Tag Archives: aboriginal media

Module 4 Weblog – Post #2 – Indigenous Waves

In searching for podcasts associated with Indigenous culture and education in Canada, I discovered a resource that originates from right here in my own city of Toronto. Indigenous Waves is a radio show, broadcast on CIUT 89.5 FM. The show’s website offers articles and podcasts organized by a range of categories relevant to Indigenous issues. One of the most recently posted podcasts is a discussion with Anishinabek Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee and author/educator Niigaanwewidan Sinclair regarding the First Nations Education Act, for which draft legislation was released in October.

The discussions in this podcast, like much of the media coverage at the time that the draft legislation was released, help to remind us of how the strategies of the federal government in Canada, even in 2013, are ultimately still openly controlling in their approaches. My participation in ETEC521 has instilled a type of hopefulness in me for the future of education in Canada in general, as well as Indigenous education. However, the reality of this draft legislation is sobering and discouraging. Resources like Indigenous Waves certainly help to keep this reality in focus.

Module #4-5: Indigenous Portal

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Indigenous Portal is a website that offers a broad array of resources such as articles, videos, and podcasts regarding Indigenous peoples from all over the world.

The Indigenous Portal is an outcome of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which was a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication, and the information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis (it was coincidentally mentioned in Ginsberg’s article in week 12). One of its chief aims was to bridge the global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world.

In the Portal, articles and resources are divided up into a number of regions and categorized by various subjects (culture, education, technology, etc.). Not only can visitors search for documents by regions or topics, but anybody can submit content (press releases or other text articles) to the Portal once they create an account. These documents provide guidance to Indigenous peoples, non-governmental organizations, or academics who are interested in improving communications and the quality of life for Indigenous peoples around the world.

Module #4-3: First Nations Logos and Mascots

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On November 16, CTV News reported in “Staff at Saskatchewan university calls for end of First Nations logos, mascots” that the department of educational foundations of the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Education had issued a statement calling for the use of Indigenous peoples as mascots, logos, and slogans to cease.

The resolution, which was posted to a Facebook page, stated that the Department of Educational Foundations does not support the use of Indigenous peoples depicted as school mascots, in logos, slogans, or team names and the idea that such logos and mascots are positive representations of Indigenous peoples is false and constitutes century-old racism.

This type of controversy comes up in the media from time to time. In the article “Native names, logos have long tradition in sports” CTV News also presented the potential racist inferences of logos and mascots used by companies or sports teams. Honestly speaking, I am not sure if using these logos can always be designated racist and offensive to Indigenous peoples. That is something they should weigh in on. Sometimes such issues must be discussed among activists and the people concerned, who are sometimes left out of the loop on the discussion.

Module 4 Post 2: Assembly of First Nations Youth Summit

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Last week (week of Nov 18, 2013) more than 300 First Nations youth across Canada gathered for the Assembly of First Nations Youth Summit, a summit held every five years and presents a five-year action plan to the AFN. This years focus was on leadership and empowering youth to have a voice.

According to this article from Star Pheonix Saskatoon News, the average age for FN in Saskatchewan is 20, compared to the median age of 40 (and rising) for Canada.

These young ‘warriors’ are described as ever more armed with education, social media and political awareness, and are geared towards protecting their people and fighting for their betterment. Although this article doesn’t identify how success is ascribed to these youth, it provides an encouraging signal that youth are active for change and a hope for the future.

Source: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Youth+engagement+promising+First+Nations/9199131/story.html

Module 3 Weblog – Post #5 – Promoting Indigenous Media Arts

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After viewing the numerous short films and documentaries offered in Module 3, and in my continuing research to understand the role of digital media in Indigenous culture and education, I have been seeking out resources having to do film making and new media creation. One such source of these resources that I have recently discovered is the National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition (NIMAC). NIMAC is the Indigenous branch of the Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA).

NIMAC promotes and advocates for the work of Indigenous media artists and arts organizations. The coalition has a variety of initiatives including advocacy, the commissioning of works, artistic residencies and the maintenance of resources for Indigenous media artists on the NIMAC website. Two very helpful sections of the NIMAC website are the Training and Education page and the Tool Kits. These two areas of the site provide a very thorough idea of the organizations and programs across the country that support the development of new media materials by and for Indigenous people.

Module 3 Weblog – Post #4 – Aboriginal Multimedia

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The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA) was founded in 1983 and states, as part of its mission that it is “…dedicated to providing objective, mature and balanced coverage of news, information and entertainment relevant to Aboriginal issues and peoples while maintaining profound respect for the values, principles and traditions of Aboriginal people. “(History and Mission page, retrieved 03/11/13).

By 1993 society’s work has resulted in the creation of Windspeaker magazine, Canada’s sole national aboriginal news publication. The site offers links to information regarding AMMSA’s regional publications for at least four provinces and one territory – BC/Yukon, Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan. In addition to the news publications, the site also provides links to CFWE, an Alberta based fm radio broadcaster.

Finally, the site includes a Daily blog and Community Access Links along with numerous “in depth” resources on current issues of particular relevance such as IdleNoMore, Missing and Murdered Women, and Pipelines and Tankers. These areas of the site are rich sources of information and perspectives on the lives of Aboriginal people in Canada, their contributions to their communities and the challenges that they continue to face with respect to self-governance, their cultures, their lands and their resources. While these materials are not stories in the traditional sense of narrative, they nonetheless help to fill in important gaps in the story of our country that many Canadians have been told over the years.

Module 3 Weblog – Post #3 – Digital Expressions of Identity

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In one our earliest readings for the course, we learned from Faye Ginsburg of the events leading to the founding of Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). One of the web sites affiliated with APTN, is Digital Drum. This site calls itself “…..an online gathering place for the young Aboriginal person” (About page, retrieved 03/11/13).

On the site, contributors can post and share digital media as a means of inspiration and expressing identity. The categories on which contributors can post are numerous and include everything from #IdleNoMore to the arts, food and travel, culture, politics and science and technology. What is interesting about the posts on the site is the mix of links that relate directly to traditional aboriginal culture and those that address a wide range of contemporary issues. Some, but not all posts on the site include commentary. Selfishly, I wish that more of the posts did include commentary in order to provide some insight into what it was about each piece of media that resonated most with the contributor and how the media relates to their personal identity.

Module 3 – Post 5 – âpihtawikosisân

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âpihtawikosisân is the website of Chelsea Vowel, “a Métis from the Plains Cree speaking community of Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta. Chelsea currently lives in Montreal, Quebec. Her passions are: education, Aboriginal law, the Cree language, and roller derby. She holds a BEd, an LLB and teaches indigenous youth.”

The website features blog posts, links to interviews that Chelsea has conducted, and informational links to a wide range of Indigenous topics including: Indigenous Identity and Culture, Aboriginal Law and treaties, Historic and Continuing Injustice, Specific Myths and Misunderstandings, Indigenous Health and Safety, Organisations, and Attawapiskat. I was originally attracted to her website to view an article entitled, “You’re Metis? So which of your parents is an Indian?” which attempts to dispel some of the myths and misunderstandings around Metis identity. Chelsea’s website is well written, easy to navigate, and includes a coverage of a wide variety of timely, topical information.

I would recommend this resources for anyone wanting to know more about how Indigenous peoples are (mis)represented in the media.

You can view the website here: http://apihtawikosisan.com/

Module 3 Post 4 – Longhouse Media TV Youtube Channel

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I explored the Youtube channel for the host of the March’s Point video (Longhouse Media TV) and found a wealth of documentary videos made by many young natives using media technology. The statement of purpose from this media source echos much of the things we are learning in the course: “to catalyze Indigenous people and communities to use media as a tool for self-expression, cultural preservation, and social change.”

One of the video’s that caught my attention was Awakening Our Community. This documentary is comprised of interview snippets of indigenous people of various ages and gender discussing the topic of ‘where community comes from’ and how staying sober and having community impacts their lives. Here are some of their voices:

“It takes a community to raise a child, and when we lose children (e.g. to drugs and alcohol) it affects our community also”.

“Getting involved in my culture, I guess that pulled me away from that negative world out there… and not wanting my kids to grow up in a household like that.”

“I think it’s about each of us helping one another, and lifting each other up because we have a lot of gifts and talents within ourselves, and we just need to reach out to each other and support one another, and stop pulling each other down, but lift ourselves up together”.

“I think the first step to saving our community would be to heal, to come together and heal together, and have people come to community events where we can come together and pray together, and sing together… because the loss of our culture is a huge reason why have these addictions.”

Technology is seen here as a tool bringing people together, and promoting culture and expression as a way of bringing healing to a community.

Module 3 – Post 2 – Longhouse Media

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Image Source: http://www.longhousemedia.org/about.html

After viewing this week’s video, “March Point” I wanted to try to find out more about its origins. Through an internet search, I discovered that March Point is a production of Longhouse Media, a Washington State non-profit organization. The production was completed as part of their “Native Lens” program.

“The mission of Longhouse Media is to catalyze indigenous people and communities to use media as a tool for self-expression, cultural preservation, and social change.”

The Longhouse Media website provides information on the organization’s current and past video productions (including March Point), their mandate and rationale, latest news and upcoming events, and also links to many other Indigenous artists and Native Organizations.

I found the website to be visually appealing, quite user friendly and easy to navigate. I liked the fact that the website was very positive in nature, and seemed to be based around a message of hope. I also really appreciated the information provided on the “About Us” and “News” pages as they give a lot of background information as to both the history and future of this talented and dedicated group.

The website can be found here: Longhouse Media