Get Shady with Derek Cardigans

Categories: Contests

DK S Front  If you didn’t get the memo, the sun is out! Unless you live in the far north … and if that’s the case, then I’m sorry. You should move. Just kidding. But YES, finally it is sunny out and the shorts and sandals are already in full effect. I even got my second sunburn ever last weekend in the park. Yes, the second in my life. I waited FAR too long to get sun clearly. I’ve got these lovely pair of Derek Cardigan Sunglasses in Fog to give away from ClearlyContacts.ca. They might just spruce up that sundress you … Continued

Chayla’s Beauty Picks

Categories: Beauty

935658_10152802141150615_928771727_nWell tonight is the big night. Chayla Delorm Maracle is one of the national finalists to participate at the Miss World Canada 2013 pageant tonight in Vancouver. Read more about her here. Stay tuned tonight here for the updates on her finalist status! When you want to know something, you go to the pros. So I asked Chayla what her top 6 beauty picks are in her beauty arsenal. With photo perfect makeup always on, she’s bound to know! All of her picks sound like beauty gems. I know she’s got me ready to do some online shopping … 1) Beauty … Continued

Brass Vixens Aerial Stretch

Categories: Health

Splits 600When is the last time you took time to play? I mean really play? I know for myself that I don’t give myself the opportunity very often. I’ve got 3,000 things on my to-do list at any given time and why would I take time to play if I can be productive? And then aerial stretch class happened. It was a Monday afternoon and I had no idea what to expect. I was told to wear long sleeves and long pants and to bring some water. That was it. I entered the Brass Vixens studio full of brass poles and … Continued

Is there a new Nygard?

Categories: Fashion

Bianca Nygard Top 500When I think of Nygard, I used to think of pastel suits in a corner of a Sears store somewhere. But thankfully, things have changed. Nygard has updated their look, specifically with the Bianca Nygard division, which is aimed at a younger demographic. It’s more akin to Smart Set, a place to get your basics and stock up on those “smart, casual” basics. Yes, I just used smart casual. But, you know the clothes you can wear to the office and also blend into your weekend wardrobe with ease. I selected this Bianca Nygard from their collection. Of course I … Continued

Salsa for Spring

Categories: Fashion

Salsa Jeans 500When Salsa approached me to try on one of their Spring/Summer ’13 collection jeans for size I was a little reticent. I am one of the most picky people when it comes to my denim. I think it’s the cowgirl in me (I am Tsilhqot’in from the Interior of BC after all). Anyhow, I have had a jean fetish since Guess Jeans had all of those amazing ads out when I was a kid. I would only wear Guess Jeans, it drove my mother crazy. My tastes evolved as I got older and it at one time got to the … Continued

Shawnee She King

Categories: Music

Shawnee 600GUEST BLOGGER: Sarah Yankoo Sarah Yankoo (Algonquin) is a shape shifting old soul with a wide range of influences and a penchant for fierce yet unassuming delivery. She  is an aspiring musician living in Toronto. Her most recent work has departed folk and hit a new stride that strikes an apocalyptic chord. Shawnee She King (Mohawk – Six Nations) is a rapid-fire rising star from Welland, ON. A performer from the get go, young Shawnee first made her way as a Shania Twain impersonator and later played full-time in a Niagara-based cover band. A year after finishing high school, Shawnee … Continued

Minaake Awards in Toronto

Categories: Events

MinaakeLast week it was the First Annual Minaake Awards show, which are Toronto’s first Aboriginal Women and Youth’s Community and Achievement Awards put on by the Native Women’s Resource Centre (NWRC) of Toronto and sponsored by TD Bank. I was honoured to be one of the thirty nominations that NWRC received (for the Culture Keeper category). It looks like it was a fabulous event and fun was had by all. I am very glad to see such an initiative started and look forward to celebrating the many talented Native women in Toronto! Krystal Abotossaway, Jessica Yee, Jolene John The award categories … Continued

Comics Coastal Style

Categories: Art

Batman-printI don’t read comics (errr graphic novels) much these days. There once was a time where Archie comics filled my reading time, but those days are long past. I do think it’s fair to say that there is not much Indigenous representation in graphic novels these days. I can think of Shelley (Comanche) in Wapsi Square, that Native Batman comic, Rabbit and Bear Paws, Super Indian, and this comic book I just heard of today ‘The 500 Years of Resistance‘ by Gord Hill. In fact, just this week as I was dreaming up illustrations, I was wishing that there were … Continued

Northern Nurses Needed

Categories: Native, Politics

Disccovery-College-Photo11Back on my reserve in the Interior of BC, if you wanted to see a nurse you went to the trailer by the snack shop. It looks a bit dilapitated, and the trailer seems slightly askew, as if one of the four wooden blocks holding it up is a few inches short, giving you the uneasy feeling when trying to balance beverages on top of a wobbly table. This is the nursing station, where one person is there to service the entire community’s varied health needs. The nearest hospital is an hour and a half away, and for those without … Continued

Chayla Delorme Maracle sets sights on Miss World Canada 2013 title

Categories: Beauty

Chayla TitleChayla Delorme Maracle is one determined young woman. Not only is she running for the Miss World Canada 2013 title, she is also intent to become a psychologist to meet the needs of Aboriginal peoples. Her top three role models in her life are; her mother, her grandmother, and retired Psychologist Dr. Sudha Choldin, who worked to service the Aboriginal community in Edmonton. “With my mom being a social worker in Edmonton, she really sees the need for there to be an Aboriginal psychologist, and that’s one of the reasons that I’m going to school and want to get my … Continued

Feline Friendships

Categories: Personal

AS Quote 300More than a few years ago I made a new best friend. We had just met and really had a lot in common and had a lot of fun together, so we kicked it as often as we could. I was pretty new to Toronto at the time, having moved away, and then moved back again. I needed some new peeps to hang out with outside of my university friends and she was cool, young, fun, Native and was showing me what Toronto had to offer culturally. It was awesome. Then this thing happened. She had another really close friend. … Continued

Killigrew Fashion: Tee-shirt Contest

Categories: Contests, Fashion

Trio-of-Tees1Whenever I hear of a new tee-shirt design that has a decidedly Indigenous or Native flavour, I’m always skeptical at first to see if it’s some sort of Jeremy Scott (Adidas) vision, or an authentic spin. I was totally excited about the new Killigrew Fashion collection of Aboriginal art inspired tees once I heard that they collaborated with Native artists to create their collection. Killigrew is a Canadian line that grew from a mother and son partnership and vision (seriously how cute are they?). Cleo and Mitch Darragh desired to create garments “with a feel good factor – comfort meets luxury … Continued

Reelworld Film Festival: Croker Island Exodus

Categories: Film + TV

Croker_Poster_Artwork_6001Hey Toronto, I’m sure by now you’ve already heard of the ReelWorld Film Festival, an annual film festival that features over 85 films from diverse voices. This year the festival takes place April 10 -14 at the Famous Players Canada Square Cinemas (2190 Yonge Street). On April 13, 2013 the North American premiere of Croker Island Exodus will be featured at this festival. This documentary follows the story of 95 Aboriginal children and their missionaries as they make a journey across their continent in 1942 on Croker Island when Japan is bombing Australia’s north. They travel over 5,000 miles by foot, boat, … Continued

ANDVPA’s Red Revue featuring Don Amero CONTEST

Categories: Contests, Music

Don-Amero11This Saturday night the Association for Native Development in the Visual and Performing Arts (ANDPVA) is having an special fundraising concert as a part of their Red Revue series. Award winning performer Don Amero will be performing at Monarch Tavern at 9 PM. Tickets are only $10 with proceeds going to fund a visual art project for Images Festival. Artists Duane Linklater and Tanya Luane Lukin Linklater to create an interdisciplinary project titled (g)rains. Their new work composed of dance, sound and image, grain(s) see artists Duane Linklater and Tanya Lukin Linklater responding to two films, Robert Flaherty’s seminal documentary Nanook of the North (1922) and Hiroshi … Continued

Urban Warrior: Israel Garcia

Categories: Urban Warrior

Israel-Garcia-500Israel Garcia (Ojibwe/Latino) lives in Toronto and works as a hairstylist/artist out of Salon Daniel in Yorkville. He is originally from Walpole 1st Nation.   1. My seal fur mitts I got these as a birthday gift from my sister. I always get tons of compliaments when I wear them. It was a cold winter in Toronto and these mitts are essential for making it through. 2. Chanel Correcteur Perfection Long-lasting Concealer Works wonders on those dark sleepy morning eyes. In a city like Toronto where there’s lots to do … those mornings can get kind of regular . 3. My … Continued