CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS MAGAZINE
CELEBRATING TWO DECADES OF INDIGENOUS SUCCESS AND INGENUITY
ISSUE 113 FUTURE OF INNOVATION DISPLAY UNTIL MAY 1, 2022
PM 43436539 PRINTED IN CANADA $8.99
ARY S R E IV ANN ISSUE
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SINCE 2002
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SAY Magazine Celebrates 20 Years of Publishing
CONTENTS ISSUE 113 FUTURE OF INNOVATION
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SAY MAGAZINE Volume 21, Issue 1 SAY Magazine is a bi-monthly publication that publishes six issues a year—one issue every eight weeks. SAY Magazine is published by Spirit of Youth Enterprises Inc.
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.
Mailing Address: Kildonan Place, RPO Box 43084 Winnipeg, MB Canada R2C 5G7
SAY Magazine assumes no responsibility for statements made by advertisers or in submitted material.
E: info@saymag.com www.saymag.com Publishers: Dominick Blais and Kent Brown Editor-in-Chief: Danielle Vienneau editor@saymag.com Editorial Team: Terra MacPhail terra@saymag.com Cheliza Crawford cheliza@saymag.com Sarah Ritchie sarah@saymag.com Theresa Peters theresa@saymag.com Art Director: Orli Gelfat - Orli G. Design Sales Team: Terra MacPhail terra@saymag.com Megan Henry megan@saymag.com Darrell Boyko darrell@saymag.com Website and Social Media Sphere Media Agency info@spheremediaagency.com
Graphics, photographs, editorial content and other printed material that are created by SAY Magazine are the property of Spirit of Youth Enterprises Inc. and may not be used without written permission from the publishers.
Social Media Activists at the Forefront of Change
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Windsor Law Offers New Specialization
in the Future 22 Investing with Social Finance
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Innovations at First Nations Treatment Centres
Innovation 24 Indigenous Flourishes
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Talk Tobacco Hotline Supports Smoking Cessation
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An Elder’s Perspective on Innovation
28 Music Bannock 31 Métis Recipe
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Indspire: The Student's Journey
Printed in Canada ISSN: 1707-3049 GST: 856627534RT0001 This project has been made possible [in part] by the Government of Canada
SAY Magazine acknowledges that we publish in Treaty One Territory, at the crossroads of the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene Nations, and at the heart of the Métis Nation homeland.
Network Canada’s 20 Food Newest Judge
32 A Mile in My Moccasins 36 Poem: The Tree 38 Advertiser Index
As a diverse team of both Indigenous and ally collaborators, we strive to embrace, embody and live the truth that we are all Treaty people. All our relations!
Connect with us: www.facebook.com/saymagazine www.twitter.com/SAYMagazine www.instagram.com/say_magazine www.pinterest.ca/SAYMagazine www.linkedin.com/company/say-magazine
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Troy Westwood, aka Little Hawk, Recounts His Friendship with Music Legend Vince Fontaine
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Hope Moved Me: The Story of How One Woman Changed the Trajectory of Her Life through the Power of Positivity FEB 2022 l INNOVATION | 3
EDITOR’S MESSAGE
“Innovation isn’t always about creating new things. Innovation sometimes involves looking back to our old ways and bringing them forward to this new situation.” - The Honourable Murray Sinclair, 2015 Indigenous Innovation Summit
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s we spearhead the beginning of this new year, it is an opportunity for a fresh start. SAY Magazine would like to fully embrace that ideology, so in the spirit of the seven generations teaching, we look seven years behind and pull inspiration from our roots, our past and our ancestors. We want to take those teachings and enhance them as we look forward seven generations to the future innovation of Indigenous ways of being. SAY Magazine, once just an idea, turns 20 this year! Twenty years of celebrating Indigenous ingenuity. In this anniversary issue, we share an abundance of experiences and perspectives, from education in law to financial matters, culinary pursuits and incredible feats of courage. Of course, innovation can not exist without embracing change, and there’s no one that embraces change better than young people. They are our pillars for
innovation, challenging the status quo and using technology to do it—read more starting on page 12. The strength and potential of our young people, especially this next generation, is part of why SAY Magazine was created in the first place. Twenty years later, the Spirit of Aboriginal Youth (SAY), is still the heart, spirit and purpose of this publication. We value the opinions of our young people, not only as leaders of tomorrow but as leaders today. We look forward to working more with our young Indigenous professionals in the further evolution of this publication. With the launch of the SAY Magazine Indigenous Student Bursary, created in honour of our founder and facilitated through a partnership with Indspire, we hope to inspire the next generation of writers and media professionals. Danielle Vienneau, Editor-in-Chief
2022 Upcoming Issues Space Reservation
Material Deadline
Publication Dates
Sovereignty
Mar. 1
Mar. 8
Apr. 15
115
Arts & Entertainment
May 1
May 8
Jun. 15
Fall 2022
116
Tourism & Cuisine
Jul. 1
Jul. 8
Aug. 15
Special Edition
117
Education Guide
Sep. 1
Sep. 8
Oct. 15
Winter 2022
118
Wellness & Environment
Nov. 1
Nov. 8
Dec. 15
Issue Name
Issue #
Spring 2022
114
Summer 2022
Theme
Advertise with us! Contact sales@saymag.com. I Order your subscription today. Visit saymag.com/subscribe. 4 | INNOVATION l FEB 2022
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2022
Sxwpilemaát Siyám (Chief Leanne Joe) of the Squamish Nation addresses the crowd at the 2020 SHARE Investor Summit on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations (Vancouver, BC).
FEB 22-24
4th Annual Renewable Energy & Sustainability Conference In-person and virtual. Explore the range of renewable energy and sustainability opportunities that exist, including project planning and development trends. Native Learning Center Hollywood, Florida, USA nativelearningcenter.com
MAR 1-4
SHARE Investor Summit 2022 Join Indigenous investors and asset owners in shifting capital markets towards sustainability, justice, reconciliation and resilience. events.share.ca
MAR 4-13
Paralympic Winter Games Watch and cheer for our paralympic athletes as they compete on ice and snow in the most prominent international multisport event of the year. Beijing, China olympics.com/en/beijing-2022/paralympics
MAY 19-20
Indigenomics Institute Conference Activating the Financial Architecture of the 100 Billion Dollar National Annual Indigenous Economy. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada indigenomics.events
MAY 25-26
Forward Summit In-person and virtual. Forward Summit exists to amplify the voices of Indigenous champions and connect community and industry together. Grey Eagle Event Centre on Tsuut’ina Traditional Territory / Calgary, Alberta, Canada forwardsummit.ca
MAY 28-29
2022 International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards A two-day event celebrating Indigenous arts and culture, recognizing performers and small businesses through live music engagement and educational conferences. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada indigenoushiphopawards.com
JUN 9-12
National Indigenous Tourism Conference Join the industry-focused conversation on how we “Build Back Better” towards a bright future for Indigenous tourism. Calgary, Alberta, Canada indigenoustourism.ca/upcoming-events
Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto (IFWTO) The third biennial IFWTO—a hybrid live/online festival featuring group runway shows with music performances, a marketplace, hands-on workshops, panel discussions and networking, and back-to-back events. Toronto, Ontario, Canada ifwtoronto.com
APR 25-26
JUN 16
MAR 8-22
FNMPC Industry Engagement Event The 5th Annual First Nations Major Projects Coalition industry engagement event is a two-day hybrid (in-person and online) focused on Indigenous leadership in energy transition. Westin Bayshore, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada fnmpcindustryevent.com
Indigenous Women in Leadership (IWIL) Hosted by the CCAB and themed Empowering Women to Lead: What it will take to move the Indigenous economy forward, this event features a panel of prominent Indigenous women, all previous recipients of CCAB’s national IWIL award. ccab.com/events
SAY Magazine makes 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. FEB 2022 l INNOVATION | 5
2002-2022
Celebrating 20 Years of SAY Magazine
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By Danielle Vienneau
"As a community, we have grown and evolved, and today there are plenty of other lights in the sea of Indigenous representation in the media. We choose to honour that widespread representation and grow it even further by highlighting the individuality of every Indigenous being on the planet. With the new and old melded together, SAY Magazine will continue to ensure that Indigenous voices have a platform and allies have a resource." - Cheliza Crawford, SAY Magazine intern and content creator
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wenty years ago, SAY Magazine was founded, and the first issue was published with Jordin Tootoo featured on the cover, just shy of his NHL debut. But this story really begins nearly thirty years ago. SAY Magazine’s founder Leslie Lounsbury, an educator in the community college system at the time, was greatly disappointed in the lack of attention given to Indigenous Peoples in the education system. She also noticed a significant lack of positive Indigenous stories in Canadian media. Most of what she witnessed in the mainstream news, and in the education system, were negative narratives. She sought to find places that would publish good Indigenous news stories, but there were few. Notably, APTN was working hard to change the face of Indigenous representation in media as well. Lounsbury made it her mission to change the narrative with a magazine that could reach young people in schools across Canada. She wanted to give a voice to those being silenced. It took seven years of research, work and planning before Lounsbury could secure the funding required to start a publication of her own. In 2002, with the support of her community and the financial assistance of Aboriginal Business Canada, SAY Magazine was born, and so began the legacy of spreading positive messages of hope and resilience. After a courageous battle with cancer, our faithful leader Leslie Lounsbury crossed into the spirit world on May 27, 2018. She was a visionary who left her mark on the world as an educator and through community-based journalism with SAY Magazine. This is the legacy we intend to continue, with deep thanks to our supporters, partners and readers.
After two decades in business, our evolution as a magazine has gone from just a print publication, publishing a few times a year, to a bi-monthly subscription-based magazine, available in print and digital editions. With an enhanced digital presence, SAY Magazine aims to be a contemporary Indigenous resource for all people, and play a vital role in understanding and advancing reconciliation. Our mission is to motivate and inspire Indigenous Peoples through knowledge and positive success stories. We are still learning and growing. As we enter our third decade of operation, we continue our commitment to publishing in print. We will continue to be a safe space for stories to be shared and a source to highlight positive First Nation, Inuit and Métis role models for youth. 2022 marks the beginning of the Decade of Indigenous Languages as declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). We will do our part to support the revitalization and survival of Indigenous languages as an outlet for knowledge sharing. SAY Magazine will continue its legacy of being a platform for communities to have a voice, inspiring positive action in others and creating impactful change in this world. Although based in and focused on Canada, we will continue to include diverse perspectives from Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island and abroad so that we may learn from one another.
SAY Magazine’s team includes a combination of Indigenous and non-Indigenous professionals working as allies to share Indigenous perspectives, knowledge and ways of life.
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EDUCATION
Windsor Law Develops Indigenous Legal Orders Specialization By Michelle Nahdee, sponsored by the University of Windsor Faculty of Law
Launched in the fall of 2021, the University of Windsor Faculty of Law is now offering a specialization in Indigenous Legal Orders to students successfully completing the mandatory first-year Indigenous Legal Orders course and at least five upper-year courses from a menu of course offerings featuring predominantly Indigenous content while being taught by an Indigenous scholar or Elder. This new innovative program was created as part of the planning and development of the Indigenous Legal Orders Institute at Windsor Law.
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ince its launch in 2019, the Indigenous Legal Orders Institute has aimed to promote and assist Indigenous Peoples with the revitalization and dissemination of their respective Indigenous legal orders through relationship building, collaboration and redevelopment using Indigenous and other creative research methods. “As a team of Indigenous faculty members, we developed this specialization as a way to consolidate and build upon Windsor Law’s Indigenous courses while offering a formal acknowledgment to students who choose to study this area of law that addresses issues across Canada affecting Indigenous Peoples,” said Institute Director and Professor Valarie Waboose. Other founding members of the specialization include Associate Dean (Academic) Dr. Beverly Jacobs, former Windsor Law Professor Jeffery Hewitt (Osgoode Hall Law School), and the Truth and Reconciliation Advisory Committee at Windsor Law. “At one point, Windsor Law had four Indigenous professors who were all teaching at least one course they personally developed, plus two courses that had been offered for credit since the '90s: Aboriginal Law in Society and the Kawaskimhon Moot,” added Dr. Jacobs.
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In addition to Associate Dean Jacobs, Windsor Law’s Indigenous faculty includes Assistant Professors Sylvia McAdam and Valarie Waboose, Ron Ianni Scholar Tasha Beeds, Sessional Instructors Arlene Dodge and Wendy Hill, and Indigenous Legal Studies Coordinator Michelle Nahdee. For more information about Indigenous Initiatives at Windsor Law, and to learn more about Windsor Law’s Indigenous Legal Orders Specialization, please visit uwindsor.ca/law/Indigenous. Windsor Law’s Indigenous Legal Studies Coordinator Michelle Nahdee is originally from Walpole Island First Nation and Moravian of the Thames Delaware Nation. She is a single mother of four children and has always had a special interest in Indigenous Legal Orders. When an opportunity became available to join the Windsor Law community, Nahdee was excited to work with the amazing faculty, guest speakers, Elders and the University of Windsor team as a whole. In 2018, Michelle played an integral role in the planning, organization and implementation of the fourth World Indigenous Law Conference in Windsor as the Northern Hosts. This event provided the Windsor Law community the opportunity to bring Indigenous Peoples together from around the world to put Indigenous Legal Orders in action.
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Photos courtesy of the Wanaki Centre
HEALTH
The Wanaki Centre includes cultural components in its wellness programming for First Nations and Inuit adults based on Anishnabe teachings.
Pandemic Sparks Innovations at First Nations Treatment Centres By Kathy Stackelberg, sponsored by the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way First Nations residential treatment centres across Canada offer services, with significant innovations developed from the beginning. The centres are funded by the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program and the National Youth Solvent Abuse Program. Faced with closures for safety reasons, the treatment centres quickly developed virtual and land-based approaches to accommodate sharp increases in substance use, mental health issues and family violence.
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he centres developed new aftercare programming for clients discharged early with strategies to move in-person counselling to telehealth/virtual counselling services. For example, new on-the-land programming was developed to allow programs to move outdoors with safety protocols in place so people can socially distance themselves. Some centres supported local food security programs, and others stockpiled Naloxone and harm reduction supplies to ensure community access. One treatment centre was transformed into a community command centre. A youth treatment centre in Saskatchewan created a fun educational video as a tool
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to help youth better understand trauma and how to deal with its emotional and physical impacts. As the pandemic dragged on, treatment centre staff developed and implemented safety policies, and established reopening and screening protocols.
Treatment centres plan to continue virtual programming
Virtual and land-based programming has been extremely successful, so much so that many treatment centres plan to continue this approach even after residential programming resumes. Gilbert Whiteduck, a counsellor from the Wanaki Centre in Quebec, a treatment centre for First Nations and Inuit adults,
The Wanaki Centre programming is a blend of cognitive behavioural therapy and Anishnabe teachings based on the four aspects of mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellness.
says the accessibility and flexibility of virtual programming for pre-treatment, treatment, follow-up care and outreach have allowed them to reach more people, many of whom might never have had the opportunity to participate in person for residential treatment.
HEALTH “The virtual program has been a total success. People can see us, we can see them, and we can have a really good strong exchange,” said Whiteduck. “We are excited when we see the people coming online, telling us this program has met their needs and they didn’t have to leave the community or their family to participate.” Whiteduck says there are still challenges with people doing the program from home; however, the residential program brings its own set of challenges as well.
Many of these innovations have been achieved even though there are chronic funding gaps and year-to-year funding promises for First Nations treatment centres. The funding inequity is documented in a study released by the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation in 2018, which shows First Nations addictions workers earn 45% less than their provincial counterparts, yet they continue to exceed standards of excellence through accreditation.
The positive results of the virtual program create an opportunity to engage many more people who would otherwise not be able to join residential programming for a variety of reasons.
To learn more about Thunderbird’s funding parity study and how the organization continues to advocate for equitable and sustainable resources for treatment centres, visit thunderbirdpf.org.
Whiteduck explains that treatment centres are now aiming to reach people who have been incarcerated to deliver programs within the institutions. This would allow individuals to access additional tools to help integrate them back into the community in a successful way.
Kathy Stackelberg is a writer and editor for the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation. The Thunderbird Partnership Foundation is a leading culturally-centered voice on First Nations mental wellness, substance use and addiction.
Select Treatment Innovations at a Glance Charles J. Andrew Youth & Family Treatment Centre (Newfoundland)
• Live-streamed wellness activities, Zoom sharing circles • Tablets from Thunderbird Partnership Foundation provided for clients without internet connection
Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselling Association (Nova Scotia) • Google classroom for virtual programming • Video-based counsellors
Wanaki Centre (Quebec)
• Wellness hotline • Telephone contact with past clients
Mark Amy Treatment Centre (Alberta)
• Knowledge Keeper teachings • Recovery program supports, including employment assistance
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ACTIVISM
Social Media Activists:
Catalysts for Change By Cheliza Crawford
It’s no secret that Indigenous Peoples have been misrepresented in news and mass media since these platforms were invented. The result has been a clear reflection of the impact of colonialism and stereotypes created by Western worldviews. Although it has been an uphill battle against misconceptions, the media—in all its forms—has progressed and is ever-changing, impacted largely by our youth and their will to empower themselves and others.
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oday’s youth, Generation Z-ers, are the first generation to have grown up with the internet at their fingertips, including regular access to portable digital technology. They are more environmentally responsible and more aware of social and political issues. It’s no wonder there’s been a surge of Indigenous social activists exercising their inherent right to speak up about what matters to them. We have never seen such a tidal wave of Indigenous awareness and knowledge being shared amongst the masses, and social media is how it is done. Social media has evolved from simply being a form of direct electronic information exchange to a powerhouse tool that can be used in a variety of ways worldwide, one of which is enacting social change. Young people have taken up this tool like a torch passed on by their ancestors, and they are using it to shine love, light and education across Turtle Island and beyond. Our
young people are using their voices to remind everyone that we, Indigenous Peoples of various diverse cultures, are here and we matter! Indigenous social media influencers are at the forefront of this epic development, using their platforms to shed light on many different topics. They have taken up arms and are running headfirst into the fray. Individuals, like traditional hoop dance artist James Jones (aka Notorious Cree), utilize social media to inspire and share culture. Jones uses his presence on TikTok to educate and familiarize hoop dancing for youth around the world. If these were the 1900s, what Jones is doing would be illegal, but because of the massive sacrifices made by our Elders and predecessors, we have reached a point in history where we can write about the impact a young Cree’s healing hoop dance has on his 3.5 million followers.
Kyra Flaherty, who goes by Arctic Makeup, uses her platform to share some of the devastating struggles that have impacted the Inuit in Northern Canada. She is known for speaking out about the effects of the housing crisis in her area and about how the high food costs in local grocery stores made living difficult long before the pandemic. Flaherty brings these issues to her peers and even goes so far as to receive and distribute donations. Like many activists and educators, she has been questioned and asked the same old bigoted line of questioning: “Why do you live there?” “Why don’t you just move?” These questions, ignorant of history, mean Flaherty needs to provide a history lesson—something no Indigenous person should have to do, but often must. She educates the ignorant of the unwilling and unjustified forced relocation of her people. Flaherty’s social activism has gone from Tiktok to Breakfast Television, and her momentum hasn’t let up yet. Today she is still using her platform to teach and help close the gap between the masses and Inuit Peoples. Social activism is merely the tip of the iceberg. Influencers have even created a bigger space for inclusion in all its forms.
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ACTIVISM
Sharon Swampy highlights something commonly known amongst Indigenous communities but isn’t common knowledge to others. The relationship between colonial food and Indigenous bodies is the focus of Swampy’s social media content. Her page acts as a resource for understanding how and why certain post-colonization foods affect Indigenous bodies today. With this huge influx of shared knowledge, these young Indigenous changemakers are facilitating an online community of growth and unity amongst Indigenous Peoples and their allies. This red road is not without its obstacles and headwinds. Many who travel this path often need skin of steel and spines strong enough to carry the weight of an entire people. The realm of Indigenous representation in media is a minefield that these youth must navigate when trying to establish a foundation. Even those who build their platforms on something as light-hearted as comedy, like Che Jim—an influencer who has united Indigenous communities across Turtle Island with his sense of humour—have to address discrimination and resistance.
With the beauty that is a progression towards visibility in media, it is not without some undesirables trying to inject bigotry, racism and misinformation. When these influencers of change gain a certain amount of recognition, it is as if the uneducated feel compelled to try to tear them down. Most Indigenous influencers will have to face this at some point, but role models— like Shina Novalinga, a well-established Inuk throat singer—address those who criticize while continuing to hold their heads high and march onward. Some have made it their job to combat this wall of ignorance. Lance Tsosie, otherwise known as Modern Warrior, is a bigot’s worst nightmare and an ally’s best resource. Tsosie faces hundreds to thousands of people daily who use him as an outlet for racism, large displays of misinformation and a general lack of knowledge. Even though Tsosie is in constant battle with people looking for an argument with no intent to learn, he is still respectful and kind to those who wish to understand Indigenous Peoples. Still, the good, the bad and the ugly all must be embraced because those elements are how we make change.
James Jones @notoriouscree Shina Novalinga @shinanova Lance Tsosie @modern_warrior_ Che Jim @che.jim Kyra Flaherty @arcticmakeup Sharon Swampy @indigenousnutritionist We have to see the ugly and rewrite a narrative that was set in motion long before now. Speaking truth and ensuring positive representation in the media is a big responsibility for young people. Our future may not be clear, but watching this colossal shift—and seeing the eyes of the world open to Indigenous Peoples through the power of youth and technology—brings hope that these young Indigenous innovators will lead us to a bright and accepting future. Cheliza Crawford is a proud member of both the Ojibwe of the Mississaugas of the Credit and the Mohawk Nation of the Haudenosaunee. She is completing her internship as a content creator and communications team member at SAY Magazine.
San Francisco, USA - February 8, 2020 FEB 2022 l INNOVATION | 13
HEALTH
Quit Smoking or Vaping with Support from Talk Tobacco Adapted by Kimberly Morrisseau, sponsored by the Canadian Cancer Society
At the age of nine, Mark Quinn was introduced to cigarettes, and by the time he was fifteen, he was smoking regularly. Eventually, Quinn managed to quit for two years, but then a serious work accident occurred. In 2014, a faulty welding machine electrocuted Quinn, landing him in the hospital for seven days and leaving him with ongoing health issues.
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o deal with the stress of this traumatic event, Quinn began smoking again. “When I was discharged from the hospital, I ran for a pack of cigarettes,” said Quinn. Eventually, the financial and health costs of smoking started to take a toll. “Six years later, it became the struggle of my life to quit.” But having quit once before, 58-year-old Quinn knew he had the strength to do it again. In 2019, Quinn was introduced to the Canadian Cancer Society’s (CCS) Walk or Run to Quit, a tobacco cessation program that helps individuals quit smoking while teaching them how to walk or run 5 km. Quinn’s experience with the program was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, he was introduced to another CCS program, Talk Tobacco, a free and confidential smoking and vaping cessation service for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. Quinn connected with one of the Talk Tobacco Quit Coaches, a cessation specialist who supported him with his goal of quitting smoking. Between August 2020 and May 2021, the two spoke over the phone weekly.
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“Sarah’s support was marvelous,” said Quinn, “and with her help, I’ve been smoke-free since January 2021. It’s given me more hope. I can now take a breath of fresh air or a bite of food and truly appreciate it.” According to Alethea Kewayosh, director of Ontario Health’s Indigenous cancer care unit, “mainstream interventions do not appear to have reduced commercial tobacco use in Indigenous communities. In view of 50 years of tobacco control experience with the general population, it is unrealistic to expect a major reduction in Indigenous smoking rates without the development of communitydriven, sustainable, culturally-relevant programming.” In the development of Talk Tobacco services, Indigenous leaders, community members and healthcare providers provided input and guidance. The Talk Tobacco program provides culturally-relevant, accessible, and targeted tobacco and vaping cessation services for Indigenous communities by phone, text and live chat. Services are free, confidential and available in 16 Indigenous languages.
Mark Quinn
Commercial smoking and vaping are, on average, twice as high among Indigenous populations in Canada. For anyone looking to quit, Quinn encourages trying the Talk Tobacco program with an open mind. “It helped me reach my goals, and it was a great experience for me. I encourage others just to try it once. Listen and accept the help, and know you’re not alone.” Thinking of quitting smoking or vaping? Contact Talk Tobacco by calling 1-833-9988255 (TALK), texting CHANGE to 123456, emailing talktobacco@cancer.ca, visiting talktobacco.ca, or joining their Facebook page for support and inspiration. Kimberly Morrisseau is the senior specialist with the Canadian Cancer Society’s Talk Tobacco Program in Manitoba.
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CULTURE
Traditional and Contemporary Indigenous Innovation By Sara Wolfe
As is so often the case with Elders and traditional people, Wendy Phillips starts by locating where her teachings come from. She is Anishnawbe, Bald Eagle Clan, from the Potawatomi and Jamandomac Nations, and a member of Wasauksing First Nation. Her traditional name translates to one who helps, and her family name translates to one who stands alone.
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hillips is a highly regarded spiritual leader, ceremonialist and wisdom keeper who serves her community in many ways, including as the Elder for the Indigenous Innovation Initiative. I met with Phillips recently to ask about her thoughts on Indigenous innovation, and I am happy to share just a snippet of our insightful conversation with SAY Magazine’s readers. Wolfe: When you think about innovation from a traditional/cultural perspective, what comes to mind? Phillips: First, it is our Anishnawbe governance, our clan systems. In it, there are five privileges: leadership, health, sustenance, protection and the fifth is
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about teaching and learning, and so it’s also about innovation. We need this to grow and flourish as a community. For me, that’s where innovation fits in, within our governance system. There’s always been a historical context to that component, and then the major question is “how do we do that today?” Wolfe: Well, that is the perfect segue to my next question. How does this resonate for you, then, in a modern context? Phillips: I think Indigenous innovation will be the answer for solving the ecological and climate crisis we have today. My hope and belief are that we will find answers within those areas.
Wendy Phillips
CULTURE Wolfe: What is it about Indigenous innovation that gets you excited? Phillips: Indigenous innovation includes so much. What I love about innovation is that it is inclusive of who we are as Indigenous people—it includes our beliefs, our values, our customs and our way of life, and to me, that’s the most beautiful thing, that inclusion. I love Indigenous innovation because for us to succeed in the future, we have to develop new things and make sure they are all included in what we do now. All the dreams and visions that our ancestors had, we’re able to see those today. And for me, that is what is inspiring about what’s possible for the future—it’s very exciting. Wolfe: How does Indigenous knowledge inform innovation and economic development? Phillips: When we think of innovation, we need to consider how mainstream economic models are not working for our people; they never have. This is because these systems lack the inclusion
of our beliefs and who we are. Our people have strongly held on to our beliefs, our values, our customs and our traditions—they are of great importance and we hold them in high regard, and to me, that says a lot. It is something I believe hasn’t been articulated enough. Engaging in a healthy way, especially financially or economically, needs to be recognized, and Indigenous innovation is inclusive of that. I think that’s why our people are so open to it as well— because the impacts and the benefits are not individual; they’re very communalbased, they are very clan-based and culturally-based. I believe that’s one of the biggest benefits and impacts that a lot of people don’t often see. Wolfe: As an Elder and knowledge keeper, you are often seen as our connection to the past, but what do you think is the future of Indigenous innovation? Phillips: The sad thing is our people have suffered a great deal over the last
500 years, and we’re currently not the healthiest people. What’s happening right now is a great change. The future that I’m hoping for, and that I desire to see, is one where future generations will be healthy and strong, and it will be because of the innovation that’s happening right now. That’s why we need to invest, especially in Indigenous innovation, because it encompasses not only who we are, but our spiritual and Indigenous ways of knowing and living. To me, that’s how I see the future of innovation.
An Anishnawbe-kwe with strong connections to Brunswick House First Nation in Northern Ontario, Sara Wolfe is the director of the Indigenous Innovation Initiative at Grand Challenges Canada.
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CUISINE
Food Network Canada’s Newest Judge
Chef Shawn Adler By Danielle Vienneau
Chef Shawn Adler is the chef and owner of The Flying Chestnut Kitchen in Eugenia, Ontario, as well as the chef and owner of Pow Wow Cafe in Toronto’s Kensington Market. Being from a mixed family of Indigenous blood on his mother’s side and of Polish-Jewish descent on his father’s, Chef Adler’s inherent influences of cuisine are bold, interesting and unique, much like the colourful fare he has become known for.
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n addition to being a busy restaurant owner and father of two, Chef Adler is the newest face on the Food Network Canada’s Wall of Chefs Season 2. He joins host Noah Cappe and 12 other Canadian culinary giants to judge four amateur home cooks each episode, with the winner taking home $10,000. Although new to Food Network Canada, this is not Adler’s first time on television. You may recognize him from the documentary series Forage (CBC Gem), where he takes viewers on a journey to identify unique edibles that grow in our natural surroundings. Growing up in Orangeville, Ontario, as one of five children in his family, Adler learned to forage from his mother who is Anishnaabe-kwe from Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation. Adler spent a lot of time on the pow wow trail as a youth, and draws inspiration from these experiences and his Indigenous knowledge to create delicious food that showcases ingredients from the Great Lakes region. Here is more about Chef Adler and his culinary journey thus far. SAY: What sparked your love of food and cooking? Adler: I have always been a good healthy eater. As a child, I liked a lot of different foods, especially cheeseburgers, and I still have the notion today that a cheeseburger is the best thing to eat! The love of cooking came in high school when, in Grade 11, I took a cooking course. I only took it because I thought it would be great to know how to make munchies and because I thought women might like a
20 | INNOVATION l FEB 2022
man who knew how to cook. Turns out, I really enjoyed it. The whole experience was eye-opening. I did okay in my other academic classes, but I wasn’t very interested in them. When I took cooking, it felt natural, like this was where I was supposed to be.
I want the foods of my nation to shine, and I want to present them in a contemporary Indigenous way. SAY: What was your journey to becoming a chef? Adler: After doing a co-op placement at Hockley Valley Resort, where I learned a lot of classic cuisines very quickly and all facets of running a professional kitchen, I worked at various fine dining restaurants around Orangeville until I found great chefs to work with. I got my formal training at Stratford Chefs School, and then I went to Trent University and took Native Studies (the name of the program at the time) and, basically geared my entire learning at university towards Indigenous foods. If it was politics, I wrote about the systemic slaughter of buffalo and the government’s eradication of Indigenous Peoples’ foods. If it was an art class, I looked at Indigenous food in art—every course I grafted into the world of food.
SAY: What kind of fare do you serve at your restaurants, and how are they different? Adler: The Flying Chestnut is a bistro where we include flavours from all over the world on a single plate. If I had to define it, I would say it’s more of a casual fine dining experience with an artistic/ eclectic ambiance. It’s my reaction to the old historic building it’s in and what I wanted to achieve with it. Pow Wow Cafe is most definitely rooted in pow wow cuisine, and that stems from my childhood when we would be at pow wows every weekend throughout the summer with my family—fry bread, scone dogs and corn soup are the greatest hits from that time in my opinion, and fry bread is the basis for a lot of the cuisine at pow wows. I build upon the foods that I grew up eating, and I use foods that you find in Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation,
Photos courtesy of Food Network Canada
CUISINE
SAY: Tell us about your involvement as a judge on Season Two of Wall of Chefs. Adler: It’s been a great experience. I judge food daily, dining out or making my own food, so I am a critic for sure. It was nice to be asked to be a judge and to be on a show with other amazing chefs, people I’ve watched and looked up to on television. Watching the home cooks hold knives and other things can be stressful at times since those skills are first nature to the professionals on the Wall. I did enjoy watching the reactions of the other chefs on the Wall and seeing the reveals of what was in one of their fridges. SAY: How do you feel about representing Indigenous culture on television? Adler: To have Indigenous representation on the show, on the Food Network, is amazing. I always looked up to APTN Chef David Wolfman—it was awesome to see someone cooking our food. He is the grandfather of Indigenous cooking in my opinion, and I was lucky enough to work for him on his show for two years. For younger people, it is important to see other Indigenous chefs on television. Sitting on a wall of the country’s most renowned chefs is amazing, and I appreciate having the opportunity to be a part of that. SAY: What do you love most about what you do? Adler: Through the pandemic, I have learned that less is more. I have had
numerous restaurants operating at once while catering events, music festivals, weddings and other things. Now I realize that I enjoy being the one standing behind the stove. I love everything about cooking—the creativity, the physicality and the time management. I love the challenge of having 10 orders come in at once and seeing them all come together and go out perfectly. Seeing my food placed in front of a guest and seeing their face before they even pick up their cutlery
is very gratifying. It’s what makes my brain and my heart happy. Wall of Chefs airs Mondays at 10pm ET/ PT on Food Network Canada. You can also stream through STACKTV with Amazon Prime Video Channels or with the Global TV app, live and on-demand. Danielle Vienneau, Editor-in-Chief with SAY Magazine, believes in the power of sharing stories to inspire greatness in others. To submit your story, email editor@saymag.com.
Fresh Corn Pancake/Fritter Recipe By Chef Shawn Adler
Yields 8 pancakes
Photo courtesy of Pow Wow Cafe
like pickerel, rabbit, venison, white fish, birch, salmon, pike, Indigenous wild rice and maple syrup, and I make them shine on the menu at Pow Wow Cafe.
Shortstack of cornmeal pancakes finished with wild blueberry compote.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup fresh corn, shaved off the cob 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 egg ¾ cup milk 1 tsp baking powder 1 pinch of salt 1 pinch of brown sugar Salted butter, for serving Maple syrup, for serving
DIRECTIONS
1. Shave corn into a medium mixing bowl. 2. Add all other ingredients (except butter and syrup). Mix to combine. 3. In a skillet with some butter, ladle in the mixture one scoop at a time. Cook the pancakes for three minutes per side. 4. Serve with a hunk of salted butter and real maple syrup.
FEB 2022 l INNOVATION | 21
MONEY MATTERS
Investing in the Future with Social Finance By Richard Tuck
Prior to the pandemic, global assets under management in impact investing were estimated to be $715 billion, nearly double the expected market value for 2020 back in 2010 when it was just $50 billion and I was first studying this phenomenon for my thesis. Over the last 10 years, there has been massive change in the world of social finance, from new vernacular to diversity of funds, to the Government of Canada committing to a $755 million Social Finance Fund that will begin investing this year, and it all gets me excited for the future possibilities.
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ersonally, I have been on all sides of this sector since leaving academia: as CEO of a for-profit impact venture that managed to secure a $1.4M seed round through impact investors; as an impact angel investor myself, investing in impactful startups; as CEO of Wakopa Financial, a financial services company dedicated to social finance and startup entrepreneurs that has developed two Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) among other new social finance tools in Manitoba and Ontario, and helped numerous social impact companies across Canada become investment-ready; and, because of these experiences, I sit on various national organizations and roundtables about social finance. This is what I see. First, the environment still dominates the impact investment world today with over 90% of the money directed at clean technology, renewable energy or greenhouse gas reduction. But impact investing has broadened its reach to small local investments that can make big impacts. For example, Edmonton’s Social Enterprise Fund, which started with just $1.2M from the city, has made $7M worth of investments over the last decade by reinvesting that money, and now, thanks to great leadership from the Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF), has access to a further $60M (or 10% of ECF’s total endowment) to continue making impactful investments in local organizations. More community foundations need to follow. Second, democratizing impact investment is happening! From coast to coast we can find examples of local funds investing
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locally, and there are some big players, like the Telus Pollinator Fund for Good, a $100-million social impact fund that invests in for-profit impact companies, and Raven Capital’s Indigenous Impact Fund, a $25-million fund that makes equity investments into Indigenous social businesses. However, you needed to be an accredited investor to be included in these funds—until now! Kizmet Impact Capital, out of Vancouver, has democratized impact investing for Canada by opening a public company in which any individual can buy shares. This is good. Third, the majority of money in this sector, made up of impact investors and funds, is still controlled by straight, old, white, cisgender men. When an equity and diversity lens is applied to impact investing or funds, white women are overwhelmingly the beneficiaries. A group called Inclusion in Impact Investing has formed to increase the participation of non-white individuals in social finance, especially in decisionmaking roles. With over 100 people part of this group, which provides learning and mentorship opportunities, less than 10% are Indigenous. I would love to see this increase. Finally, impact investing is not philanthropy. Impact investors and impact funds need to make financial returns so they can continue to invest in more impact businesses—just like Edmonton’s Social Enterprise Fund has. There are financial returns because there are inherent risks to investing; you may lose it all. But looking at impact investing as
philanthropy does not give it the credit it is due and continues to limit the amount of money that is accessible to impactful organizations to grow and scale.
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Richard Tuck is of Métis heritage. He is the CEO of Wakopa Financial and the cofounder of the Social Entrepreneurship Enclave. Both organizations focus on helping Indigenous and non-Indigenous Manitobans who face financial barriers. He has an MBA in International Business, an MSc in Corporate Finance, and his Ph.D. research was on social entrepreneurship.
FEB 2022 l INNOVATION | 23
SOCIAL IMPACT
Indigenous Innovation Flourishes
I
Submitted by the Indigenous Innovation Initiative at Grand Challenges Canada
nnovation continues to be recognized as an important driver of progress and productivity, and crucial for solving complex and intractable challenges across social, economic and environmental dimensions. Innovation is a pillar in creating and building communities of the future. When given the resources and opportunities they need,
innovators can provide communities with the tools they need to thrive. We are on a journey to heal people, the lands and the waters; to reconnect and uplift families and communities; and to dismantle gendered and systemic barriers to economic participation through Indigenous innovation.
Spirit of Birth App
For Indigenous innovator Rebeka Tabobondung, the voices, experiences and direction of Indigenous knowledgekeepers, midwives and community members came together to help her create the Spirit of Birth App. By honouring Indigenous knowledge and ways of being, the Spirit of Birth App explores Indigenous teachings on land and water, and their relationship to life-givers.
Rebeka Tabobondung - Allysha Wassegijig in short documentary, Spirit of Birth
A central teaching on life-givers is that they hold the responsibility to care for the waters of the lakes and bays.
Clan Mothers Healing Village
Clan Mothers Healing Village 24 | INNOVATION l FEB 2022
In Manitoba, a dynamic group of Lived Experience Leaders has sought to fuse both traditional knowledge and innovation in the creation of the Clan Mothers Healing Village. Within this innovation project, they are developing an online learning platform to enable broad access to meaningful solutions to human sex trafficking and sex exploitation by sharing the matriarchal knowledge, wisdom, teachings and
Investment in Indigenous innovation is more than investment in solutions—it is an investment in people. Here are three innovator profiles from the Indigenous Innovation Initiative. They are examples of individuals and groups who have turned challenge into opportunity, creating positive social impact.
During pregnancy, it is also the parents’ responsibility to care for the waters inside us that are sustaining the baby. The Spirit of Birth App seeks to recover, share and revitalize these sacred birthing and parenting practices that were silenced by colonization and the residential school system. In celebrating the knowledge that colonization attempted to destroy, the Spirit of Birth App aims to re-establish a sacred and important relationship we have in our communities—the relationship between a parent and child.
ceremonies of the Lived Experience Leadership Council and Elder Council within the Clan Mothers Healing Village. This includes teachings and ceremonies about the seriousness of human sex trafficking and sex exploitation as it relates to Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and the creative and Indigenous-led and matriarchal solutions that the Clan Mothers Healing Village embodies.
SOCIAL IMPACT Innovation can radically transform all areas of our lives. As demonstrated by our innovators, Indigenous innovation offers new perspectives on modern systems using traditional Indigenous knowledge. Bridging the gap between Indigenous traditions and contemporary systems, Indigenous innovation can result in a more inclusive, and environmentally and culturally respectful space for all.
Haida Gwaii Media Collective
The Haida Gwaii Media Collective The Haida Gwaii Media Collective came out of an effort to gather and share all that Haida Gwaii and its residents have to offer. The group specializes in digital storytelling and aims to provide an avenue for local creatives, businesses and innovators to broaden their reach, particularly supporting equity seeking and including Indigenous women and 2SLGBTTQQIA+.
After their Dancing the Land project, the Collective shared [in their impact report]
that “the goal was to create a space for dialogue and exploration of our bodyland connection and choreograph a land-based dance piece to be filmed and shared with the community. Dancing the Land allowed participants to connect with the embodied teachings of the land and establish a deeper sense of place and belonging within their bodies and territories.” One of the impacts of this project is in its ability to allow for a deep sense of cultural purpose and preservation to emerge.
The Indigenous Innovation Initiative is an innovation platform delivered in partnership with the department of Women and Gender Equality Canada (WaGE) and the McConnell Foundation. Their goal is to enable Indigenous innovators and communities to identify and solve their own challenges, transform lives, and drive inclusive growth and health outcomes.
FEB 2022 l INNOVATION | 25
MUSIC
Migizi Ishpeming (eagle up above):
Honouring Vince Fontaine By Troy Westwood
“Tell me your vision” was the first thing Vince Fontaine ever said to me. We have all experienced that feeling of looking at someone in the eyes and feeling like you already know them or somehow you are already connected. That was the way it was when I first met Vince. We shared the same vision of making music—one that blended the sounds and understandings of our First Nations experiences with a folk/rock feel. Back in 1994, there wasn’t much of that on the musical landscape. Vince had an abundance of great guitar riffs that often had a real cool earthy type vibe to them. Sitting in his basement jamming as we would, he started playing something that caught me right away. I told him to keep playing and started scribbling down lines. Songwriting with Vince was always a sacred organic experience. There was always Great Spirit with and around us in those moments. In just a couple of minutes, we had our first song, “Eagle and Hawk”. We thought that would also be a cool name for a band, and so it began… Vince was always a lot of fun to be around. Do you have someone in your life that has a gift of making you laugh? Vince was that for me. He had a tremendous sense of humour. Most every time I was around him there was an abundance of smiling and laughing. His eyes always twinkled with that mischievous perspective of life that he had. He was the king of giving someone a funny nickname or saying something at the perfect time to make everyone explode with laughter. One of my favourite ingredients of my brotherhood with Vince was the laughter. There would be times that we would have to stop what we were doing because we would both be cry-laughing. The family of Eagle and Hawk was a larger than average musical family. Vince had a great knack for finding talent, and many 26 | INNOVATION l FEB 2022
This was the first-ever photo taken of Eagle and Hawk nearly 30 years ago.
in the musical circle wanted to be a part of Vince’s musical vision through Eagle and Hawk. So many great people. So many great musicians, singers, songwriters and dancers were part of Vince’s vision. The truly beautiful thing about the Eagle and Hawk musical experience is that those who were in Vince’s circle would then take those teachings and share them, making the circle of Vince’s vision grow larger and larger as the years went by. That is truly powerful. We all miss you, my brother. We miss your smile. We miss the way you would communicate. The way you would lean forward when you shared an idea. The way you would look away when pondering the next thing to say. You affected many around you in a positive way. You helped to make the world a better place. Your life and your music will echo in this world forever.
Troy Westwood is a founding member of Eagle and Hawk, and a multi-award-winning singer/songwriter as Little Hawk. He is a regular contributor to various Winnipeg news publications and is a former Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicker. Westwood is the traditionally adopted son of Dave and Orianna Courchene of the Sagkeeng First Nation.
FEB 2022 l INNOVATION | 27
MUSIC
Shauna Seeteenak In August 2021, Inuk hip-hop artist and rapper Shauna Seeteenak launched her powerful debut album Therapy Sessions. She partnered with Iqaluit-based record label Hitmakerz to create this raw and insightful compilation of beats and lyrics.
At 29 years old, she’s been writing and making music for almost two decades. By the time she was 10 years old, Seeteenak had learned to express her emotions through song. Since then she has used music as an outlet for healing and creating shared experiences through her work.
Music has opened a whole new world of beauty for me. I realize this is my moment of clarity. Writing my rhymes has always been my greatest therapy.
Seeteenak describes herself as a political rapper, centering her music on the truths and challenges facing Inuit Peoples living in the North. Her latest album, Therapy Sessions, touches on a variety of themes, including mental health, suicide, overcoming barriers and healing.
As a gifted and authentic storyteller originally from Baker Lake, Nunavut, and currently based in Iqaluit, Seeteenak has made a name for herself in the industry and has collaborated with other talented Inuit artists and musicians from around the globe.
Although Seeteenak has not been able to perform live over the past two years, she did perform a virtual set for the Indigenous Music Awards last spring. She was also a contestant in CBC Music’s Toyota Searchlight contest last year, and her single “Better With You” reached Top 10 on the Indigenous Music Countdown.
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With the uncertainties surrounding the current pandemic, Seeteenak is optimistic that she will be able to promote her new album in person and begin touring very soon. As she continues to educate the rest of the world about Inuit Peoples, breaking down misconceptions through her music, Seeteenak plans to stay in Nunavut where she can affect positive change as a role model for youth and other Nunavummiut.
MUSIC
Old Soul Rebel There is a new and entrancing sound emerging in the music world. Dynamic duo Old Soul Rebel has burst onto the music scene with confidence and originality, combining powerful vocals to create a beautiful blend of soul with the hard, unrefined edge of rock. Old Soul Rebel’s music is unique, like the two talented artists that make up the pair. Both Chelsea D. E. Johnson (vocals, electric guitar) and Lola Whyte (vocals, electric banjo) have strong cultural ties to their African-American and First Nations heritages, respectively, and both artists have worked tirelessly to claw their way through the music scene. Johnson’s experience as a touring artist and Whyte’s experience as a cabaret performer have combined to make the ultimate partnership and soul-rock act. Hailing from East Vancouver, British Columbia, this musical duo is no stranger to friendly competition.
Johnson previously competed on Canadian Idol when she was only 19, and the band recently gained notoriety by appearing on Season Two of CTV’s The Launch. Although the pair has been performing almost entirely virtually due to the pandemic, it hasn’t hindered their momentum in the slightest. If anything, it has proven the strength of their bond and the power behind their desire to create and share music as they reach audiences in any way they can. As Old Soul Rebel grows and earns their place among the stars, fans can continue to anticipate their extraordinary personalities and highenergy performances.
Fresh off their latest self-titled EP release in November 2021, there is no telling what these powerhouse artists have in store for us in the coming year, but whatever it is, it’s sure to be a mindbending and soul-changing experience for all who witness it.
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MUSIC
Phyllis Sinclair Cree folk singer-songwriter Phyllis Sinclair recently released her fifth album Ghost Bones. Her latest work of art features nine songs that speak to Indigenous realities and also point to the power of her culture’s spirituality, using astronomy and mythology to educate and support through hundreds of years of deprivation and mistreatment. The album’s title track “Ghost Bones”, a metaphoric appeal, urges “give bones to our ghosts” which refers to the unrest of passed treaty signatories who deserve to have their treaty upheld. Born on the western shore of Hudson’s Bay in Churchill, Manitoba, Sinclair is a member of the York Factory First Nation (Kischiwaskahegan Negani Innewiseewin). She was given the Cree name Songkeeper Woman by her territory Elder—a name that comes with a level of responsibility that Sinclair takes to heart. Distinguished by Maverick Magazine as “A Lady of Conviction”, Sinclair’s passion and advocacy are palpable through her intelligent compositions—songs that are carefully curated to be meaningful to herself and her listeners. Sinclair’s calming vocal style, which she attributes to her grandmother, paints vivid images in the minds of listeners and encourages turning old ways of thinking into new possibilities. With two decades of experience, Sinclair has earned numerous awards and accolades for her craft. Her second
album Fathomless Tales from Leviathan’s Hole earned her a Canadian Aboriginal Music Award (CAMA) nomination for Best Folk Acoustic Album, and Dreams of the Washerwomen, her fourth release in 2011, was selected by Radio Canada International’s Brazilian sector as Best New Recording by a Canadian Artist. Sinclair’s fourth installment also earned her a Best Folk Acoustic Album Award by the CAMA Awards and a nomination for Female Entertainer of the Year by the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards. Most recently, Sinclair was nominated for a 2021 Canadian Folk Music Award. Her latest album Ghost Bones is in the top 10 on independent radio, and her song “Run Brother Run” is charting on the Top 40 Indigenous Music Countdown. Sinclair looks forward to playing the Songwriters' Showcase at the Canadian Folk Music Awards in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, at the end of March 2022.
Mar 7 | Shauna Seeteenak Mar 14 | Old Soul Rebel Mar 21 | Phyllis Sinclair Visit us at IndigenousinMusic.com 30 | INNOVATION l FEB 2022
CUISINE
Don't Panic! Eat Bannock! Submitted by Terri MacPhail
I have always thought of myself as half bannock (Métis) and half perogy (Polish) because of my mixed heritage. Bannock is very personal and everyone makes it a little differently, so I am happy to share this recipe that I have refined over the years from what my mother taught me. Many people say bannock was originally introduced to Indigenous Peoples by Scottish fur traders, which makes sense since we didn’t have flour until colonization had taken hold and our people started eating foods from the Hudson’s Bay storehouses.
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oday, bannock in all its forms (deep-fried, pan-fried or ovenbaked) is a dearly loved food of many Indigenous Peoples, and is considered a staple at gatherings, pow wows and feasts. Enjoyed as an Prep: 25 mins Total Time: 60 mins
Cook: 35 mins Preheat: 350℉
accompaniment to a hearty soup, used to make a bologna sandwich, or just warmed up in a pan with butter and Saskatoon berry jam, it makes for a perfect warm bite during the cold winter months, or any time of year.
Mé t is Baked Bannock INGREDIENTS
Serves: 15
5 cups all-purpose flour, level 3 Tbsp baking powder, level 3 Tbsp sugar, heaping 2½ tsp salt 1 egg, beaten 1 cup 2% milk 1 cup water 1/2 cup oil (canola or sunflower) or melted butter, unsalted
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients together with a wire whisk. 2. In a small pot (stovetop) or bowl (microwave), combine the beaten egg, milk, water and oil/butter; whisk well. Warm gently until lukewarm to the touch (or microwave for 1:32 on high). Whisk together until frothy. 3. In the center of the dry mixture, make a small hole, like a little ‘well.’ 4. Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the ‘well’ and whisk the flour gradually into the center with a fork until all ingredients combine to form a dough. 5. Knead the dough gently in the bowl until smooth and round. Add a little flour, only if necessary, to keep it from sticking. Don’t overwork.
6. Pat the dough onto a flat pan or cookie sheet* lined with parchment paper or lightly greased with oil. The dough should be approximately 3” thick. Cover with a towel and let rest for 10 minutes. 7. After 10 minutes, press outward until the dough is 2” thick. Prick all over with a fork. 8. Bake for 35 minutes at 375℉. Remove from oven and cool standing up on its edge so the air can circulate. 9. Option: Butter the outside of the bannock while still warm. This makes the bannock soft and delicious. *Note: It is best to use a pan with no sides. In a pinch, you can use any large metal pan upside down to avoid any interference with your bannock baking properly. Terri MacPhail is a proud Métis woman with roots firmly planted in Cumberland House Saskatchewan. She serves as a community school coordinator at an elementary school in Regina, Saskatchewan, and through this vital role, she is able to share her cultural food traditions while supporting the entire school community with care and compassion. FEB 2022 l INNOVATION | 31
RESILIENCE
A Mile in My Moccasins Submitted by Kelli Kematch
I share these three stories, excerpts from my life, with the intention of inspiring hope and guidance. ENTRY EARTHSIDE
My name is Kelli Kematch. I was born in December of 1988, in Vancouver, British Columbia. My mom was a severe addict who preferred alcohol to drugs. I know few things about my birth, but I do know that I was born with complications and was diagnosed early on with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), a diagnosis which has affected my entire life. Even after my birth, my parent’s addictions took priority, but still I believe they did their best. I was neglected and became malnourished, and was eventually taken from them. I do believe my parents loved me and cared for me the only way they knew how, but addiction got the best of them. I understand their struggles because I have lived this life—I was an addict, and I am a mother. I do believe their parenting skills were lacking due to their life experiences, combined with shame and guilt from attending residential school. 32 | INNOVATION l FEB 2022
If my parents had a better upbringing, maybe they could have cared for me; unfortunately, life had other plans.
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
To understand resilience, one must understand what it means to overcome adversity. The most difficult parts of my life took place during my childhood, where I had to overcome unimaginable obstacles. In the foster care system, I was placed with two different families. The first loved me, helped me recover from my parents and nursed me back to health, but because I am First Nation, they could never fully adopt me. I was then placed with a family who was from the same reserve as my mother— Saddle Lake Treaty 6 Cree Nation. Sadly, my earliest memories of my adopted parents were of them fighting and drinking. I remember feeling lost and scared in those surroundings.
Domestic abuse eventually ended their marriage, including abuse directed towards me. I remember being confined to a room, hungry, deserted and terrified. I had to go to the washroom so badly that I urinated in the vent but was beaten afterwards for doing so. I became terrified of my new caregivers and dissociated to survive. I had some faith that things would get better, but my heartbroken adoptive father became an alcoholic and continued a cycle of unhealthy relationships. My father did eventually seek help for his addiction. He got sober and started working as a social worker, but his time away at the office meant he was
RESILIENCE not witness to the daily abuse I would endure next. We eventually moved in with a seemingly kind woman and her children. I was excited to have new siblings, but it soon became clear that my life would not change for the better. This new family treated me like an outcast, and they used my FASD as a reason to mistreat and manipulate me. The woman and her children soon took their anger out on me. My only outlet was school—I loved learning and I even joined a drumming group to help release some of the hurt. The relief was short-lived, however, because my “siblings” attended the same school and they were my bullies. My safe haven became a war zone. I suffered the horrors of sexual abuse for a long time. As a teenager, I remember feeling so much shame, guilt and remorse. I shut down. I dissociated to the point that I suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. I started to self-harm and think of death as the gateway to peace.
When I had two more daughters, I knew I had to break the cycle of trauma. I entered a rehabilitation program and got some much-needed help. It was difficult facing the pain I had avoided for so many years. That hurt brought me to my knees, and I would pray to Creator for strength. I walked out of that rehab centre with a new mindset. I was not a victim anymore. I was a survivor. I gained a fellowship of people just like me, so I wasn’t alone anymore. I went through a process that helped me confront my character defects, let go of my resentments and make amends. I was finally free to live and love.
A MISSION OF HOPE
I am now in control of my own story. It is now my mission to help people who have been through similar situations. I finally have the family I always wanted, full of love and understanding. My partner is a compassionate man willing to walk beside me while I continue my healing process. He protects and provides for our family, and I know he truly loves me. I have many challenges ahead, but I no longer carry
that pain and hurt with me. Now I carry strength, faith and hope. Kelli Kematch is a recovering addict who has overcome great odds. She currently works at the Bonnyville Indian Métis Rehabilitation Centre in Alberta where she is an addiction counsellor aid. Kematch plans to continue her education to become a fully licensed addiction counsellor.
I wouldn’t wish what I went through on anyone. The sad truth is my story is probably all too common in the adoption system.
BREAKING THE CHAIN
For many years I struggled with addictions stemming from shame and guilt, and it landed me in various toxic relationships. I chose numbing over healing. Then I had my first child, and I finally felt what it was like to truly love. Unfortunately, I did what I said I would never do. I repeated the cycle of trauma from my childhood and lost custody of my daughter, which left me feeling hopeless and defeated. Thankfully, a good friend came into my life at the right time and changed my world. We built a bond and I trusted her, which for me was never easy. She loved me unconditionally and showed me how to love myself. She taught me that love doesn’t come with a cost. She let me share my horror and didn’t judge. She was there to lift me up and tell me to keep going. She was my guardian angel, sent to pull me from the gates of hell. FEB 2022 l INNOVATION | 33
MENTALITY
Hope Moved Me Submitted by Tina Ruysseveldt
A jolt of hope can be a life-changer. Truly it was for me.
W
hen I was a homeless fifteen-year-old abandoned by my parents, I lacked a sense of belonging and I struggled desperately with feeling alone in this world. The result was a lifelong crisis of finding who I was and where I fit in. The fact that I wasn’t 100 per cent Indigenous only added to my confusion. I was a troubled teenager in fear of the life that had shaped around me thus far, and I lacked a sense that I mattered—that I was worthy of love and care. I didn’t understand the wisdom and beauty of my Indigenous roots. Hope became my magic stardust—a catalyst to help me take action and move forward. It was all I had at times and, thankfully, it was enough. Hope gave me the belief that things were going to be different. Hope gave me the ability to envision a reality different from Hope gave me the one I was currently in. All I had to do was to something to feel make sure I put this in that was good and motion by putting one foot in front of the other. something to hold Simple but effective.
onto when I felt like I had nothing else.
Hope, belief and taking the first step (action) is the mindset of champions and heroes, and leads to success. This mindset of holding onto hope has gotten me out of many tough situations in my life. So, at this moment, if you feel you want better, different or more, allow hope to help you envision taking that first step and baby steps along the way. Even if it feels too hard or if you think it’s too much right now, or even if there is a 34 | INNOVATION l FEB 2022
voice inside your head telling you that nothing will help, find a way. Say this to yourself, “What do I have to do—in this very moment—to move towards my vision? To move towards where I want to be? Closer to whom I want to be?”
Tell yourself you can push through doubt. Remind yourself that you are stronger than you think you are. And even knowing and reading all of this, some days we just can’t, and that is okay too. Don’t be discouraged; nobody ever got this right the first time. And the cool thing is we always get another crack at it
MENTALITY
tomorrow. Some days will be tougher than others, and sometimes we will need a little help, and hope, to feel better and keep moving forward.
to shift our situations, in our moments of struggle and strife. Some feel it helps to remember that you are never abandoned. You are always one with yourself and the Universe. I found that I could never be one with anything until I embraced all of who I was, the Indigenous part and all. Hope still helps me find my way. May it help you too.
It is incredible to look at how far those first few steps have brought me. It’s inspiring to see the version of the person I am today, on the other side of so many of life’s challenges. Living a life that was designed with a foundation of good choices changed my entire existence. Today I live sober (ten years!) and cancerfree. My life is my own, and hope helped me envision it. Better, different and more. My hope, my ambition, helped me envision that my world could be different. That I was not alone. Hope gave me something to feel that was good and something to hold onto when I felt like I had nothing else. If you are reading this today, may you know and feel in your soul that hope is
there for you too! These are tough times and we all experience struggles differently. As we navigate our lives in 2022 and on, we can all use the energy that hope carries
Tina Ruysseveldt is a survivor who has overcome great obstacles, including childhood abuse, addictions and a rare form of cancer. A registered nurse and meditation expert, Ruysseveldt is also a published author of The Courage To Be True, an inspirational speaker and the creator of The LiveWell Recipe™ that she credits to saving her life. For the last decade, she has been walking the road of recovery, and sharing her story and life-changing methods that allowed her to thrive in the face of some of life’s most difficult situations. Ruysseveldt currently resides in Toronto, Ontario, and is a proud member of the Six Nations of the Grand River.
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LITERARY SUBMISSION
Jasmine Parisian Jasmine Parisian, Eagle Clan, is from Sagkeeng and Peguis communities in Manitoba, Canada. She is a Nakota, Anishinabe (Ojibwe), and Nehiweyak (Cree) woman, and a single mother to three boys. She is an avid storyteller who uses social media, primarily Tik Tok, to share her poems and stories of selflove, healing and pride within her Indigenous culture. Jasmine draws inspiration from her late father Peter Parisian—a singer, artist, dancer and man faithful to his spirituality who raised Jasmine all on his own. Jasmine has attended the University of Winnipeg in the Indigenous Studies program with a major in Conflict Resolution and a minor in History. In December 2021, she selfpublished her very first book called No longer the silent warrior: Power in her words, power in her. With the poem “The Tree”, Jasmine hopes to encourage young Indigenous innovators to look for the gifts within themselves.
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The Tree
By Jasmine Ashley Parisian
The tree cannot lean on another tree and ask that tree to grow for them The tree grows on their own surrounded by others The tree gives themself the time to go from a seedling in the dark into a being who is big beautiful that provides for others in ways that cannot be seen they do not force themselves to get bigger they do not rush their growth The tree knows their small efforts will help them grow each and every day
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