I recently had a chance to hang out with two friends, Frank Deer and Kevin Lamoureux, who also host one of my favourite podcasts. They talk about a lot of Indigenous issues in general, and Indigenous education in particular. They're both very smart and pretty funny, so check it out in the iTunes store or on the web!
We had a really good chat, which they split up into two episodes. Check it out:
Part 1:
Part 2:
We discussed education, language and overhauling the Indian Act, among other things (including which kind of running shoes I prefer). They also honoured me with a Frank...
Read more...
The following was originally published in the Winnipeg Free Press on May 9, 2013.
Sean Hunte was a young man who was just starting to realize his potential: he was viewed as a youth leader, he worked at a North End drop-in centre and, even though he was only 18 years old, he had already begun helping people.
His close friend Alyssa Ziolkoski, 20, says, "Sean had a huge impact on my life and honestly I will go as far as to say that he broke me out of my shell and let me be me again."
We will not know how far Hunte could have taken these gifts. Two weeks ago he took his own life.
Ziolkoski's...
Read more...
The following column was initially published in the Winnipeg Free Press on February 28, 2013.
"We the undersigned put forth his name, to the Hockey Hall of Fame..."
Those words wove their way through the halls of the esteemed institution of hockey lore in Toronto on Feb. 23. John K. Samson, best known as the frontman for indie rockers the Weakerthans, led a group of 25 people who sang the chorus as they hand-delivered a submission addressed to Hall of Fame chairman Bill Hay.
Whose name did they put forth? That of the Riverton Rifle: Reggie Leach.
The lyrics are classic Samson: taking...
Read more...
Idle No More has created a tremendous amount of energy and passion in our community. We desire solutions. While the politicians and leaders have a role to play, the long term change we want to see must start with us, as grassroots citizens. I drafted this declaration to outline some of the principles that guide us. If you agree sign it.
It's also a good classroom exercise. Students and classes could use this as a basis to discuss what are the important values they would like to see to guide them as we move forward. Then they might like to draft their own declarations. Without further ado...
Download...
Read more...
Here's the videos from a very fun appearance on Strombo Tonight:
Read more...
Ahow Ogichidaakwe Theresa, nimiigwetchiwiyin. Aazhaa kigiigichiminochige. Kidaagiigiiwe noongom. Gegoo chaaniminoken. Gigaminoayaamin. Kidaagiimawadisaag kidaanisag nongom. Miigwetch ndikid. [Translation to follow]
To Chief Theresa Spence,
I am writing to you to tell you that when you break your fast and end your hunger strike there should be no shame in your heart. You should hold your head high, for you have done a good thing for our people.
Our Anishinaabe people have a word “Ando-bawaajige”, vision quest, which refers to the ceremony where we fast in order to seek a dream. Our sister...
Read more...
The following is an op-ed column jointly authored by Dr. Lloyd Axworthy and myself. It was originally published in the Globe and Mail's print edition on January 11, 2013.
One halcyon day at the University of Winnipeg last October, we stood across from each other in a bond of fellowship: one presenting the other with a sacred Anishinaabe pipe. Elders had requested this ceremony as a way to build bridges between the indigenous and non-indigenous communities.
To answer the obvious first question, the pipe is loaded with tobacco. To answer the obvious second one, the pipe itself represents a communion...
Read more...
Left: My Father and Mother kiss in St Peter's square the morning of the canonization of St KateriI will never forget the last hours I spent with my father. We had already conversed about his life. We had already enjoyed the celebratory travels together. We had already passed the point of no return beyond which he might recover.
Instead, we were together in his darkened bedroom, mostly silent. Occasionally, I would help him up or fetch him some water. More often, however, he slept. Here and there I would sing and tap out a traditional song on a hand drum, reminding him of the meaning. In Anishinaabe...
Read more...
I am overjoyed to announce that a fund to promote Indigenous knowledge and culture has been set up to honour my father at The University of Winnipeg. Here's the media release:
WINNIPEG, MB - The University of Winnipeg today announced establishment of a $10,000 fund in honour of Dr.Tobasonakwut Kinew, an esteemed member of the UWinnipeg community in his multiple roles as elder and instructor in the Master of Arts in Indigenous Governance and Master's in Development Practice with a focus on Indigenous Development, and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from UWinnipeg in 2011.
The Dr. Tobasonakwut...
Read more...
Originally published as a blog on the Huffington Post on December 17, 2012.
What is "Idle No More"?
It is a loosely knit political movement encompassing rallies drawing thousands of people across dozens of cities, road blocks, a shoving match on Parliament Hill between chiefs and mounties and one high profile hunger strike.
It is also a meme tweeted and shared about thousands of times a day, for messages about indigenous rights, indigenous culture and cheap indigenous jokes ("Turn off your ignition #idlenomore").
The name Idle No More comes from a recent meeting in Saskatchewan. Sylvia...
Read more...
Recent Comments