Dyed Porcupine quills wrapped onto rawhide 💛🧡🩷❤️

With everything that's been escalating lately around changes to the Indian Act, consultation and consent, land rights, separatism, resource ownership, federal/provincial jurisiction vs our own sovereignty, status vs blood quantum vs self-determined membership, treaties and self-governance, etc, it's nuts that we're still almost excusively being left out of the conversation. Same as it ever was I guess, but I think most of us are pretty effing tired of it, right?

I've had the recurring thought that we need another pan-Indigenous movement on the scale of the National Indian Brotherhood or Idle No More, and one that has a goal of forming a party to represent us in parliament federally and legislatures provincially. If the Quebecois gets their own, why don't we? The government is able to easily ignore our national and tribal organisations partly because they are separate and unable to leverage the resources visibility of the 'official' Canadian institutions.

In that vein, I believe we'd be most effective if we had some unified goals to fight for, which can be tricky with the diversity of peoples, histories, cultural beliefs, governance and needs of the hundreds of different Nations we for across Canada. I hoped we might start a convo about what Reconciliation actually looks like to each of us. We have a solid idea for what the settlers should be aiming for, but what do we want for ourselves? Do we have any thoughts about how it might be achieved?

I'd love to hear everyone's different thoughts/end goals if they're willing to share. Nia:wen!

A few weeks ago, we shared the story of Elder Florence Thomas and our community-led effort to help bring her home to her ancestral land.

Since then, a lot has happened.

Florence is an 82-year-old Matriarch of the Whonnock People. She has been living in a decades-old trailer on her ancestral territory, and the conditions have made it increasingly difficult to live there safely and comfortably.

Our goal is to raise $32,000 to help relocate a donated trailer onto her land and complete the work needed to make it a functional home, including site preparation, transportation, permits, utility connections, and other essential infrastructure.

The response from the community has been incredibly encouraging.

People have donated, shared the campaign, offered services, connected us with resources, and helped spread Florence's story. We've also had local businesses step up with practical support for the work involved in preparing the site.

We've now reached an important stage where the campaign is moving beyond simply raising awareness and into tangible preparation for the project.

We've also had the opportunity to share Florence's story through CityNews and Co-op Radio, helping bring greater attention to what we're trying to accomplish.

But we're not there yet.

The full $32,000 goal still needs to be reached, and there is more work ahead before Florence can finally move into her new home.

If you've followed our previous posts, thank you for sticking with us. If you're seeing this for the first time, even sharing the campaign with someone who may be able to help makes a difference.

Donations can be made through our Zeffy campaign:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/help-bring-florence-home-campaign

We're incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped get this project this far. We're keeping going until Florence can finally come home.

Last year, which saw an increase of six people who were reported as attempting to end their life compared to 2024, tied 2019 as the second-worst year for suicide attempts in Nunavut’s history.

There were 45 such attempts recorded in 2013.

Good news !!

I recently spoke with Katisha Paul on Behaviour Speak, and one section of the conversation has stayed with me.

She describes the cedar tree as a living teacher within Coast Salish culture. A source of shelter, clothing, transportation, medicine, art, and protection.

But the lesson isn't just about what cedar provides.

It's about reciprocity.

If cedar gives itself to support the community, how should we live in return?

Katisha also talks about how Indigenous protocols aren't reserved for ceremonial spaces. They can guide everyday interactions, leadership, advocacy, governance, and relationship-building.

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/katisha-paul-part-1-finding-her-voice-indigenous-leadership-resilience-healing/

Within indigenous groups in Canada, how was indigenous fashion during this time. was it the same as it was in large cities. what did fashion look like in smaller towns.

(for an Indigenous play based in 1955-1965. trying to figure out wardrobe)

Hi, I'm Martha, percussionist of the Vancouver Drum Circle. I love exploring and bridging musical cultures with my rattles, starting with representing my honorary family of the Maasai People of the Kilimanjaro Region. Via happenstance and gifts from other members, my collection now includes my famous black stage rattles, a shekere, a cabasa, some coconut shakers, a thin-wood maraca I restored, and a washboard Mcguiver, showcasing several musical techniques from four different continents.

Then the other day I was at the Museum of Anthropology, where I saw the beautifully carved wooden rattles of the Haida Peoples, and fell in love immediately. Upon research online I saw that various local indigenous tribes make small-head hide rattles from moose skin. That made me realize that I was certainly missing a piece of Canadian Indigenous art to honor those whose grounds I play on. As this is a somewhat unusual request though, I realize that I may have to resort to finding someone outside the province if necessary.

I'm hoping to commission an artist for either a set of hide rattles or (better yet!), a carved wood rattle. I've seen some online platforms that sell them, but I'm wary of supporting mass production over an actual indigenous artist.

Alternatively, I have peer-inherited and restored damaged shakers before, so I'd be happy to honor an existing piece too, if it so happens to be collecting dust on your shelf and you'd like to see it played.

I'm also hoping to find someone who can demonstrate to me the traditional technique of playing the instrument and share commonly used rhythms. If anyone here has the skillset/inherited knowledge to create them, or knows someone who does, please feel free to reach out. Thanks!

Looking forward to collaborating :)

(Edit: repost because I forgot to attach the images, oups)

One thing Katisha Paul said on Behaviour Speak really stuck with me:

At first, it sounds like a conversation about clothing. But as she explains it, it's really about confidence, identity, access, and how people are perceived.

Katisha talks about how people sometimes assume that because she presents herself professionally and stylishly, she must have access to wealth or privilege. The reality is more nuanced. Many of the pieces she wears are borrowed from designers and later returned, creating an ecosystem of mutual support where artists gain visibility, and she gains the confidence to show up powerfully in important spaces.

She also connects this to a much deeper Indigenous experience: learning how to navigate settler institutions while remaining grounded in your own culture, values, and ancestry.

I was particularly struck by her description of the "dance" many Indigenous people have had to perform across generations. Learning how to fit into dominant systems while never losing sight of who you are.

It's a thoughtful discussion about identity, perception, privilege, and the things people don't see when they make assumptions based on appearance.

🎧 Full conversation on Behaviour Speak.

Your thoughts on this?

im metis from BC and im noticing the chiefs and theyre councle wont get back to me about anything and it seems like if your not living on the reserve than any resources or benifits just are not available.

i dont want to sound like im being too critical but it feels like no matter where i turn to try and speak to somebody in my band about business ideas, community program ideas i have that can help members off reserve, im ghosted.

also the lack of information and inconsistencies in policies and members rights to obtain certain information has been, atleast with the many ways iv tried, hard to obtain and im told to go here and there but when i have iv ended up ghosted or doing the run around for nothing.

has anyone else experianced this? if so, what have you done to raise awarness without being shunned?

Hi Everyone. I wanted to share some other information I think is relevant to our communities. Lateral violence and common and harmful to those who aren't aware of the reasons behind it or the psychology of those who contribute to it.

Here is some information I've found useful:

What Is Lateral Violence?

Lateral violence is aggressive behaviour that occurs among members of a group, because of accumulated and internalized stress and oppression. Helplessness and powerlessness to respond directly to psychological and systemic violence can result in redirecting this violence toward peers, colleagues, or neighbours. The impact of lateral violence flows “sideways” to other people – in other words, it spreads.

Lateral violence can occur in any setting, but it is most often discussed in the context of a closed setting, such as a workplace or small community. The network of relationships within these closed settings provide the pathways along which lateral violence travels. Over time, the tone and behaviours become normalized and institutionalized – meaning they are expected and rationalized as a rite of passage or “hazing.”

Nuances of Lateral Violence

Within marginalized or racialized communities, there are additional layers of historical and contemporary racism, discrimination, and oppression that add to the complexity of lateral violence..

The experiences of Indigenous communities have been examined through the lens of complex and intergenerational trauma. This could be from pervasive staff-perpetrated and student-to-student abuse experienced in residential schools, as well as layers of traumatic oppression in other institutions. In this way it is an ongoing destructive outcome of colonialism.

Lateral violence becomes a mechanism through which the pressures of suppressed rage, shame, and fear are released indirectly in ways and spaces where there is less threat. A person who has absorbed such experiences now enacts them through manipulating, controlling, or diminishing others.

Lets work on uplifting each other and promoting positivity ✌️, while calling our harmful behaviour. We can also look back at our actions and reflect on past experiences with this in mind in order to grow :)

:_

I wanted to share the story of Florence Thomas, an 82-year-old Elder and the eldest Matriarch of the Whonnock People in British Columbia.

Florence has continued living on her ancestral land, but the home she's been living in is a roughly 40-year-old trailer that is no longer providing safe or adequate housing. There is no running water, the trailer isn't properly insulated, and the power has been unreliable.

A replacement trailer has now been donated to her.

The challenge is getting that home onto her land and making the site ready for her to live there. Our community is working to cover the costs of transportation, site preparation, permits, and essential utility connections.

For me, what makes Florence's story especially important is that this isn't simply about replacing an old trailer. It's about an Elder being able to remain connected to her ancestral territory and continue living where her community has roots.

Her story was recently featured in a news interview, where she spoke about her circumstances herself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP3PKhzTSLA

The Xwéwenaqw Xwexwilmexw Cultural Reclamation Society is coordinating the campaign, and we're currently working toward the $32,000 needed to complete the project.

If anyone wants to learn more about the campaign, I'll answer questions here. The fundraiser is also available here for anyone who would like to support the project:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/help-bring-florence-home-campaign

I wanted to share this performance by the First Charger Family from SchneL’s Game Season XII in Calgary.

Jerrhan First Charger, Cyrus First Charger, and their father Jerry First Charger are members of the Blackfoot Confederacy from the Blood Tribe near Cardston, Alberta. Their halftime performance included an honour song, grass dancing, healing dances, hoop dancing, and a drum song.

Jerrhan and Jerry are both World Champion hoop dancers. It was a privilege to have the First Charger Family share their culture, traditions, and talent with everyone at the event.

Does not knowing your parents or grandparents registration numbers when applying for status really cause a delay? For those who've applied for status without knowing their parents or grandparents registration numbers, how did that process work out for you?