Back 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
Native
G(irls) 20 Summit
Categories: Native
Are you an Aboriginal female between the ages of 18-20 that is passionate, forward thinking, and solution oriented ? Then the Girls 20 Summit is looking for you! Travel to Russia in 2013 to meet other young delegates from each G20 country, plus a representative from the European Union and the African Union.You will debate, discuss and design innovative ideas necessary to empower girls and women globally and present these to G20 Leaders. It’s an opportunity to engage and influence. VISION Our vision is for a world in which girls and women are empowered and able to participate fully in the economic … Continued
Let’s give the headdress a rest
Photo from Mail Online. It’s only been one week since No Doubt took their video down after the outcry from Native Americans, First Nations, and their allies after their ‘Looking Hot’ video was released. I wrote about it on Tuesday for The Guardian. After the posting, there was still outrage from Indigenous people as to how the video was made in the first place, and from non-Indigenous people still wondering what the big deal is. ”It’s just a music video.” “It’s artistic expression.” “I’m Native, and it doesn’t offend me.” Oh great. Even after reading numerous posts and explanations on why … Continued
Indigenous Peoples Day
Johnny knows what’s up This year, just like every year, I was asked to join in on some Thanksgiving feasts here in Ontario. My brothers and their children are in the interior of BC, and my mom is now in Arizona, so there is no real family turkey dinner for me, and there hasn’t been for some time. Over the years, I have mostly not taken part in Thanksgiving dinners, and the few times that I have joined families, it has been nothing short of awkward. This one time I had agree to “celebrate” Thanksgiving at this Muskoka mansion cottage … Continued
Holy Chuck
I was recently asked by Ethnic Aisle to write about the past, present, or the future of racism in Toronto. After posing the question to Facebook, the most recent and obvious racist incident was the Holy Chuck “Dirty Drunken Half-Breed” Burger incident. Below is an excerpt from the post at Ethnic Aisle, but please take a moment to read the full post here. “Half-breed is an historic term used to describe anyone who is of mixed Native American (especially North American) and white European parentage. Métis is a more general French term for mixed race, which has generally referred to a person of descent from two different major ethnic … Continued
Acimowin: To Tell a Story
Last March Megan Bertasson (Whitebear Woman, Wolf Woman) made a moving talk at TedXYorkU on storytelling and it’s importance for the Cree Nations. Not only for Cree Nations, but this story was one that touched my soul. And if you take the 12 minutes to watch this, it will touch yours as well. I tell this story because I believe that one of the most important defence that Aboriginal Peoples have engaged in has been storytelling.” Megan Bertasson
Y.O.U.T.H.
Categories: Native
This past month I’ve had the pleasure of working with the Native Youth and Family Services of Toronto (Scarborough location) Leaders in Training (LIT) youth camp. I gave writing workshops while Shane Belcourt gave photograph workshops so that we could assist the youth to make this magazine. Kevin Fujita, Youth Worker at NYFST They paired up and selected someone that they admired and that inspired them and interviewed and photographed them over the course of a few weeks. It was awesome to get to know some of the Native youth in Scarborough and get to know the people that make … Continued
Batman goes Native
Categories: Native
I was surprised when I came across this Batman comic that features … a Native Batman!! Whaaa … how is this even possible? Well do read on. Batman Incorporated is an ongoing comic series where Batman (Bruce Wayne) begins franchises by drafting, training and commanding a global team of heroes who answer to him. One of his franchises is led by Man-of-Bats (Dr. William Eagle) which takes place on an unknown Lakota reservation. Man-Of-Bats is active in the community during the day as a doctor and as a volunteer crime fighter in the evening. He is assisted by his son … Continued
Boxing Olympic Babe
Categories: Native
The 2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony is going down this evening and it’s sure to be an action packed time when sports fans are glued to their tubes. This year Women’s Boxing has been added to the Olympic roster, which means that there will be an Aboriginal athlete making the Olympic rounds this year. Mary Spencer (Ojibway), from Cape Croker First Nation will be competing in women’s middleweight boxing. The first match is August 6, with the semi-finals taking place on August 8 and the finals on August 9. She already is a three time world champion middleweight so she’s … Continued
May #NativePhotoADayChallenge
Categories: Native
Last month’s #NativePhotoADay was a hit! There was over 731 entries on Instagram alone, that’s some serious dedication by a lot of you out there. Thank you all who participated for sharing your creativity this month. Here are a few highlights (although it was hard to choose). Thank you everyone! Day 25 ‘Corn’ by FreeCouch. Amaze. Day 10 ‘Medicine Wheel’ by FreeCouch Day 3 ‘Drum’ by SeriouslyIKnowRight Day 23 ‘Cedar’ by Muse250 Day 22 ‘Sage’ by Steve Marshall Day 18 ‘Earth’ by bunganz If you didn’t get a chance to participate, well May’s challenge is here. There may be a … Continued
New in Town
Categories: Native
Did you know that over 70% of Edmonton’s Aboriginal population originates from other communities or that Edmonton has the second largest urban Aboriginal population in Canada? Well I sure didn’t. It wasn’t until last month when I was approached by Lisa Baroldi of Progress Unlimited to do voice over work for New in Town Aboriginal Welcome Service that I realized the full capacity of just how Urban Aboriginal Edmonton really is. The commercial that I did the voice over work for details the service and how it can be a help to those Aboriginal peoples new to Edmonton, and how … Continued
Top 30 Hottest Native Women
Categories: Native
Life and Times of a Modern Day NDN Princess published a list of the Top 30 Hottest Native Women. Guess who made the list? I am so thankful to be included in the company of so many talented and beautiful women. Here are a few from the post … Waneek Horn-Miller Amberae Wood Ashley Callingbull Julia Jones Chantal Rondeau of the blog is taking suggestions of who else to add to this list … she’s got five more spots left! Weigh in on who you think it should be by posting on her FB page or taking this poll below. … Continued
Red Road Districts
Categories: Native
Photo by caribb She inspires, transpires, and continues to evolve. I checked this interview with Kinnie Starr by Rabble in promotion for the upcoming Women’s World 2011 conference to be held in Ottawa while researching for my fashion gigs. There were some words that resonated with me, and so I shall share: “I still have days where I feel I have no right to talk about being brown because I am so white. I write about being brown and being Native from a position of strength and a position of challenge and question. But it doesn’t mean that I’ve got … Continued
Apache Adrian
Categories: Native
You know that moment when Patti Stanger asks her millionaires who their ideal partner is? Well, I’ve always been a little unsure of what I would say if I was ever asked that question. I have dated guys of various ethnicities and there hasn’t really been a “type” per se. It’s usually more about the connection and the type of person that they are, rather than just looks. But having said all that, I think I found my new “type”. I just heard that Adrian Grenier is in Toronto and I remember how much I was crushing on him in … Continued
Oh oh oh she’s my calendar girl
Categories: Native
Well I know I’ve already mentioned this calendar in my Gift guide for him … but I felt like it did deserve it’s own post. Last year I spent a day with Nadya Kwandibens taking some photos for this here Native Reflections calendar. I haven’t seen the photos since that hot summer day but I’ve definitely been waiting for this calendar release. So if you are interested in seeing some Native girls do their best at posing in front of a camera, then be sure to pick this calendar up. It’s only $9 so it’s easy to pick up a … Continued