The Indigenous Elders and Youth Council (IEYC) is an organization that aims to protect and preserve Indigenous knowledge, language and culture. It looks like DVD clips and additional resources are planned for upload to the site shortly. In the meantime, it was interesting to read through the elder declarations (based on the outcomes of the 2004 International Indigenous Elders Summit), and goals of the group. While there is not a ton of information on the site, I thought it was worth sharing as it appears to be an interesting project that connects youth and elders with a set of common goals and objectives.

http://www.ieyc.ca/

The Elders’ Voices webpage is a product of The Heritage Community Foundation. While it focuses on aboriginal cultures and elders in Alberta, it contains a wealth of knowledge applicable to any province. The site is divided into 3 sections: The History, The Peoples, and The Voices. In the history section you will find information on the treaty areas of Alberta, the Metis, and Aboriginal Governance, among other topics. In the peoples section, there is an article containing some background and insights on Elders, called “Knowledge Keepers” (http://www.abheritage.ca/eldersvoices/peoples/knowledge_keepers.html). Finally, in the voices section there are a number links to media featuring audio and video of elders sharing their perspective on a variety of topics (http://www.abheritage.ca/eldersvoices/voices/voices_metis_crossing.html). This site is good if you are interested in looking at the roles and responsibilities of aboriginal elders.

http://www.abheritage.ca/eldersvoices/index.html

After watching the Amy Parent interview, I wanted to learn a little more about urban youth. This was one of the sites that I came across, and it has a number of posts on the page about designer clothing, jewellery, and purses inspired by traditional aboriginal clothing or traditions. The posts are more than just “here is the latest!” though. The author takes time to consider how the commodification of her culture impacts how it is viewed by others and how (or if) the history behind the items has been considered.

• Great Cowichan Debate entry: http://www.lisacharleyboy.com/2010/03/great-cowichan-debate.html
• Feather Pendant entry: http://www.lisacharleyboy.com/2010/09/feather-dusters.html
• Native Inspired Fashion category: http://www.lisacharleyboy.com/search/label/Native%20Inspired%20Fashion

In addition to blogging about native inspired fashion, the author also talks about living an urban life in Toronto. All in all, it is another interesting look inside the life of urban aboriginal youth.

http://www.lisacharleyboy.com/

This site has some good information on stereotypes. While it is based around issues and stereotypes facing Australian aboriginal peoples, much of the information is still applicable when considering Canadian indigenous populations. A list of common stereotypes is included, as well as a discussion around how the media reinforces these stereotypes. The page also includes a look at how Australia’s tourism industry represents aboriginal cultures. Even though they try to use respectful and inclusive images, the advertising does not line up with reality. I thought this was an interesting perspective, as it seems to me that BC’s tourism industry – and Canada’s, for that matter – also places an emphasis on aboriginal peoples. But is it the right one?

http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/people/aboriginal-australia-stereotype.html

MediaINDIGENA is a blog written for and by indigenous peoples in Canada. It features a ton of content, on everything from arts and culture to politics and the economy. I stumbled onto the page as a link from another blog I discovered while searching about the controversy surrounding the commodification of the Cowichan sweaters during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. The perspective on the page is a really interesting one to read – the authors/contributors are well versed in the issues facing Canadian indigenous peoples, and approach the issues with a pop-culture lens. The site has lots of interesting and interactive add-ons, including a Facebook page, Twitter feed, and other content-sharing applications such as StumbleUpon, Reddit, and Delicious. In reading through some of the entries, I had the sense of being up-to-the-minute, and it felt very current. For that reason, I wanted to share this site.

http://www.mediaindigena.com/

Launched in 2007, the CBC Aboriginal website serves as a centralized resource for information on aboriginal life and issues in Canada. I found this website useful because it seems to cover a wide range of current topics, including news stories, arts and cultural happenings, and upcoming events. It also includes some really interesting content developed by First Nations people in Canada. These include:

• The Legends Project (http://www.cbc.ca/aboriginal/2008/06/the-history-of-the-legends-project.html), which archives the traditional oral legends of Canada’s Inuit and First Nations peoples. The legends were originally produced for CBC Radio, but have since been compiled onto compact disc. To date, 8 different nations have participated, with plans to expand to 12 by 2012.
• Ab-Originals (http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/genres/Aboriginal) is a weekly podcast of “the hottest Aboriginal music in Canada,” which is well produced, and was interesting to casually listen to.

http://www.cbc.ca/aboriginal/

http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) is a department of the federal government of Canada whose mandate is to “make Canada a better place for Aboriginal and northern people and communities.” The website is a comprehensive overview of programs and projects INAC currently has underway. Information (including research reports, statistics, and success stories) is available for both First Nations and Inuit populations. Notable links include:

• INAC Mandate (http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/arp/mrr-eng.asp), which covers the ministry’s structure, roles and responsibilities, and applicable legislation, as well as information on challenges, partnerships, sustainability, and finances.
• Statistics (http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/rs/pubs/sta-eng.asp), including census information, comparisons of socio-economic conditions from census year to census year, and demographics.
• Education Initiatives (http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/edu/index-eng.asp)

Another useful link from this site is to the First Nations Profiles website (http://pse5-esd5.ainc-inac.gc.ca/fnp/Main/index.aspx?lang=eng), which includes an interactive map (http://fnpim-cippn.inac-ainc.gc.ca/index-eng.asp) showing geographical locations of the 615 first nations bands in Canada.

I wanted to learn more about the Snuneymuxw First Nations (SFN), as they are the local band here in Nanaimo. Their website (http://www.snuneymuxw.ca/) is well established and very up-to-date. It was interesting to read through the content and learn about not only the current issues facing the band, but all the projects and programs they are working on. The pride in their community is evident from their 20 page bi-weekly newsletter, Snuneymuxw News (http://www.snuneymuxw.ca/news-archive-2010.html), as well as the variety of community support groups and programs available to band members. These include:

• Parent Club (http://www.snuneymuxw.ca/members-information/)
• Youth Centre (http://www.snuneymuxw.ca/youth-centre/) and
• The Breakfast Club (http://www.snuneymuxw.ca/the-breakfast-club.html)

Additional links and information are also available on health and wellness programs, employment opportunities and training, local cultural archives, and even a photo gallery.

Admittedly, I don’t know as much about indigenous peoples, culture, and issues as I would like. As a result, part of my recent learning has been around the history and the current state of affairs of indigenous peoples in Canada. The Amnesty International website had some interesting information on not just Canadian issues, but worldwide issues facing both indigenous people and the countries they live in. From this websites, users can access the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as a number of other resources in regards to indigenous peoples in Canada and around the world. For me, this was a useful site to learn more about some of the other issues facing indigenous peoples, which I hope will afford me a broader lens when examining possible issues between indigenous peoples and technology.

http://www.amnesty.ca/themes/indigenous_overview.php

The CASTS (Canadian Aboriginals in Science and Technology Society) website is updated sporadically at best, but features some information on their annual conference. What I thought was interesting about the conference information is the discussion about how technology impacts indigenous cultures, how it can be utilized in a positive manner, and how it can have negative impacts. The discussion is clearly an open one, even among the people it affects. I thought that this website would be valuable to share that this society and conference opportunity exists for any of us who may be interested in further study in this field.

http://casts.ca