Tag Archives: News

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 – Post 1 – Disaster Recover: Traditional Knowledge Systems

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While researching the role of incorporating traditional knowledge into educational curriculum, I came across a fascinating article from the United Nations Office of Disaster Management on how traditional knowledge can actually save lives in cases of natural disasters. Certain peoples retain knowledge of their environment which can have a direct effect on the their survival when calamity strikes. The stories and legends that Indigenous cultures possess can have major impact if their message is listened to and not ignored. Its interesting to consider what other wisdom exists around us that we should be considering.

http://www.unisdr.org/archive/21236

Module 3 – Post 5 – Manitoba Music’s Aboriginal Music Program

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The Aboriginal Music Program (AMP) was developed to help Aboriginal people create careers in Manitoba’s music industry. It provides workshops about the music industry, career consultations, music showcases, as well as maintaining the aboriginal music.ca website. This site has news about the Manitoba and Canadian Aboriginal music industry, artist and industry directories, and resources for Aboriginal people interested in a career in music.

Module 3 – Post 3 – Aboriginal Multi-Media Society

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The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA) is a communications society that facilitates the exchange of information among Aboriginal People. They produce publications in a Newspaper style to most provinces as well as a national publication titled Windspeaker. This is Canada’s most widely circulated Aboriginal news source. Windpseaker has been published since 1983 and includes news articles, current events, community event listings, job postings as well as a searchable archives section.

Module 2 – Post 4 – Simon Moya-Smith

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Simon Moya-Smith is a journalist currently working as a breaking news reporter for NBC and previously as a freelance writer and editor for Indian Country Today. I came upon him while researching indigenous “Wannabes” and found his blog titled “I Am Not a Mascot“. It is a personal blog in which he includes some writing that challenges many indigenous stereotypes, as well as poetry, and stories. His entry titled “Ask an Indian: How to Spot American Indian Wannabes and A Counterfeit Culture: Too Many Cherokees to Count” is an entertaining and sarcastic guide on the “wannabe” culture.

Module 2: Post 3 – Deconstructing Stereotypes in the Media

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Today’s blog article in the Toronto Star caught my attention as it deals with debate between the politics of sports, namely NFL football, and racial discrimination: “Washington Ponders ‘Redskins,’ By Any Other Name.” (September 8, 2013).

I feel this ties in with the on-going (and perhaps intensifying) challenge of deconstructing stereotypes we are learning about in this module of the course. Here is a recent video interview (NBC News Sept 6, 2013) of Oneida Indian Nation representative Ray Halbritter from Changethemastcot.org (a campaign to address stereotypes in print and other media).

Although I’m not an NFL fan, I’m a sports fan, and I understand both sides of the issue in using Indian monikers in sports. A dichotomy in the protection of cultural rights exists: one side argues of an 80 year heritage that brings pride out of a winning sports legacy, while the other argues a portrayal that is denigrating and dehumanizing to a large segment of the population.

Do major league sports teams like the Braves, Blackhawks, and Redskins fall under the motive of “wanabees” described by the Zimmerman et al (2000) reading? As he asserts, “Many Indian people see wannabes as a hodgepodge stereotype of their cultures, with practices taken out of context, usually in a disrespectful way.” (p. 72) One of the things that comes to my mind in sports media is the Atlanta Braves Tomahawk Chop Chant song. I can totally understand how this is viewed as offensive to native groups and why they will continue to fight for legislation change that prohibits media from portraying Indians as “a people of the past with little present-day material on it, a major stereotype rejected by many Indian people.” (p. 76).

I do believe that sports organizations and fans do not mean any offense to native groups, but I agree with the stance that “The point is that it’s about context… If you called them the (Washington) ‘Americans’ and had a contemporary native image, that’s inclusive. That’s much different than singling us out and calling us by that name and have the image of a stereotypical native American from the 19^th century, as though we’re not still around.” – Kevin Gover, director of the Smithsonians National Museum of the American Indian.

Module 2, Post #1: Canada’s Centre for Digital and Media Literacy

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Looking to extend what we learned from this week’s readings, I stumbled upon the website for Canada’s Centre for Digital and Media Literacy. I was surprised, but encouraged to see that the Centre provides a wealth of insight about the following topics:

The common portrayals of indigenous people in media
Indigenous people in the news
The development of indigenous broadcasting in Canada
The impact of stereotyping on young people
Indigenous expression in the art and media
The importance of media education

The website walks its readers through a historical development of the indigenous identity, as portrayed through mainstream media and examines the impact of media’s portrayal. It also offers teaching resources for parents and teachers, including detailed lesson plans on topics such as “Bias in the News” or “Who’s Telling My Story.” I found this to be a very useful resource that will support my research paper, aimed at teaching teachers how to effectively educate their students about indigenous cultures in the world.

I would recommend that everyone view this site. It was both informative and practical: http://mediasmarts.ca/diversity-media/aboriginal-people/common-portrayals-aboriginal-people

Module 1 – Post 2 – Turtle Island Native Network

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Turtle Island Native Network is a site with links to “First Nations, Aboriginal, Native/Indigenous Peoples News and Information”. I came across this site while searching for contemporary indigenous music, which is included on the “Culture” page. Also included are video clips of arts presentations such as basketry, totem pole raisings, storytelling, dancing and other cultural aspects of indigenous peoples. The music section includes links to youtube videos and websites by indigenous musicians from all over North America.

Module 1 Post 2 – Firstnations.com

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I found this site really helpful in keeping up to date with First Nations news across the country and globe – http://www.firstnations.com/rss/google-news.php. It provides newsfeeds of FN news from various news sources.

One of the stories I came across http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-government-on-collision-course-with-first-nations-1.1862819 talks about the ongoing battle between the Assembly of First Nations, and the government of Canada in land disputes and education rights. With education, AFN are fighting for more legislative rights to control education for their own people, and in the wake of annual event in B.C held by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, they believe the abuse in residential schools would never have happened if “had FN been in control over their own education”. FN is still seeking a “fair and lasting” resolution to the legacy of Indian Residential Schools. Past traumas are still alive and active today, and have profound impact on FN fight for autonomy in their communities.