[revision and resistance - kent monkman]

My birthday present just arrived in the mail, and I'm super excited about it:

In collaboration with Kent Monkman and his studio, the Art Canada Institute is publishing a book on the commission and creation of his diptych unveiled at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art this week. Revision & Resistance: mistikôsiwak at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, which will be available for sale in March 2020, celebrates Monkman’s groundbreaking paintings with essays by today’s most prominent voices on Indigenous art and Canadian painting. (source: the Art Institute of Canada webpage)

Kent Monkman is a  Cree two-spirited artist living in the Toronto area whose work I've been following for a few years. He combines traditional European painting techniques with Indigenous imagery with critiques of colonization and Eurocentric views of history.

Here is one of the two pieces that he created for the Met:

Read more about the book:
https://aci-iac.ca/news/art-canada-institute-in-collaboration-with-kent-monkman

View my post about Monkman's exhibit, "The Rise and Fall of Civilization", at the Glenbow Museum in Calgary last year.

[rise and fall of civilization - exhibit]

In the late summer of 2019, I visited the Glenbow Museum with one specific goal in mind: to see the exhibit "The Rise and Fall of Civilization" by Kent Monkman, a Cree two-spirit artist based in Toronto.

From the museum's website:

Kent Monkman’s The Rise and Fall of Civilization references the near extinction of the American bison in the 1800s when unsustainable hunting practices, used primarily by white settlers, reduced the number of bison from over 30 million to just a few hundred by the 1880s. During this time, bison or buffalo were hunted for their durable hides and their bones were used for fertilizer and in the manufacture of bone china. The buffalo meat was left to rot, decimating a food source that had sustained Indigenous peoples for generations.

(source) 

Read more at the Glenbow Site: https://www.glenbow.org/exhibitions/kent-monkman-the-rise-and-fall-of-civilization/

The exhibit is long-term at the Glenbow, so be sure to check it out once the pandemic is over.


For a video about one of Monkman's other works, The Deluge, visit:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OqbhG4BX6oU

All photos by rob goetze. (c) 2019.

[good minds books]

Looking for good books? Here's a lot of them - all First Nations, Metis and Inuit - on one website.

www.goodminds.com

gendered events and two spirit people

In the spring of 2019, I attended a Two Spirit Ceremony and Workshop. Now, those of you who have attended Indigenous events like pipe ceremonies will know that it is not uncommon for the women to be asked to wear long skirts or dresses at such events, while there is usually no particular requirement for the men. And non-binary people and Two Spirit people are not often mentioned.

In this particular case, Warren Winnipeg was the cultural lead. In advance of the event, he sent out this note:

All ceremony participants are to wear a wrap‐around, blanket or full length skirt to the
ankles. This can be a throw‐blanket that one can tie around their waist.

Pretty simple, huh? The men mostly had a blanket tied around their waist, which went down to their feet. Most women had skirts but those who don't like skirts used blankets or wraps. Non-binary and Two Spirit people could also pick whatever they prefer. Including everyone doesn't always have to take a lot of work...

---

Jennifer Brockman, a Woodland Cree Metis with Scottish, British, and Italian ancestry, has written about their experience as a Two-Spirit participating in ceremonies. The article concludes with some tips on how to create ceremonial space for Two-Spirit people.
          Coming into the Circle – Welcoming Two-Spirit People in Ceremony

[quiltbag & glass bookshop]

In Edmonton and looking for something different? Here are two ideas ...

glass bookshop

Visit the Glass Bookshop at City Centre Mall West, focusing on "Canadian writing with special attention paid to LGBTQ2SIA and IBPOC {Indigenous, Black and people of colour} writers, as well as the independent publishers who help to produce their work."

Fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks (somewhere in between fiction and non-fiction!), cards, pronoun pins, and more. Knowledgeable friendly staff who are well-connected to the literary and arts community here in Edmonton.

P.S. if you are reading this in the spring of 2020, the store is probably at its new location - check the website for the address.

https://www.glassbookshop.com/



quiltbag

"The QUILTBAG is an LGBTQ+ retail shop carrying queer & trans wares... The shop carries an always changing assortment of custom and curated used & new clothing; accessories like pins, pronoun buttons, patches, stickers; art by local artists; small gifts; and trans gear including chest binders and compression underwear."

Located at 7603 104 Street NW (Calgary Trail).

https://thequiltbag.com/

[Honor Song - Jeremy Dutcher]

I've been listening to the music of Jeremy Dutcher lately -- and have heard from several friends who have seen Jeremy in concert in the past few months...


           direct link if video does not appear above

About Jeremy Dutcher

Performer, composer, activist, musicologist — these roles are all infused into his art and way of life. His music, too, transcends boundaries: unapologetically playful in its incorporation of classical influences, full of reverence for the traditional songs of his home,and teeming with the urgency of modern-day struggles of resistance.

A member of Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick, Jeremy first did music studies in Halifax before taking a chance to work in the archives at the Canadian Museum of History, painstakingly transcribing Wolastoq songs from 1907 wax cylinders. “Many of the songs I’d never heard before, because our musical tradition on the East Coast was suppressed by the Canadian Government’s Indian Act.” Jeremy heard ancestral voices singing forgotten songs and stories that had been taken from the Wolastoqiyik generations ago.

As he listened to each recording, he felt his own musical impulses stirring from deep within. Long days at the archives turned into long nights at the piano, feeling out melodies and phrases, deep in dialogue with the voices of his ancestors. These “collaborative”compositions, collected together on his debut LP Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, are like nothing you’ve ever heard. Delicate, sublime vocal melodies ring out atop piano lines that cascade through a vibrant range of emotions. The anguish and joy of the past erupt fervently into the present through Jeremy’s bold approach to composition and raw, affective performances enhanced by his outstanding tenor techniques.

“I’m doing this work because there’s only about a hundred Wolastoqey speakers left,” he says. “It’s crucial for us to make sure that we’re using our language and passing it on to the next generation. If you lose the language, you’re not just losing words; you’re losing an entire way of seeing and experiencing the world from a distinctly indigenous perspective.”
       (from https://jeremydutcher.com/biography/)

Further reading:
http://muskratmagazine.com/jeremy-dutcher-on-climate-change-two-spirits-and-the-ethos-behind-wolastoq-music-and-the-indigenous-cultural-renaissance/

https://www.cbc.ca/arts/the-extraordinary-rise-of-jeremy-dutcher-2018-gave-canada-the-two-spirit-polaris-prince-we-need-1.4931935

https://calgaryphil.com/interview-with-jeremy-dutcher/

[all people and all genders...]

This is at the top of our church bulletin. I like that it says "all peoples and genders"... nicely includes non-binary people as well as Two Spirit people, which is very appropriate in a Treaty statement. Also a small but fitting indicator of being an affirming parish.

[150 acts of reconciliation]

Crystal Fraser and Sara Komarnisky have written 150 Acts of Reconciliation. "Many of these are small, everyday acts that average Canadians can undertake, but others are more provocative that encourage people to think about Indigenous-settler relationships in new ways." 

The act in the above poster would be one of the more provocative ones. I had already previously been disillusioned about Canada being better than our southern neighbour after reading about our own "lack of human rights" record. Now, seeing our first prime minister was key in starting the Indian residential schools sure puts a different perspective on our country. You can read more about that in this article by Sean Carleton, a professor in Calgary.

Get a printable list of the 150 Acts here.

Read more about this project here.

Order posters here.

[Indigenous ally toolkit]

"What does it mean to be a good ally to Indigenous Peoples?

It's something the Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy Network is hoping to clarify with its recently launched Indigenous ally toolkit.

The toolkit provides an overview on terminology, dos and don'ts, with examples of why the term "Canada's Indigenous Peoples," asking "why don't you just get over it?" or saying "you must be an alcoholic" is problematic."

The toolkit is available from the Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy NETWORK Resources page.

Read the CBC article about this toolkit.

treaty acknowledgements and redwashing

Hayden King, an Anishinaabe writer and educator who works at Ryerson University, was involved in the writing of that university's territorial acknowledgement. He now regrets what he wrote, and says:

I'd like to move towards a territorial acknowledgement where you provide people with a sort of framework and then let them write it themselves. The really important aspect of a territorial acknowledgement for me, anyway, is this sort of obligation that comes on the back end of it.

It's one thing to say, "Hey, we're on the territory of the Mississaugas or the Anishinaabek and the Haudenosaunee." It's another thing to say, "We're on the territory of the Anishinaabek and the Haudenosaunee and here's what that compels me to do."
…
[Treaty acknowledgement] effectively excuses them and offers them an alibi for doing the hard work of learning about their neighbours and learning about the treaties of the territory and learning about those nations that should have jurisdiction.

(Source: Hayden King as quoted in https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/i-regret-it-hayden-king-on-writing-ryerson-university-s-territorial-acknowledgement-1.4973371)

apology to two-spirit peoples

I saw these on a poster board on Jasper Avenue in downtown Edmonton the other day. Don't know who in particular put them up but they have an important message.

As a Christian I would like to apologize to two-spirit women and men, and to the broader Indigenous communities, for the pervasive and long-term oppression and attempted destruction of who you are, particularly by Christians. This is not the way of Jesus and I am deeply sorry and grieved.

I cannot undo the past but I commit to listening to your stories, acknowledging wrongdoing, increasing awareness in the circles I move in, opening spaces for you to speak and teach us, and working together for a better today and tomorrow.

If you are two-spirit or transgender, you are a gift from the Creator. You are beautiful and the world is incomplete without you.




Want to learn more about two-spirit and what that means?
This video is a great introduction.

MacEwan University and Indigenous Peoples

In the past few months I have become increasingly impressed with MacEwan University's commitment to Indigenous peoples and reconciliation. While not a student or staff there myself, I live in Edmonton and have been at their campus for several events.

Here are some of the reasons:

At the start of an event I attended there, Fred McGinn, Dean of Health and Community Studies, in his opening remarks said that MacEwan has the goal of being the first university in Canada to meet the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action (presumably, those that apply to educational institutions). That's quite a goal!

kihêw waciston (Eagle's Nest) Indigenous Student Centre (logo at left) is "a home away from home for MacEwan University's Indigenous students. Here you can gather, work and grow in a community that honours the distinctive knowledge of Indigenous peoples and supports you on your post-secondary journey." There are also Indigenous student advisors available to assist students.

In 2019, it will be moving to a larger more prominent location in the Robbins Health Centre building.


Roxanne Tootoosis is the university's Indigenous knowledge keeper and facilitator. Read more about her.

[whose land]

Here's a great website that helps us understand whose land we are on. Using an enhanced map, it offers four ways of exploring Turtle Island: territories by city, territories by land, treaties and agreements, and Indigenous communities.

As well, a "Where am I" feature will list the treaties and agreements that the land you are currently on (based on location) is part of, the Indigenous peoples that make this land their home, and the First Nations closest to your location.

Eight videos feature Indigenous people talking about their land and acknowledgements, and there is an extensive FAQ section.

If you zoom out, you will see that the map also includes data on what we know as Australia, Central and South America, and parts of Greenland.

Check this page out at https://www.whose.land

"Whose Land is a web-based app that uses GIS technology to assist users in identifying Indigenous Nations, territories, and Indigenous communities across Canada. The app can be used for learning about the territory your home or business is situated on, finding information for a land acknowledgement, and learning about the treaties and agreements signed across Canada. Educational videos are available to watch that will give you a better understanding of why land acknowledgements are important, and the way Indigenous people view their relationship to land.

The app consists of six different maps of Indigenous territories, Treaties, and First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities. Each community's location will eventually host a land acknowledgement video, and other information that the community would like to include on their page. The app will be used as an educational tool to create dialogue around reconciliation. It will be a starting point for conversation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous citizens across this country about land, territorial recognition and land acknowledgement."

from whose.land about page

acknowledging the treaty lands we live and work on

Here's a quick way to add some diversity and inclusion into your own life while acknowledging the diversity of our land and peoples:

Edit your email signature to include an acknowledgement of the Treaty land that you live and work on.

The above is what I use (appropriate for Edmonton and other areas within Treaty 6 - for other treaty areas, change the "6" to the relevant treaty # or adapt as needed):

Here's some other examples that I've seen:

NorQuest College:

 

(Amiskwacîwâskahikan), Treaty 6 Territory

We acknowledge that NorQuest College is on the traditional lands of First Nations and Métis peoples, referred to as Treaty 6 Territory.

(I really like the inclusion of the Cree word amiskwacîwâskahikan meaning, "beaver hills house", which is the Cree word for Edmonton.)


An organization:
The [organization] is located on Treaty 6 territory, the traditional gathering place for the Cree, Blackfoot, Metis, Nakota Sioux, Saulteaux, Dene and other Indigenous peoples whose histories, languages, and cultures we acknowledge.


A colleague:
I would like to acknowledge that I live and work on Treaty 6 territory, a traditional meeting grounds, gather place and travelling route to the Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Metis, Dene and Nakota Sioux.
Moreover, I acknowledge the many First Nations, Metis and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries.

Another colleague:
Sent from Edmonton / Amiskwacîwâskahikan in Treaty 6 lands.


An acquaintance in BC:
Offering my acknowledgment of the Ktunaxa Kinbasket, the Sinixt, and the Okanagan peoples where their Traditional Territories meet and where the city of Nelson is located, & respectfully, my acknowledgment of the Traditional Territory you are working on.   Also, I would like to acknowledge the Métis People who live and work on the various Traditional Territories across BC.


MacEwan University, at the entrance to their buildings, has this acknowledgement on a fancy plaque:

We acknowledge that the land on which we gather in Treaty Six Territory is the traditional gathering place for many Indigenous people. We honour and respect the history, languages, ceremonies and culture of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit who call this territory home.

The First People’s connection to the land teaches us about our inherent responsibility to protect and respect Mother Earth. With this acknowledgement, we honour the ancestors and children who have been buried here, missing and murdered Indigenous women and men, and the process of ongoing collective healing for all human beings. We are reminded that we are all treaty people and of the responsibility we have to one another.

(This acknowledgement is first in Cree syllabics, then Cree in English characters, and then in English. I particularly appreciate the acknowledgement of missing and murdered Indigenous women and children and the mention of ongoing collective healing.)

There are any number of ways to adjust your acknowledgement to reflect where you live and your personal style. The point is to add an acknowledgement.

where is our solidarity?

Seen on Jasper Avenue in downtown Edmonton, summer 2018.

[retrospective of alex janvier's work]

The Glenbow Museum in Calgary has a major retrospective of Alex Janvier's work, incorporating  until September 9th. 

Very amazing work... and quite a history lesson with it. Go see it!

[best practices in architectural co-design and building with First Nations]

"The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) initiated Four Case Studies Exemplifying Best Practices in Architectural Co-design and Building with First Nations as a resource for designers, clients, funders, and policymakers.

As the leading voice for excellence in the built environment in Canada, the RAIC believes that architecture is a public-spirited profession with an important role in reconciliation – addressing injustices by giving agency back to Indigenous people."

You don't have to have a particular interest in architecture to learn from this article which talks about working together respectfully and how to integrate Indigenous culture and traditions into modern buildings in meaningful and authentic ways.

https://www.raic.org/raic/four-case-studies-exemplifying-best-practices-architectural-co-design-and-building-first

[leah dorion, Metis artist]

Leah Marie Dorion is an interdisciplinary Metis artist raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. A teacher, painter, filmmaker and published writer, Leah views her Metis heritage as providing her with a unique bridge for knowledge between all people. (from her site)

This piece is called Talking Circle Medicine.

Check out more of her work! Her site also includes discussion of symbolism and some of the projects she has been working on.

apologies from the prime minister and others

It's the month of apologies...

Today, we apologize to former students of Newfoundland and Labrador residential schools and to the families, loved ones, and communities for the painful & tragic legacy these schools left behind: https://t.co/BKatosyFfM pic.twitter.com/PsJ30Zr6zj

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 24, 2017

LIVE NOW – Official apology in the House for the state-sponsored, systemic oppression, and rejection of LGBTQ2 people: https://t.co/55bmrnw6vZ

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 28, 2017

Justin didn't mince any words with his apology. Note the detail in the apology, and the language used.

Text link to the full apology.


And coming sometime in the future...

P.S. Was Justin also apologizing on behalf of Christians?

[voices of amiskwaciy and the seven sacred teachings]

Voices of Amiskwaciy is a new webspace that "supports the community to create, share, discover and celebrate local Indigenous content online. It is guided by the values of ongoing consultation and collaboration with Indigenous communities in the spirit of reconciliation, dialogue and learning.

Voices of Amiskwaciy is hosted by the Edmonton Public Library and made possible in part by the Government of Canada."

https://voicesofamiskwaciy.ca/

There are few stories available at this time (Nov 2017) as the site recently launched, but the project looks very promising especially in terms of its posture and collaboration.


In particular, I'm intrigued by the 7 Sacred Teachings that the site has adopted:

Love: Engaging in relationships from a place of kindness, caring and compassion and supporting of self-determination.

Respect: Creating a safe space where stories are valued.

Courage: Committing to follow through on project goals.

Honesty: Being transparent about the process and progress of the project to the public.

Wisdom: Seeking out and including Indigenous knowledge throughout the project development.

Humility: Working in meaningful partnerships on an equal plane and being open to learning and embracing new ways of understanding, acting and knowing.

Truth: Creating an authentic Indigenous space where truths can be shared. (source)

They remind me somewhat of the four core values used by Generous Space Ministries:

Humility – “Might I be wrong?”

Hospitality – “Whose voices are missing?”

Mutuality – “Is everyone in our community empowered to make a difference?”

Justice – “How can I participate with you in dismantling the barriers preventing flourishing?” (source)

These 7 Sacred Teachings could readily apply (with very little adaptation) to other contexts where the goal is a space that welcomes and embraces people.