On the occasion of National Indigenous Peoples Day, MSVU shares this message from Alyssa McIntyre, Aboriginal Student Centre Coordinator:
The month of June is National Indigenous History Month, with June 21 marking National Indigenous Peoples Day.
June has been an incredibly challenging month for many indigenous and non-indigenous folks with the gruesome discovery of the mass grave containing 215 (and counting) children at Kamloops Indian Residential School in Canada, the overt racism directed at Ethan Bear of the Edmonton Oilers, the despicable treatment of Joyce Echaquan, and the systemic racism within our colonial institutions. These are only highlights of the treatment and realities that indigenous folks face in this country, yet, still we stand, still we grieve and still we celebrate our multitudes, unique histories, and ways of being and knowing alongside each other, despite enormous challenge at times.
It is my hope that many of the non-indigenous folks who have expressed shock, disbelief, disgust, anger and/or shame at the realities coming to light in this country take the time to process these emotions and take actionable steps to help shift our current landscape towards a more just society that is rooted in equity and collective care for each other, across difference.
Below you will find a list I have compiled of podcasts, books, documentaries, reports, articles, films and free online courses to begin the journey of education that is rooted in truth and to celebrate the beauty, resiliency, and multitudes of our people.
– Alyssa McIntyre, Aboriginal Student Centre Coordinator at MSVU
Resources
Education
TRC Calls to Action: http://trc.ca/assets/pdf/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf
2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ Peoples National Action Plan https://mmiwg2splus-nationalactionplan.ca/
“Unsettling Settler Colonialism: The discourse and politics of settlers, and solidarity with Indigenous Nations,” Decolonization: Indigeneity, Education & Society: https://www.corntassel.net/Unsettling.pdf
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples.html
Marshall Inquiry: https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/marshall-inquiry
Moderate Livelihood Fishery: “Lobster Fishery at a Crossroads”: www.halifaxexaminer.ca/environment/lobster-fishery-at-a-crossroads
Open Online Course by University of Alberta – Indigenous Canada: https://www.coursera.org/learn/indigenous-canada
Open Online Course by University of Toronto – Aboriginal Worldviews and Education: https://www.coursera.org/learn/aboriginal-education?
Academic Well Being of Racialized Students: https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/book/academic-well-being-of-racialized-students
Celebration
Project 562, Matika Wilbur: “A multi-year national photography project dedicated to photographing over 562 federally recognized tribes in the United States resulting in an unprecedented repository of imagery and oral histories that accurately portrays contemporary Native Americans.” http://www.project562.com/
Embracing the Spirit of Inclusion: San Francisco’s Two Spirit Pow Wow http://www.project562.com/blog/embracing-the-spirit-of-inclusion-san-franciscos-two-spirit-pow-wow/
APTN Indigenous Peoples Day Live: June 20-June 22 at 8 p.m. Available for free on APTN lumi with performances from: Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Alan Syliboy & Thundermakers, Andrina Turenne, Buffy Saint-Marie and Neon Dreams: https://www.indigenousdaylive.ca/
Podcasts
Books
I Place You Into the Fire by Rebecca Thomas
Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq
River Woman by Katherena Vermette
Disintegrate/Dissociate by Arielle Twist
Song of Rita Joe: Autobiography of a Mi’kmaw Poet
Black Water: Family, Legacy and Blood Memory by David A Robertson
I’m Finding My Talk by Rebecca Thomas
21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph
Movies/TV
Rutherford Falls
Rhymes for Young Ghouls
Monkey Beach
Trickster
We’re committed to Truth and Reconciliation. Learn more about this MSVU Strategic Plan Theme »