpful as an Indigenous student?

Daniels: My favourite support program offered at the University of Manitoba is Neechiwaken Indigenous Peer Mentor Program, with which I have been both a mentor and a mentee. Still to this day, my mentor Taylor is my role model. She has helped me in many ways, including being a student by sharing her tips and tricks to navigate life through university.

SAY: What are your plans after graduation?

Daniels: I plan on taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and apply to medical school after I graduate.

SAY: With all that you are doing as a community leader, how do you find time to enjoy yourself? What do you like to

do in your leisure time?

Daniels: I take time for myself each day, either in the morning or evening, to just relax.

Sometimes I take a full day off to do something I enjoy, like going for a hike, spending time with family or going back home to my communities.

I also participate in cultural ceremonies.

SAY: If you could hope for one thing to develop in your community over the next ten years, what would it be?

Daniels: Seeing more job opportunities for the youth, for those as young as 15 years old and I would like to see a balance of younger professionals in the workplaces.

SAY: You were appointed as the Manitoba representative for the Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council recently. How do you see the AFN helping to achieve the goal of more job opportunities for Indigenous youth?

Daniels: By bringing youth voices to the decision-making table; it will help to continue bridging the gaps and deliver more relevant opportunities for youth.

SAY: What do you believe are the essential skills that Indigenous youth need to cultivate to become successful leaders?

Daniels: Public speaking. It helps a lot to overcome anxious feelings and helps amplify your voice in a room of people. Also, learning from the land and reconnecting that bond. Learning to feel confident with who you are is invaluable.

Terra Kerani MacPhail (Métis) is a content creator and strategist.

She can be reached with story ideas at terra@saymag.com.

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FOOD

Recipes that Celebrate

T raditional and Modern Food Niqiliurniq: Recipes from Igloolik is a beautiful compilation of recipes from Iglulingmiutthat (people of Nunavut) that inspires diversity in food selection and encourages people to cook from scratch.

This cookbook will be released in the fall, but we couldn’t wait to share another recipe with our readers! In a previous issue, we shared a recipe that used a main ingredient from the sea, arctic char, this time we turn to the land for a recipe made with Tuktu (caribou). This traditional recipe is handson, with few steps and packed with flavour.

Mamariniaqpattuq (enjoy)!

Cookbook contributors Micah Arreak, Annie Désilets, Glenda Kripanik, Kanadaise Uyarasuk, and Lucy Kappianaq (not featured in photo).

Alu

This preparation is traditional, a link to the past. It’s made of animal fat mixed with mammal oil and a filling. It has a smooth and silky texture, which gives it the name “Inuit Dream Whip,” or “Inuit ice cream” when frozen! This certainly requires a lot of work, first to harvest the ingredients, then to mix it with the hands until it reaches the desired fluffiness, but this delicious treat is perfect for celebration days or to use as a burst of energy on a land trip.

INGREDIENTS

4 cups caribou fat, without blood or muscle on it 1/3 cup water 1/3 cup oil; can be vegetable oil, or seal or narwhal blubber, melted

FILLINGS OF YOUR CHOICE

Berries Frozen caribou, sliced and chopped Fish eggs

STEPS

Dice caribou fat into very small pieces and place into a bowl.

Stir the fat with fingers until it becomes white, smooth and doubles in volume. Add water and oil, alternating between the two, a few drops at a time, and stir using your hands to increase the fluffiness. Be patient; it can take a while. (You can use an electric mixer to speed up the process!) If the oil starts to build up, stop pouring and whisk briskly until the oil has fully incorporated. If it looks too thick, slowly add more water, one teaspoon at a time. Add the filling of your choice.

Eat right away or freeze it before eating.

TIPS

This recipe is an emulsion, like a mayonnaise, which is a mixture of two liquids that can’t usually be combined—in this case, oil and water.

Emulsifying is done by slowly adding one ingredient to the other while mixing rapidly. In this process, the tiny drops of liquid are dispersed and suspended through each other.

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Niqiliurniq: A Cookbook from Igloolik was created by five women from Nunavut, Canada.

Thank you to Micah Arreak, Annie Désilets, Lucy Kappianaq, Glenda Kripanik, and Kanadaise Uyarasuk for sharing their knowledge. Images and content are courtesy of Inhabit Media Inc.

Preparation time: 45 minutes Serves: many people!

TECHNOLOGY

First All-Indigenous Robotics Team Competes at the World Championships

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Submitted by Chris Mara, Mentor and Wiikwemkoong High School Teacher

he Wiikwemkoong High School Robotics Team 5672 from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory (Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada) was the first all-Indigenous robotics team to compete at the 2019 FIRST Robotics World Championship in Detroit, USA. Out of 600 teams from around the world, Wiikwemkoong placed in the top three finalists for the Chairman’s Award, the most prestigious award in FIRST Robotics competitions.

Team 5672 was to compete at the tournament again this year, where all three Chairman’s Award finalists were invited to return. However, the season was cancelled after week four of the six-week competition season due to COVID-19.

Last March, Team 5672 competed at the Georgian College competition and made it to the quarter finals. The team put their robot Biaabco Nimoosh 6.0 to the test—a climb mechanism the team re-designed and built—and were only seconds away from completing it when the buzzer went during

the quarter-final round. The team is hoping to have another opportunity to compete in this event in the near future.

Next season will certainly look different.

Wiikwemkoong’s Team 5672 has some bittersweet changes on the horizon. They will lose two of their robotics veterans and leaders. “Aaryn Zoccole has been our Chairman’s Captain and has been involved on a national level as part of FIRST Robotics Canada’s Leadership Council,” said Chris Mara, mentor and Wiikwemkoong high school teacher.

Zoccole is graduating and will be attending the University of Toronto's Mechanical Engineering Program. Sterling Pangowish is another student that is graduating and will be attending Georgian College’s Indigenous Studies program, specializing in Indigenous Community and Social Development. “Sterling has been our lead robot technician for four years, and our longest standing member of the drive team,” explained Mara. “He has dedicated hundreds of hours to building Biabco Nimoosh. It is safe to say that no one knows the nuts and bolts of the robot as well as Sterling. He is a rock of the team and will be missed.”

The change in team dynamics and the current pandemic will not stop Wiikwemkoong’s Team 5672 though.

Working with FIRST Robotics Canada and the Wiikwemkoong Health Centre, they were able to source 250 face shields for the community, as well as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for frontline workers courtesy of Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. In addition, and in conjunction with Vale, they built two UV-C sterilization carts for the PPE of the front-line workers in Wiikwemkoong.

Members of TEAM 5672 with their robot Biaabco Nimoosh 6.0 at Georgian College robotics tournament in March 2020.

Mara extends his thanks to all who have supported Team 5672. “Miigwech Kinaa Wiiyaa for all your support. We are looking forward to the 2021 season!”

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PROFILE

Cynthia Sewell

Mi’gmaq/Maliseet Bachelor of Social Work Graduate

R

eturning to university as a mature student was both exciting and challenging for Cynthia Sewell of Pabineau First Nation (New Brunswick, Canada), a recent graduate of the Mi’gmaq/ Maliseet Bachelor of Social Work program at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Sewell started her academic career in the early 1990s but put it all on hold for a while to return to her community where she worked and started her family. As she raised her son, she continued to take university courses on a part-time basis. In 2009, she was presented with the opportunity to study full-time at St. Thomas University through the Mi’gmaq Bachelor of Social Work program and, as she puts it, “I knew I had found the right fit! It was the academic complement I had been looking for to advance my career”.

everyone in my life who has been there for me and my son.”

mind, making the completion of her BSW more profound and meaningful.

Having the opportunity to obtain a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree with a concentration in Indigenous Studies from St. Thomas University was a proud and humbling experience for Sewell. “I was able to receive an academic degree in studies that relates to me and the beautiful First Nations community I live in.” As she accomplished her academic goals, her community was always at the forefront of her

Sewell graduated on July 13, 2011. She now serves her community as Pabineau First Nation’s education cultural student support coordinator and she is a Gopit (Beaver) Clan Mother. “This truly has been a dream come true for me, and I encourage everyone to reach for your dreams and complete your educational goals because they are reachable. You can do it! You won’t regret investing in yourself.”

Returning to university as a mature student was I encourage exhilarating; however, it everyone to reach certainly came with its for your dreams challenges. Sewell remembers thinking, “Why and complete your didn’t I do this earlier ?” educational goals As a parent, balancing life with family, her studbecause they are ies and her work prereachable. You can sented a lot of stressful moments for her over do it! You won’t the three years it took to regret investing in complete her degree. “I yourself. am so grateful and truly blessed because I did not - Cynthia Sewell have to do everything alone,” she said. Sewell noted that she and her son Sipu were supported by many wonderful family members, Elders, faculty and friends. “I learned that the saying ‘no [wo]man is an island’ is really true,” said Sewell. “Everyone’s wonderful support is what helped me achieve my academic dreams, and I would like to take the opportunity to say thank you to 12 | BACK2SCHOOL

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COVER STORY

Traditional men and Gopit (Beaver) Clan members gathering at the Pabineau Health Center Summer Gardens. Top L to R: Robert Kryszko,Steven Randy Peter-Paul, Warren Brown, Terrance Richardson, Warren Jr. Brown. Below L to R: Gopit (Beaver) Clan Elder Gilbert Sewell with special guest Metepaniagiag First Nation Elder George Paul.

Mi'gmaq Cultural Progam Fosters Youth Identity

C

By Terra Kerani MacPhail

ommunity education is the heart of our community,” said Cynthia Sewell, Pabineau First Nation’s education cultural student support coordinator (featured on page 12). The Pabineau First Nation of New Brunswick is a Mi’gmaq community deeply enriched by its cultural heritage and values. Community members recognize the importance of Indigenous education and working with youth to keep their Mi’gmaq 14 | BACK2SCHOOL

culture alive and thriving. “We are a small community, and it is important for our children to hear our stories, and learn our language, customs and teachings,” explained Sewell. “It is important for them to be seen and recognized for who they are—Mi’gmaq.

It’s really about identity.”

In response to this need, Pabineau First Nation launched a cultural school program that brings cultural teachings into five lo-

cal schools in Northern New Brunswick.

Since this is a fairly remote community (two hours north of Moncton and three hours away from Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick), the community took the initiative to fill the need themselves. Now they support cultural and historical content for 50 students attending local schools at the primary and secondary levels.

Sewell further explained that the community has an educational team consisting of

COVER STORY

a Mi’gmaq Elder and community cultural support worker, and volunteers that go to the community schools to provide a shared sense of community, culture and teaching.

“We seek to provide a Mi’gmaq perspective that helps our children understand where they come from because it is not the same as taking a multicultural approach or a pan-Indigenous approach.”

“For us, it is all about relationships and community. We are all about shared experience, understanding our treaty relationship as an independent Nation and building on that treaty relationship with the world around us,” said Sewell.

The Pabineau First Nation Cultural School Program calls upon many community people to contribute their traditional cultural knowledge. One such person is Phyllis Grant. She is a proud Mi’gmaq artist, rapper, filmmaker and dreamer whose animated films enrich the program with stories and teachings.

“Legends are healing; they are powerful transformers of mindsets and a precious community resource,” said Grant. The program utilizes two of her animated short films produced by the National Film Board of Canada. Maq and the Spirit of the Woods is about a Mi’gmaq boy who real-

Legends are healing; they are powerful transformers of mindsets and a precious community resource. - Phyllis Grant izes his potential with the help of inconspicuous mentors. Waseteg presents the story of a young Mi’gmaw girl whose name means “the light from the dawn”. These resources are available for purchase online in

both French and English with a classroom license at nfb.ca.

A valued part of the program is the dedicated participation of Cultural Program Elder Gilbert Sewell. He travels from school to school in the district sharing stories, history and culture from Pabineau First Nation. “We are so lucky and grateful to have an elder with a deep understanding of Mi’gmaq ways to interact with students and provide a familiar face and voice within our schools,” explained Sewell. “By doing this, we combat any notion that exists that somehow our culture is gone or doesn’t exist. Of course we exist. We survived over 500 years of colonization, and we are still here.”

For Sewell, this work restoring Mi’gmaq culture and language to the youth in her territory is a vital part of her own vision for the future. “Many people in my generation were affected by the past colonization tac-

Dancing the two-step on the Pabineau First Nation Mawiomi (gathering grounds). Front L to R: Leanna Brown, Matthew Anderson, Della & Warren Brown.

Centre: Sandra DesRoches, Steven Randy Peter-Paul.

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COVER STORY tics, such as the Indian Day School, which was very similar to residential schools in their determination to eradicate Indigenous culture by not allowing us to speak our language or express cultural and spiritual practices. Now I get to restore what I experienced in school by supporting our youth and celebrating who we are as Mi’gmaq.”

Non-Indigenous teachers appreciate the support they receive from the Pabineau Cultural School Program. Sewell often hears remarks of surprise from teachers as they learn Mi’gmaq history and culture that they didn’t know right alongside their students. This sparks dialogue, conversation and sharing among all who participate. “We offer students and staff exciting learning opportunities that they really enjoy,” said Sewell. The whole mission of the program is to see students succeed,

and they can do so by knowing their own Mi’gmaq culture and heritage.

We seek to provide a Mi’gmaq perspective that helps our children understand where they come from...

- Cynthia Sewell

Myth-breaking and bridge-building are core tenants of the program, which strives to create a new relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples,

as well as within the students themselves.

Sewell emphasized the significance of working together to create spaces in the learning environment to include Mi’gmaq culture. “It is confusing for our youth to hear many different Indigenous stories or history from mainstream textbooks and the media. We have to tell our own stories.”

SAY Magazine would like to acknowledge the tremendous support of the Pabineau FN community in preparing this article.

We thank Chief Terrence Richardson, and councillors Carolyn Fraser, Susan Motty and Jim Richardson for their contributions to the photography in this article. Wela’lieg!

Terra Kerani MacPhail (Métis) is a content creator and strategist. She can be reached with story ideas at terra@saymag.com.

Gopit (Beaver) Clan Members at their Mawiomi (gathering grounds) on Pabineau First Nation. L to R: Gopit Clan Mother Constance Sewell. Pabineau Cultural Education Program Elder and Gopit Clan Elder Gilbert Sewell, and Gopit Clan Youth Member Ava Sewell.

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SUBMISSION

SAY is always looking for great stories and submissions, and every now and then we receive great editorial content from youth, like what you are about to read. The young man who wrote this was tasked with writing about Canadian History for a high school assignment. It was the history of Indigenous Peoples that inspired him to dig deeper into the role of First Nations women prior to colonization and how it has changed over the years. His paper speaks to the strength and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, and we are pleased to share just a portion of his thoughtful research.

The Enduring Strength of First Nations Women

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By Matthew Branson, age 16

hen making decisions about which events of our past constitute Canadian history, historians often have difficult choices to make. Which events of our past, which decisions, which people shaped Canada into what it is today? One continuous journey that is worth noting from Canada’s past is the one that First Nations women have walked since the beginning of their time on this continent. Their journey has seen them thrive in traditional First Nations communities before European contact, suffer at the hands of the European settlers who colonized and subjugated them, fight to regain their rights and status over the past century and a half, and now, finally, thrive once again as emerging and trailblazing women on various journeys of their own, setting a new course to take First Nations women into the future.

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Prior to colonization, First Nations people lived in communities with well established systems and structures that fostered equality and harmony. Within these traditional communities, First Nations women played an important role as leaders and in oral traditions.

Customarily, First Nations culture held that the women were not only thought of as equals but were equals. Many traditional groups were matriarchal and matrilineal, which meant that “women were the head of their household and descent was traced through the maternal line” (Halseth, 6).

The roles that men and women held also reflected women’s gender-equal status.

Not only were women respected as lifegivers who took on the early socialization of their children, but both men and women were free to pursue the roles that they were particularly skilled in. For example, while the majority of the hunters

in a community were men, and while the majority of the women organized the village, prepared game and raised children, the community enabled either gender to do what they had a skill in or sought after; there was no discrimination between genders as “traditions were not meant to exclude an individual’s special skills” (Connor, 38).

Equality was also demonstrated through the leadership roles that women held.

In some communities, women held leadership roles in the governance of the community. More commonly, though, women were free to take on leadership responsibility through the role of an Elder.

They were very knowledgeable about their communities, traditional teachings, ceremonies and healing practices, and “earned the right to pass this knowledge on to others, and to give advice and guidance on personal issues, as well as on

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issues affecting their communities and nations” (Bell, 1). Elders in traditional communities were respected and held in high esteem. To become an elder did not depend on one’s age or gender; it was about who was seen as having the natural skills and knowledge to take the job on.

First Nations women are also central in many legends and traditions, particularly in many Indigenous creation legends.

Also, it was women who taught the men about traditional medicine and technology.

Some First Nations believe the very earth was a woman; others believe that a woman brought the pipe to their community so that their prayers could be carried by smoke up to the Creator. The First Nations of today gain much strength from the oral traditions that emphasize equality in gender roles (The Justice System and Aboriginal People).

Alas, the arrival of the Europeans to this new world had a disastrous impact on Indigenous Peoples who were viewed as inferior and who were further subjugated with the introduction of the Indian Act and forced attendance in residential schools.

One would think that, given all of these

Some First Nations believe the very earth was a woman; others believe that a woman brought the pipe to their community so that their prayers could be carried by smoke up to the Creator. circumstances, First Nations women would have simply ceased to be, that they would have been fully assimilated into a European way of life while their own heritage was annihilated. But no. First Nations women continued to fight.

Despite their hardships, many women stayed strong. Some of the most inspiring women worth noting are Indigenous women’s rights activist Mary Two-Axe and Mi’kmaq activist Nora Bernard, who

fought for compensation for residential school survivors. As a result of their struggle, other women have since come to the forefront, leading by example. Current change-makers like Roberta Jamieson (President and CEO of Indspire and the first First Nations woman in Canada to earn a law degree) and Nicole BurqueBouchier (member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation and Chief Executive Officer of The Bouchier Group) have blazed a trail for the future. The fight is not over; First Nations women will most definitely face many further obstacles, but they will fight on just like they have for many generations.

First Nations women have a future which, will be just as great as any other historian ever to live. If we give them a chance to thrive, they will not only change the future, they will make the future. The spirit of the First Nations woman lives on.

1) Halseth, Regine. “Aboriginal Women in Canada: Gender, socio-economic determinants of health, and initiatives to close the wellness Gap.” National Collaborating Centre For Aboriginal Health, 2013.

2) Connor, Linda, et al. Shaping Canada, McGrawHill Ryerson, 2011.

3) Bell, Dr. Nicole. “Elders.” Deepening Knowledge, The University of Toronto, January 04, 2019.

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MUSIC

Samantha Crain A two-time Native American Music Award winner and winner of an Indigenous Music Award, Samantha Crain is a Choctaw singer, songwriter, poet, producer and musician from Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA.

Her genre-spanning discography has been critically acclaimed by media outlets, such as Rolling Stone, SPIN, Paste, No Depression, NPR, PRI, The Guardian, NME, Uncut, and others. She has toured extensively over the past 12 years nationally and internationally with many diverse bands and artists, including First Aid Kit, Neutral Milk Hotel, Gregory Alan Isakov, The Avett Brothers, The Mountain Goats, Brandi Carlile, and Langhorne Slim.

Photo credit: Dylan Johnson

To say Crain is resilient would be an understatement. She has spent the last four years rebuilding her career after a life altering summer where she was injured in a string of car accidents over just three months. The incidents, which occurred soon after the release of her 2017 album You Had Me at Goodbye, aggravated a worsening tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome in her hands and arms. Some days, the pain made it nearly impossible to play an instrument, and sometimes it was so excruciating that it left her bedbound.

After losing the feeling in her hands, she felt defeated, which led to feelings of depression, anxiety and lost identity as a musician. After undergoing various therapies, Crain was finally on a path to recovery, both mentally and physically, which inspired her to start writing again.

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Her new album A Small Death is symbolic of being defeated and then gaining a second chance at life—something Crain refers to as a reconstruction of sorts.

album also takes listeners on a journey of self-discovery, romance and determination. On this album, she also sings “When We Remain” in Choctaw, which serves as a metaphor for her people’s perseverance, and her own.

The new LP not only covers what she went through following her accidents, it also uncovers a lifetime of sorrow and trauma that Crain hadn’t yet addressed or shared by way of song. Although Crain covers some deeply profound issues, the

With A Small Death, Crain continues her tradition of keeping things close to the heart, and the ground, by leaning into the fulfillment of affinity with an audience.

Her satisfaction comes from a song with a memorable melody and an honest story.

MUSIC

Mike Bern Award-winning Indigenous indie-rocker Mike Bern recently released his solo debut album. Waponahkew, meaning “person of the dawn,” is packed with emotion and pays tribute to his Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) heritage.

The new EP takes listeners on an emotional journey, with tracks that range from deeply personal, honouring residential school survivors, including some of his own family members, to lighter bluesy tracks and notes of hopefulness.

A singer and songwriter from Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation, New Brunswick, Canada), Bern is no stranger to the stage.

He’s opened for groups such as Seaway, The Trews, One Bad Son, and The Motorleague, and is a former singer in award-winning bands Kickin Krotch and District Avenue.

In 2017, District Avenue’s music video for the track “Revival” won several awards and was featured at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics.

I am Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet), ‘people of the beautiful river’. I share my teachings in my music, which were taught to me by my elders. In our language, we speak like the Wolastoq River: very slow and vacillating.

- Mike Bern (digitaldrum.ca)

Influenced by musical talents Chris Otepka, Frankie Miller and Ben Schneider, Bern’s style makes him a standout in a band and as a solo artist. His newest single “First Mother”, from his latest LP, had early success and climbed to the number one spot on the Indigenous Music Countdown.

Bern (spirit name: oluwikonok pisun nipawset) harmonizes rock vocals with creative acoustic guitar arrangements reminiscent of traditional folk music with a hint of southern gospel—creating his unique Indigenous folk rock sound.

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MUSIC

The Sober Junkie A singer-songwriter from California, USA, Christopher Michael, known as The Sober Junkie (SJ), uses his music to inspire, heal and support positive change for Indigenous Peoples. A true, multifaceted creative, SJ is of Sac and Fox and Cherokee descent on his mother’s side.

Growing up, SJ split his time between living with his hard-working single mother and his father, who was a struggling actor/ performer. SJ developed a love for music and entertaining from his father; however, substance abuse was a common occurrence, and addiction soon molded much of SJ’s life. Eventually, he hit rock-bottom.

For years, SJ struggled with a heroine addiction. Music became an outlet for healing and medicine for his soul. Today, he is seven years sober.

Having experienced many highs and lows in life and throughout his journey in the music industry, he now focuses on applying his music as a healing medicine for those in the community and across the world who are most in need of support.

Life experience and a storyline of the temptations of life are woven into the fabric of his songs. “Teach people about people, so people can love people” is his motto. SJ’s hope is to create a bridge between people, utilizing the power of music as a universal language.

A talented musician with a tenacious spirit and distinctly raspy voice, The Sober Junkie balances his music career with being a husband, father and a mentor to others.

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Teach people about people, so people can love people.

MUSIC

Musical artist Esther Pennell stays grounded through her spiritual connection with the natural world and draws inspiration from her East Coast Mi’kmaq heritage.

With a voice that has been compared to Joni Mitchell and Sarah McLaughlin, this folk-blues singer-songwriter is fairly new to the music world; she discovered her gift of songwriting just five years ago. Pennell’s path of musical discovery was set in motion following her performance at the 2015 First People’s Festival in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Since then, she has been entertaining fans all over Quebec and Northern Ontario.

Although Pennell is relatively new to performing live, she does so with the grace and confidence of a seasoned entertainer.

Recent highlights for Pennell include taking part in the first International Indigenous Music Summit in 2019 and sharing the stage with Dene artist Leela Gilday at the 2019 First People’s Festival in Montreal last summer.

As a songwriter with ancestry from the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation in Newfoundland, Canada, Pennell’s life experiences have catalyzed her songs about feminine resilience, heartache and joy. A self-taught banjo player, her unique style on the five-string banjo makes her an innovator and a fresh presence in the world of folk music.

Pennell’s folk-bluegrass vibe and songs of strength, love and connection to her Mi’kmaq heritage make her a stand-out.

In the last five years, Pennell has released three full-length albums. Her most recent

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Mike Bern Esther Pennell The Sober Junkie Samantha Crain

Photo courtesy of Esther Pennell

Esther Pennell

album, Big Dream, features the heartfelt lyrics for which she is known and is reminiscent of ’70s folk music. Fans can check out Pennell’s latest work by visiting ReverbNation for featured songs.

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SUBMISSION

Could You Be One of the Next Student Ambassadors?

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ith 42% of the Native American population today under the age of 24 (USA), the opportunity to educate the next generation of young leaders to realize their potential is at a tipping point,” said Dina M. Horwedel, Esq., Director of Public Education with the American Indian College Fund. To this end, the College Fund seeks to promote higher education opportunities for Native students, including access to education through financial assistance and student success programs.

With the school year beginning and Native American Heritage month just around the corner, the College Fund is gearing up to announce the next group of Native scholars who will serve as the 2020-2021 student ambassadors. With a focus on the future, this group of 10 Native Americans will break ground as leaders to combat stereotypes and create greater visibility of Native Americans while demonstrating the importance of their diverse cultures.

Through the College Fund’s Student Ambassador Program, young ambassadors will create greater visibility about higher education for their peers—sharing resources, supporting one another, and inspiring the next generation of Indigenous students.

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What is the American Indian College Fund?

Supporting higher education since 1989, the College Fund is the largest Native charity in the USA Serving Native Americans for 30 years now, it believes “education is the answer” and has provided $7.72 million in scholarships to 3,900 American Indian students in 2018-19, with nearly 137,000 scholarships and community support totaling over $221.8 million since its inception. The College Fund also supports a variety of academic and support programs at the nation’s 35 accredited tribal colleges and universities.

Ambassador Application and Training

University or tribal college students or alumni interested in becoming student ambassadors must meet certain eligibility criteria and complete an application (details available via collegefund.org). The training program for successful candidates includes on-site training at the College Fund’s Denver headquarters, and leadership development activities, including public speaking, interviewing, writing and social media skills. Interview skills, participating in on-camera activities and photo shoots are integral to the training. Ambassadors develop the skills required to represent the College Fund as writers, public speakers and as resources for communities and those planning to attend college.

Program Components

In addition to the on-site training, student ambassadors commit to a one-year tenure in which they serve as representatives of the College Fund, providing peer support for scholarships and other College Fund initiatives on and off tribal college and university campuses. They connect with other youth and help increase awareness of the College Fund’s services and programs while continuing their personal development throughout the year via virtual training sessions. It is the College Fund’s hope that this experience opens many more doors for its students, increasing personal, professional and academic opportunities.

For five years, the American Indian College Fund Ambassador Program has awarded positions to worthy students to develop their individual proficiencies with practical experience, enhancing both their personal and professional skills. Becoming a student ambassador is a challenging, life shaping opportunity ideal for students who yearn to stretch and test their wings while helping others know that they too can achieve success.

For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit collegefund.org.

Information and photo provided by the American Indian College Fund. Article adapted by Theresa Peters.

Featured here are the 2019-20 student ambassadors who continue to serve as spokespeople with the College Fund, advocating for Native higher education.

SHORT TAKE

Indigenous Law Becomes a Focus in Legal Education

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ust months after receiving word of her promotion from assistant to associate professor in the Faculty of Law, Dr. Beverly Jacobs has been appointed the next Associate Dean (academic) at Windsor Law, both effective July 1, 2020.

Dr. Jacobs was born and raised on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and is a member of the Mohawk Nation of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, Bear Clan. She holds a Bachelor of Legal Laws (LLB) from the University of Windsor, a Master in Law (LLM) from the University of Saskatchewan and a Ph.D. from the University of Calgary.

A former president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, she is nationally known for her work and commitment to Indigenous law and politics in Canada.

Dr. Jacobs is a leading voice and an expert with respect to a multitude of issues facing Indigenous Peoples locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.

“The impact of Dr. Jacobs’ research, teaching and advocacy have been national and international in scope,” said Windsor Law Dean Christopher Waters. “We look forward to her leadership at the law school.”

Among her many awards and honours, Jacobs was inducted as a Member of the

Order of Canada in 2018 for promoting the rights of Indigenous women and girls, notably for her advocacy for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

During her first year of teaching at the Faculty of Law in 2017, Jacobs received the Human Rights and Social Justice Award from the Office of Human Rights, Equity & Accessibility.

Reprinted with permission from UWindsor News: uwindsor.ca/law/2020-06-29/drbeverly-jacobs-appointed-next-associatedean-law

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INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE

Scientists and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers Help Build Bridges of Understanding

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or the second year, scientists and Indigenous knowledge keepers were brought together by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) for an important workshop addressing nuclear waste and how to approach it safely and respectfully. Indigenous Elders and potential sitting area community members, advisors to the NWMO, experts in traditional knowledge, NWMO leaders and staff, and professors from Canadian and international

The concept of the ‘Soul of Science’ includes natural laws such as connection to spirit for guidance, taking only what you need from the land and water, and not wasting resources.

- Elder Diane Longboat

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universities attended the two-day workshop in King City, Ontario, Canada. “For this workshop, we decided to focus on bridging the gap that exists among Western scientists regarding Indigenous knowledge,” said Bob Watts, vice-president of Indigenous Relations at the NWMO. “We want to put in place the foundational knowledge needed to look at ideas for collaboration around Canada’s plan for used nuclear fuel.”

Members of the NWMO Council of Elders and Youth opened the workshop. Elder Fred Kelly performed a Pipe Ceremony, Brandon Petahtegoose continued with a drum song to honour the pipe and guidance it would bring to the meeting, and Elder Diane Longboat added prayers to honour the waters on Mother Earth.

The sessions that followed were both immersive and participatory. Topics included understanding the Indigenous world view, Indigenous teachings about water, and the agency of Mother Earth and the stewardship role of Indigenous women.

Elder Fred Kelly opened the workshop that brought together scientists and Indigenous knowledge keepers.

Lyndon J. Linklater, a traditional knowledge keeper, shared Muskeg tea, an Indigenous medicine. While the group sipped on their tea in a circle, he told stories and shared

various aspects of Indigenous world view, traditional values and kinship structures.

Describing the Elders as “our Google,” Linklater explained that Indigenous

INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE

Peoples seek guidance from the wisdom of Elders and knowledge is rooted in an oral tradition. He encouraged the group to consider communicating about the project in a way that will resonate with Indigenous Peoples. “My hope is to create a dialogue between Western scientists and Elders, today and in the future,” Linklater said.

During a presentation about Mother Earth, Elder Diane Longboat introduced the concept of the “Soul of Science,” which includes natural laws such as connection to spirit for guidance, taking only what you need from the land and water, and not wasting resources. She highlighted the NWMO’s borehole drilling as an example of integrating this approach into scientific work.

“During my visit to the borehole site in the Wabigoon Lake area, I saw the care and respect that was taken with the land, and also that the NWMO created a space on the land for offerings and ceremony,” Elder Longboat explained. Derek Wilson, chief engineer and vice-president of contract management at the NWMO, confirmed the importance of interweaving Indigenous

Elder Fred Kelly sharing Anishinabek water teaching to NWMO staff.

knowledge. “We are going down a path together, and it is important to consider different world views and how aspects of the Indigenous knowledge system can inform our project moving forward.”

The workshop will have an effect even after its conclusion. Workshop participant Jamie Noel, a corrosion scientist and assistant professor at the University of Western Ontario, plans to share his learning with his students, who may eventually work on the Adaptive Phased Management project or other large infrastructure projects. “Be-

ing open to different ways of knowing and deepening our understanding will benefit everyone,” he said.

The NWMO is committed to building a culture of reconciliation in consultation with the voices that matter—Indigenous knowledge keepers, Elders and community members.

The NWMO adopted a Reconciliation Policy, formalized through an Indigenous Sunrise Ceremony in October 2019. This article has been reprinted with permission from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization.

NWMO News. Volume 18, Issue 1, 2020.

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ARTIST PROFILE

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Métis Visual Artist Christi Belcourt

driven project called Walking With Our Sisters (WWOS). Launched in 2013, the collaborative and commemorative traveling art installation was created to honour the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) of Canada and the United States. The seven-year initiative included over 1,800 pairs of moccasin tops, all of which were created and donated by kindhearted individuals.

ailing from Northern Ontario, Canada, Christi Belcourt is a Michif (Métis) visual artist with a deep respect for Mother Earth, and the traditions and knowledge of her people.

Her Michif ancestry is from Manitou Sākahîkan (Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta, Canada). Well-known for her vibrant floral paintings, she is also a recognized community-based artist, environmentalist and advocate for the lands, waters and Indigenous Peoples.

Belcourt’s stained glass work Giniigaaniimenaaning (Looking Ahead) commemorates residential school survivors, and their families and communities to mark the Prime Minister’s historic apology in 2008 and is installed at Centre Block on Parliament Hill, commissioned by the Government of Canada.

In addition to creating incredible artwork that pays tribute to Indigenous Peoples and traditions, Belcourt is an avid language learner and student of plants who has translated her passions into preservation efforts. As such, she is one of the lead coordinators for the Onaman Collective, which focuses on the resurgence of language and land-based practices.

Reverence for Life, Collection of the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, Ottawa.

She is also part of a community collective that is building Nimkii Aazhibikong—a year-round land-based language, culture and arts revitalization camp on Manitoulin Island in Ontario. Nimkii Aazhibikong (pronounced “Nim-key Awe-zhi-bick-cong) means Thunder Mountain. The vision for Nimkii Aazhibikong began long ago with the visions of the Anishinaabeg Elders along the North Shore and Manitoulin Island region who believed that one day their people would return to the land.

Her largest collaboration to date was as the lead coordinator for a community-

Over the years, Belcourt has received various awards for her commitment to arts and culture. In 2015, she was named the Aboriginal Arts Laureate by the Ontario Arts Council, and in 2016, she won a Governor General’s Innovation Award and was named the winner of the 2016 Premier’s Awards in the Arts. She is the author of Medicines To Help Us (Gabriel Dumont Institute, 2007) and Beadwork (Ningwakwe Learning Press, 2010).

Belcourt’s work is found within the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Gabriel Dumont Institute, the Indian and Inuit Art Collection, Parliament Hill, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery and the Canadian Museum of Civilization, First People’s Hall, and the Frist Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Nimkii Aazhibikong language and arts camp is land-based, youth-led, elder-directed and community-supported.

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SHORT TAKE

A Safety App for Women

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omen experiencing violence from intimate partners now have access to a unique, interactive safety app that can help them assess their risks, set priorities and plan next steps.

Private and secure, the app even has safeguards protecting women from unwanted snooping on their smartphones.

For added safety, users can also click on a quick-exit button that leads to a generic Google-search page.

myPlan is available in the United States and was developed in partnership and with research by nursing professor Nancy Glass of Johns Hopkins University. The Canadian version, myPlanCanada, was co-developed at Western University with nursing professor Marilyn Ford-Gilboe as the Canadian project lead.

“There isn’t anything as interactive or personalized as this,” Ford-Gilboe said. “It’s one of the few apps that has been tested through research.” With the help of many experts and hundreds of women survivors of violence, the app aims to help women assess their risks and danger levels in violent relationships, and to discover and use strategies for safety.

The purpose of myPlan is to give women space and time to think about their situations, to think about their options.

- Marilyn Ford-Gilboe

These resources also help women feel empowered,” said Ford-Gilboe. “We know women experiencing violence are strong and resilient —and sometimes support from the right place at the right time is something that makes an incredible difference to them.”

The app allows users to input their specific circumstances—such as whether they are in immediate danger, live with the abuser, have young children at home, have a job, are in a rural or urban area, or have access to a vehicle—and will walk them through a personalized plan to protect their safety and health.

“The purpose of myPlan is to give women space and time to think about their situations, to think about their options. It’s a starting place,” said Ford-Gilboe.

The app is meant to augment—not replace —the social, lawful, legal and medical help available by equipping women to decide on steps that are right for them, including whether, and where, to seek support if they choose. The app’s features include options for a quick or detailed danger assessment; a safety plan; and information on where to find helpful confidential services in person, online or by phone.

The free app, available on Apple and Android, is available throughout Canada (myplanapp.ca), and the United States (myplanapp.org), and includes locationspecific resources.

In case of emergency, always call 911.

Adapted from a media release issued by Western University, July 7, 2020.

“New app aids women in violent relationships” by Debora Van Brenk.

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RESOURCE

Looking for Indigenous Education Resources?

With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting how we connect and learn, SAY has compiled a short-list of online resources to get you started on your search for Indigenous educational resources. We hope these tools, labelled by grade level, will come in handy and alleviate some of the stress associated with going back to school in uncertain times.

K-8

Assembly of First Nations Education Toolkit education.afn.ca/afntoolkit

Indigenous Group Games (Northern Sport Culture & Recreation District)

nscrd.com/uploads/document/files/indigenous-games-for-children-en.pdf

9-12

Canadian History Museum Virtual Tours (English & French) historymuseum.ca/#online-exhibitions

College/University Aboriginal Worldviews and Education Open Online Course (University of Toronto) coursera.org/learn/aboriginal-education

Indigenous Canada - Open Online Course (University of Alberta) coursera.org/learn/indigenous-canada

Lifelong Learning Anishinaabemowin Lessons Online

ojibwe.net/lessons

“Speaking Michif” Lessons in Michif-Cree for the Whole Family louisrielinstitute.com/speaking-michif-language-lessons.php

Learn Mi’gmaq Online learn.migmaq.org

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of this information, the availability of this material is subject to change according to the authors of these materials. SAY Magazine does not endorse or take responsibility for these materials. Listings are intended as a public service and are not paid advertisements.

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Indigenous Mobile Apps Apple: t.ly/UU8S Android: t.ly/7AX7

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