Picture from Indian Summer Vintage
NEWS
-The post I wrote '2010 Olympics Token Tribute' went viral (and yes that's a good thing). The Georgia Straight re-posted it on their Olympics blog. They are Vancouver's lifestyle and entertainment weekly (similar to Now Magazine in Toronto) and thus basically awesome. So happy that they chose my message to post.
-An article I did profiling Nadya Kwandibens for This Magazine was posted on Utne Reader's Blog page. Utne is an alternative and independent liberal media that I have been a fan of for a while. I feel very honoured to have had my article on Nadya profiled on their blog roll.
NATIVE
-Reel Injun is screening tonight in Vancouver and Toronto. This documentary opened the imagineNATIVE Film Festival last October and had rave reviews. It takes on Native stereotypes as depicted in Hollywood (one of my favorite topics).
-The BC Government decided that Taesko Mines could set up shop on Tsilhqot'in territory. There are numerous protests to try to save the lake as it is inherent for preserving traditional ways (as well as just being the environmentally correct choice). Public hearings begin March 22nd in Williams Lake, BC. Didn't these people watch Avatar?
-There was an Aboriginal fashion showcase in Vancouver organized by Angela DeMontigny last Saturday night. It featured designers Dorothy Grant, Pam Baker and Angela DeMontigny as well as Tammy Beauvais, Louie Gong, Kim Picard, Nadine Spence, and Tracy Toulouse. Now that would've been a great show to see!
BEAUTY
-Here's my article for MSN.ca on 'How to Avoid Beauty Blunders.' No one wants to be caught with orange foundation and Amy Winehouse eyeliner, so please take a quick read.
-I have also started lusting for Creme de la Mar. I know it's overpriced facial moisturizer that has been around forever, but with so many great reviews, they can't all be wrong. I might have to start writing gold to be able to afford it any time soon though.
FOOD
STUFF
Posts
Congrats on your post going viral! That's exciting... and it's great that your message is being shared and heard.
ReplyDeleteI want to second the congrats on your post being spread around : ) It reminded me of something the former director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian said -- to paraphrase: in the nineteenth century the only good Indian was a dead Indian, now the only good Indian is a powwow dancing Indian. He was trying to make the point that everyone loves to watch us put on plumes and fancy shawl or jingle, but when we want to go to court and demand treaty rights...
ReplyDeleteAs you might know, a Russian ice dancing team got in trouble with the Aboriginal people of Austrailia for their offensive pseudo-Aboriginal ice dance and costumes. Today they performed a different dance, and the announcer said they had exchanged Russian gifts with some First Nations peoples of Canada. Immediately after their dance they and their coach draped themselves in First Nations blankets. Cynical me thought, "Hmm. You offend one group of indigenous people, so you give gifts to a different group (as though we're all interchangeable) to protect your image, and then everyone is satisfied with you echoing the superficiality of the pro-indigenous message of the Olympics by literally blanketing yourself with a surface layer of 'Indianess' instead of engaging in meaningful discourse on why your original act was wrong."
US Urban Native Girl - Thanks for the update on the Russian dancing team ... your perspective is interesting. I haven't taken a closer look at the details of this so I can't fairly comment. It does seem that they are trying to save face though ...
ReplyDeleteToday was the folk dancing night for ice dancing. The Russian ice dancers "toned down" their costumes (they were still horrible and offesnive) and stil did their pseudo-Aboriginal dance. They gave some First Nations peoples gifts -- and then went right on to mock Native people. My reading of it anyways...
ReplyDeleteUS Urban Native Girl - I did see some You Tube videos of it after the fact. I wish I took the time to follow that more closely. Soon I will have the time to follow everything more closely :).
ReplyDelete