Author Archives: kevin ault

Module 4 Post 1 (Rebeka Tabobondung)

About

I have chosen to highlight the work of academic, artist, media artist, poet and Wasauksing First nation member,  Rebeka Tabobondung because of how she weaves her artistic practice with her academic analyses. Through her multidisciplinary work, Rebeka highlights the importance of self determination through the construction of autonomous Indigenous media. She describes these connections in the following writing: Indigenous Perspectives on Globalization: Self determination Through Autonomous Media Creation.

Her Poetry

Reconciliation

We are waking up to our history
from a forced slumber
We are breathing it into our lungs
so it will be part of us again
It will make us angry at first
because we will see how much you stole from us
and for how
long you watched us suffer
we will see how you see us
and how when we copied your ways
we killed our own.
We will cry and cry and cry
because we can never be the same again
But we will go home to cry
and we will see ourselves in this huge mess
and we will
gently whisper the circle back
and it will be old and it will be new
Then we will breathe our history back to you
you will feel how strong and alive it is
and you will feel yourself become a part of it
And it will shock you at first
because it is too big
to see all at once
and you won’t want to believe it
you will see how you see us
and all the disaster in your ways
how much we lost
And you will cry and cry and cry
because we can never be the same again
But we will cry with you
and we will see ourselves
in this huge mess
and we will gently whisper the circle back|
and it will be old and it will be new.

Press

Red Man Laughing Podcast: Interview

Award from U of T

Muskrat Magazine

Module 4 Post 2 (Place Based Birth)

The below videos and writings are centered around the concept of place based birth. I feel like this is a very important addition to the analyses on how western medicine has contributed to colonizing practices by dismissing practices outside the sphere of linear fragmented scientific method approaches to healing. In addition exposing these biases, these films and writings also serve as great examples of how Indigenous media can help to decolonize the notions of western supremacy. It is also a great example on how, through appropriate cross-cultural exchange, how western medicine can benefit from acknowledging the expertise of Indigenous medicines and healing.

Place Based Birth: Article

Module 4 Post 3 (Washington Post Series: This is Where My Mobile Technology Begins))

In this three part series, the Washington post investigates the true cost of our high tech devices. Specifically, the authors, Todd C. Frankel and Peter Whoriskey look at how the extraction of lithium, cobalt and graphite have adversely affected the ability to subsist in three separate geographical areas.

I think that this is a very important aspect of module 4’s conversation because it places the usage or reclamation of Indigenous constructed media side-by-side with the origins of these tools. In other words, can something both promote decolonization and colonization.

Here are the links to the three articles:

Tossed Aside in the ‘White Gold’ Rush, 

The Cobalt Pipeline

In Your Phone, In Their Air

Module 4 Post 4 (Qallunaat! Why White People Are Funny)

This documentary/mockumentry examines how white culture has tried to document the ‘other’ through lack of understanding and cross-cultural exchange. It does this by reversing the traditional roles of subject and documenter – an Inuit community tries to understand white culture by using the same methods that western documenters used on them to falsely represent their cultures.

To me, by re-appropriating the methods of settler culture, this film strongly comments on how traditional usages of media have served to subjugate and misrepresent Indigenous people and communities.

NFB Description

Module 4 Post 5 (ABC Indigenous Australia)

ABC Indigenous Australia is an offshoot of Australia’s major ABC network. ABC’s aim is to provide a platform for which Indigenous creatives can develop, be supported and fund their initiatives. Founded in 1987 and inspired by the former works of the Indigenous Programs Unit, ABC Indigenous Australia’s mandate is to provide a Indigenous voice to mainstream and primetime broadcasts.

What I find interesting about this project is that even though the organization boasts an Indigenous voice, it’s products are not fully autonomous Indigenous productions. As such, it puts into question the motives and intended audience. In other words, are these productions meant to entertain and educate primarily white audiences – if so, is this appropriate?

Below I have posted two clips and press from the highly recognized sketch comedy series ‘Black Comedy‘.

Black Comedy: the ABC makes a bold foray into race relations

BLACK COMEDY: THE BEST OZ SKETCH COMEDY IN YEARS

Nakkiah Lui to serve up new ABC ‘black’ comedy

Module 3 Post 1 (Karyn Recollet)

I have included the academic/artist, Karyn Recollet (Plains Cree), because of her focus on decolonization through the reclamation of space and imagery in connection with grassroots artistic and activist practice. Her writings, nicely position Indigenous resistance through remix culture in context with the historical resistance against settler occupation.

 The below articles, can be accessed through UBC library.

Glyphing decolonial love through urban flash mobbing and Walking with our Sisters

Here Recollet connects two movements, Idle No More Flash Mob Round Dance and the Walking with Our Sisters Movement to the historical usage of glyph making. In her writing, she argues that these forms of resistance are not new to Indigenous culture; rather, extensions of traditional practice. In this way, these forms of resistance through art and movement help reposition and reconnect Indigenous cultures.

Gesturing Indigenous Futurities Through the Remix

In this article, Recollet uses the work of Ay I Oh Stomp as a case study to investigate the possibilities of a the remix as an artistic tool to decolonize settler identity constructions and ultimately create new identity possibilities.

 

Module 3 Post 2 (Rise)

Directed by Michelle Lattimer and hosted by Sarain Fox, Rise is a Viceland produced documentary series that explores how Indigenous Peoples across the Americas are resisting colonization, cultural genocide and environmental destruction through direct action. The series travels to meet the communities and provides a platform for Indigenous voice within mainstream settler culture. In the CBC article , This is a political fight’: Doc series Rise brings Indigenous resistance to Sundance and beyond, Lattimer explains that the series isn’t just about the Sundance thematic theme of the environment, she explains:

“It’s about sovereignty and liberation. So when you see the Trump administration coming in, as well as in Canada where the government has approved three major pipelines cutting through various Indigenous territories — I think with that kind of political willpower and power of the state, it’s a war on Indigenous people.”

In addition to the above article, Indian Country Today interview Lattimer and Fox in trhe writing VICELAND RISE Series: A Conversation With The Indigenous Women Hosts. In the interview, Fox and Latimer describe the process involved in making the series as well as what they hope to accomplish.

Additional Press: RabbleReal Screen

 

 

Module 3 Post 3 (Makoon’s Media Group)

As soon as you enter the Makoons Media Group site, they assert that … “THE MAKOONS MEDIA GROUP CREATES DIGITAL PROJECTS THAT MAKES SPACE FOR INDIGENOUS VOICES TO DISRUPT, INSPIRE & TRANSFORM THE WORLD AROUND US.”
The organization is both a content producer as well as a service provider for Indigenous communities. There goal is to create a digital story platform-space that gives voice for new expressions that expose settler culture and the decolonization practice.

As part of their work, they have constructed the portal Indian and Cowboy, which is a website that hosts numerous podcasts and resources for aspiring Indigenous media producers. The site encourages submissions or pitches from members. Below are direct links for some of the featured podcasts with brief explanations. However, I encourage you to check out all of the content. I have highlighted the three that I have been able to listen to.

Red Man Laughing

In this series, Host and comedian Ryan McMahon challenges the notion of reconciliation by arguing that before any reconciliation can happen decolonization must be the placed as the primary discourse for Indigenous communities.

“RED MAN LAUGHING – INDEPENDENT, FORWARD THINKING CONVERSATIONS, INVESTIGATIONS & PONTIFICATIONS ABOUT THE COLLISION BETWEEN INDIAN COUNTRY & THE MAINSTREAM.”

Stories from the Land

This series focuses on the connections, intersections and inseparability between Indigenous cultures and the land they collaborate with. The series also explores the philosophical difference between settler resource exploitation and Indigenous holism.

“STORIES FROM THE LAND ARTICULATES AND REINFORCES INDIGENOUS WORLDVIEW & INHERENT CONNECTION TO LAND VIA LIVE STORYTELLING EVENTS, LISTENER SUBMISSIONS AND SOUND RICH AUDIO DOCUMENTARY.”

Think Indigenous

In cooperation with the University of Saskatchewan, Indian and Cowboy have created this mini series for teacher education programs and practicing educators. The series explores the possibilities of Indigenous focused education efforts. The series features educators explaining their experience working with Indigenous youth and explores what they believe to be best practice.

Module Three Post 4 (Indigenous Environmental Network)

Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) is a non-profit organization that was established in the 1990’s with the goal of uniting Indigenous communities across both Turtle Island and globally. With the aim of  environmental preservation through Indigenous practices, the organization stresses that environmental and cultural preservation are one in the same; that without preserving Indigenous and global space, cultural genocide looms. As part of their site and decolonization strategy, IEN developed Indigenous Rising: a blog and YouTube channel that curates and/or produced available content. Below is an example of their video content.

 

 

 

Module 3 Post 5 (Jarrett Martineau)

Jarrett Martineau is a digital media artist, and academic whose work is focused on the relationships and interconnectedness of digital media, storytelling and social movements. His academic work focuses on how media can inform political resistance and action.

Though Jarrett’s work is extensive and includes very diverse content, I have posted a few notable projects below.

Reclaimed

A CBC radio podcast that explores how Indigenous artists are reclaiming culture through music.

Revolutions Per Minute

A record label focusing on supporting the promotion and distribution on Indigenous music throughout Turtle Island. In addition to co-founding this label, Jarrett has also helped to distribute RPM’s music through their own streaming platform.

Decolonizing Media

Is a media producer, blog and apparel company that focuses on supporting community resistance through the reclamation of settler imagery. The goal of this organization is to challenge the false identities of Indigenous through remix culture.