Top 11 of '11

 Truth.

The past year has been full of travel and adventure. I have been to a ton of cities, four countries, and three continents. Talk about a whirlwind of a year, it has been a lot of fun. Truth be told that I actually exhausted myself. So in 2012 the idea is to travel in a more limited capacity. I still have a few places that I want to go but decreasing work travel is really going to help me focus and spend last time in different time zones and more time in the work flow zone. That is my goal for the new year. I am totally thankful for the past year as I've the opportunity to experience incredible things, meet incredible people, and learn some incredible life lessons.

Negril beach yo. Rave in the back jammin'

1. Jamaica Jammin' (02.11)

In January I had the awesome experience of going to Jamaica with a group of friends. So much awesome I am doing a repeat performance in 27 sleeps. I wrote about it for Indian Country, you can read about my experience here. This video encapsulates what I loved about Jamaica, spending time with friends laughing (ghetto mimosas on the last day with Miss Milliken). So much fun.

 Santa Monica hangs with JC 

2. Santa Monica Moments (03.12)

There is no denying my intense love affair with LA. I absolutely love that city each time I visit and this last visit was no exception. What encapsulated this love was my last day in LA when I did my best to try to extend my visit so I could meet up with Brown Barbie and hang out for the weekend but got an "access denied" phone call. So I moped around my favourite spot in the city, Santa Monica pier, and felt an intense sadness and longing that was not replicated all year. I could leave any city, country and feel ok, and happy to head home, but not LA. I am not sure why I love LA so much, but I do and this year I realized exactly how much ... now I just need to do something to ignite that love affair.

The courtyard of the Miami Mansion. 

3. The Versace Mansion in Miami (04.11)

My trip to Miami in April was pretty amazing and my favourite moment was dining at the Versace Mansion. I was deeply in love with all things Versace while growing up and was really upset when the news reached about Gianni's death. My first visit to Miami and I got a pic outside the gate of his mansion. This visit to Miami and I got my door opened from the car as I exited and a man in uniform greeting me while opening the gate. Night and day. It was such an amazing experience and I am so grateful. 

Everybody say hey ho

4. The FNU Pow Wow in Regina (04.11)

You always hear the statistics about First Nations youth as the fastest growing demographic, but I got to be honest, I don't really get the best sense of that here in Ontario. My trip to Regina this year showed me how powerful of a movement it really is, and how beautiful the community spirit can be. The First Nations University pow wow was pretty massive, but the collective community spirit and being surrounded by so many First Nations children and youth was powerful. It was a game changing moment for me.

My tummy shows how much I was enjoying beer apres surf lessons ...

5. Coasting Waves in Costa Rica (04.11)

A last minute trip had me learning to surf over Easter weekend in Costa Rica. I was always frightened to surf and thought that I wouldn't be great at it, was not athletic enough, etc. etc. but with the support system of three experienced buddies and a great intro surf instruction by Flash (above) at Witch's Rock. I was sold. My gymnastics background lent itself well on the waves. Surfs up!

6. Gathering of Nations Pow Wow (04.11)

For years and years I wanted to go to Gathering in Albuquerque. This year was my year. I was so excited to go and be a part of things, plus I had a working partner in crime, Jarret, with me so it made the whole trip more awesome. I also had the wonderful opportunity to present at the North American Indigenous Image Awards. I felt pretty blessed to be a part of the event, plus I made tons of new friends while in NM. I think this event needs to be on my calendar every year.

 Hanging with Chef Wolfman and his sidekick on the club floor at Montreal's Sheraton

7. Inclusion Works in Montreal (05.11)

This annual event put on by the Aboriginal Human Resource Council is always the highlight of my year. It is when my mind is fed and I meet extra inspiring people from all over Canada that push me to do more and be more. This year I got spoiled by my friend, Armand, who took me to Restaurant Bis in Montreal which makes their own gluten-free pasta in house. In house! Viva le Montreal.

Chilling at Chilko Lake

8. Camping in BC (06.11)

I got a few weeks to spend back home in BC and I was blessed enough to be asked to go to a full moon ceremony and to go camping in Xeni Gwet'in by my "cousin" Helen. Awesome sauce, game on. My first ceremony and my first camping trip all rolled into one. It was a peaceful, blissful, and enjoyable time (even though next time I go I want to bring an RV in tow).

 Boating around Lake Como. Hell Yeah.

9. Luxury Living in Lake Como (06.11)

I wrote about this most amazing moment of my year for Indian Country, so please read about it in detail here. My entire trip to Italy, my first time in Europe, was both brilliant and blissful. I felt like an utter princess the entire time and I have never encountered such luxurious living in my life. It was such a great experience, and I feel so blessed to have been given this opportunity this year. Eternally grateful.

Note to self: Do not wear silk on stage

10. All Aboard for Alberta (10.11)

I got to be a keynote speaker for the Osum Day for Aboriginal Women Entrepreneurs and you can read my post all about it over here. It was a fantastic experience and I got to learn a lot about industry and community engagement. Most surprising about the trip was how much I loved Calgary. It's been decided that the only other city I'd live in while staying in Canada is Calgary, it's pretty awesome there.

Team #NativeAwesome

11. Electric Pow Wow El Moc Style (11.11) 

It all started while having a facial. Seriously. I had a brief flash, a vision of Electric Pow Wow really going electric and really going pow wow. What if? And so I made that happen. With the help of the Aboriginal Students At York (ASAY) and Sarah Yankoo, we managed to bring in a hoop dancer (the one and only Jacob Pratt) and two fancy shawl dancers ("the Amandas") and blow some minds during A Tribe Called Red's set. Sarah wrote all about it for UNGS right here. The moment the dancers came out on to the dance floor was a moment unlike any other. It was that concept to creation moment that feels so good. Turahe!