Tuesday, February 22, 2022

[the awakeners - Indigenous people with disabilities who are artists]

 "My people will sleep for one hundred years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back." Louis Riel, Metis Leader 1885. Black background with white text.


"Louis Riel's prophecy is coming to pass! The Indigenous artists are the Awakeners!

That's certainly what you'll witness in this 6-part, 1 hour documentary series in both English and French (12 Eps in total) in which Canadian acclaimed, indigenous singer and song writer, Laura Vinson embarks on a journey to meet extraordinary Indigenous people with disabilities who are artists. Laura's sudden loss of her mentally challenged sister, Noreen, combined with her own challenges with an anxiety disorder, plus the progressive loss of her hearing cause her to have a great deal of empathy and respect for those Indigenous and disabled people who are often underappreciated and underestimated." (from http://theawakeners.ca/)


Read more about this incredible project: http://theawakeners.ca/

Watch the series here: https://www.ami.ca/category/Awakeners/episodes

Note: at the point of posting, I have finished watching the first episode. I learned a lot and it also challenged some of my unconscious biases.

[periodic table of Canadian Black history]

Black background. Overall layout is similar to periodic table of elements (Initial, name and number). However, instead of elements, each tile has the name of a Black Canadian, their initial, and the year they were born - plus year of death if applicable. Colouring of tiles is based on their profession, with a legend below the table.

Here's a great learning tool - the Periodic Table of Canadian Black History. 
Each tile highlights a Black Canadian in history. The colours of the tiles indicate the profession -- Activists, Artists, Athletes, Entrepreneurs, etc. Hover over a tile to see a popup with picture and short bio. Click on the tile and a separate window opens with more extensive information about that person.


Orange tile "T Tessa McWatt (1.1.1959-)", Purple tile "C Carrie Best (03.04.1903 - 07.24...)", Yellow tile "A Andre Alexis (01.15.1957)" on dark background

Cette ressource est aussi disponible en Français.

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

[takiwatanga]


Screenshot of tweet by @WFarahslt. 18 Jan 2022. Tweet says: "Takiwatanga" is the Maori word for autism and it means "In their own time and space".



When I saw this tweet the other day, I thought to myself, this is an amazing word! How cool that the Maori had a word for people who are autistic. 

Turns out, that the word was created in 2017. While that did surprise me, it doesn't make it any less legitimate. Language is a living thing and in this case, Keri Opai, a civil servant, worked with the Maori disability community to create about 200 words and phrases specifically for mental health, addiction and disability.

About the word for autism, Keri Opai says
"The word I have coined in te reo Māori for autism is ‘Takiwātanga’. It is a derivation of my phrase for autism: “tōku/tōna anō takiwā” – “my/his/her own time and space”."

 

Read more about how this word came to be in Keri Opai's story (video and text): https://www.altogetherautism.org.nz/a-time-and-space-for-takiwatanga/

Read the short BBC article on this project: https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-40493398

Check out the very cool language glossary, featuring te Reo Maori <> English translations, word collections, plus phrases and proverbs: https://www.tereohapai.nz/

Tuesday, February 01, 2022

blacker than...

 


Ah yes, white as a sign of purity and goodness, black as a sign of evil, badness, corruption. How those words and variations of them are embedded in our language. And for those who are Christians, there are specific verses about this (Psalm 51:7 and Isaiah 1:18 being two key examples) which I've twisted in the cartoon above.

Do Black people want to be whiter than snow?

I doubt it, personally. 

Friday, January 28, 2022

[transforming - book]


book cover. Drawing of a tree with abstract leaf zone in bold colours of red, yellow, orange, blue, on a pale blue background.. Title is "Transforming: The Bible & the Lives of Transgender Christians.

I'm currently reading this book, the first one I've read by a trans author and the first that's about the Bible and the lives of transgender Christians. It's especially interesting in light of a recent panel that I attended on "Being Transgender in the workplace".

Love the book so far! Keep your eyes open for future posts inspired by this...

Find out more at http://austenhartke.com/book or get a copy from your local bookshop or library.


Austen's site also includes a lengthy resources page and a link to Transmission Ministry Collective:

"We’re an online community of transgender and gender-expansive Christians committed to growing our faith, supporting each other, and healing the world."

The Transmission Ministry Collective offers:

  • text-based chat servers
  • video-based support groups
  • online Bible study
  • workshops
  • extensive resources

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

[tackling trauma - an online introduction with tools]



Tackling Trauma: 
An Introductory Training Manual for Direct Practice with New Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylees

This is a free, online tool which is intended to give those who are working with new immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers a basic understanding of trauma as it tends to be experienced by this group of people. The topics covered, each in a page or two, are:

Immigration: An Introduction

Why Does Migration Occur?

Who Are Lawful Permanent Residents? 

Phases of Adjustment 

Refugees and Asylum Seekers 

Trauma: An Introduction 

The Injury Mental Model 

Triple Trauma Paradigm 

Vicarious Trauma 

Consequences of Trauma

Thursday, December 16, 2021

[family behaviours that increase your LGBTQ+ / Two Spirit child's health and well-being]


"Research from the Family Acceptance Project found more than 50 family accepting behaviours that help protect your lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer-identified (LGBTQ) / Two Spirit child against health risks like depression, suicide and illegal drug use and help to increase your LGBTQ / 2S child's self-worth, health and well-being." (from poster)

"A little change makes a difference in decreasing your child's isolation and risk
and giving them hope that their family will be there for them.
"


This project has several great posters available for free in PDF, sized for various printing purposes. This image shows a portion of one of the posters. 

Article on this project: https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2021/11/26/saving-two-spirit-and-indigenous-lgbtq-youth

Direct link to project page and posters: https://familyproject.sfsu.edu/content/family-acceptance-project-healthy-futures-posters-american-indian-communities



Monday, December 06, 2021

[lgbtq newcomers to canada: strengthening support and understanding - videos]

Are you in contact with newcomers to Canada? Whether as a volunteer, at your place of worship, or during your daily routine, you likely are in contact, and some of the newcomers (whether you know it or not) will be LGBTQ.

screenshot of three video pages. Text as in titles of video in main body of post. Images show  long haired white female presenting person with multicoloured finger nails, speaking; short haired white female presenting person in green shirt with modern necklace; Black male presenting person with short hair and trimmed beard wearing a blue shirt.

The AMSSA (Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC) website has a series of web videos shot in 2015 focuses on highlighting the issues and needs of LGBTQ immigrants and refugees and provides settlement workers with greater understanding of how to strengthen the support.

The titles of the five videos are:

  • Exploring the Issues Affecting LGBTQ Immigrants and Refugees
  • Exploring Gender and Sexual Identity Affecting LGBTQ Immigrants and Refugees
  • The Journey of LGBTQ Immigrants and Refugees in Canada
  • The Intersection of Immigration and Gender & Sexual Identity
  • Exploring Spirituality and the Role of the Home Culture for LGBTQ Immigrants and Refugees


Wednesday, December 01, 2021

[museum of black joy]

Black woman wearing white, very tall because of stilts hidden in fabric, smiling and giving a wave.
Skyways, 2019, Bartram's Garden
(c) Andrea Walls
Andrea Walls began the Museum of Black Joy in response to ever frequent days filled with bad news about violence and hatred, often directed toward people of colour and other minorities. As a poet and photographer, she began taking photos of everyday joy in the Black community and posting them on her site.

Friday, November 19, 2021

[affirmation guide for trans & gender-expansive identities]


Affirmation Guide for Trans & Gender-Expansive Identities, plus Trans & Gender-Expansive Identities eCourse

cover of "Affirmation Guide for Trans & Gender-Expansive Identities" (white background with blue and black text); also image of sample page of guide with illegible black text and right side has blue heading "Scriptural and Theological Affirmations", more small black text, and two blue bars.

"Q Christian’s second Affirmation Guide features Taj Smith. This guide is designed to counter the idea that transgender and gender-expansive people cannot be Christians. This guide is also meant to support anyone who is and/or loves someone who is transgender. Taj dives into the Scriptural, theological, and relational affirmation of trans people in this foundational resource. Video content for the guide can be found below." (from webpage)

The guide is free though a donation is requested from those who are able. The page also features five videos that relate to content in the guide:

  • Introduction
  • Scriptural and Theological Affirmation
  • Life in Community
  • Resources
  • Conclusion

 https://www.qchristian.org/guides/trans

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

[what it's like growing up transgender and Deaf]

Text "What it's like growing up transgender and Deaf" on a blue background with a smiley winking face, above an image of Blake Culley, a male-presenting white person, brown hair and trim beard, wearing a green v-neck T-shirt. Person is doing sign language and the closed captioning below says, "This is my name sign".

As part of Transgender Awareness Week (November 13-19), I'd like to let you know about this video of Blake sharing their story of growing up Deaf and transgender. 

This is an important piece because most people's lives are not one-sided ... and because disabled people are often overlooked when discussing other dimensions such as race or sexuality.




You can learn more about Blake at:

Monday, November 15, 2021

the real Meta

 

Image shows two figures wearing white robes and sitting in chairs on top of clouds, with sun peaking through. God, with their back to the viewer, and wearing a crown, says, "Those Facebook people are so pretentious - don't they know I'm the Meta?" The other person, brown skinned and bearded, replies, "I could smite them for you, pops, but that's so not me..."

Interestingly, God is also "with us", "incarnate", "embedded"...

Posted in response to a large social media company rebranding itself as "Meta" with a logo looking like two collapsed kidneys...

Saturday, November 13, 2021

the beauty of transgender people...


When I started in my current job, I didn't know of any transgender employees. Now, five years later, I know three colleagues who are transgender and out in the workplace. This is good. This is progress.

Laverne Cox, American actress, said, "It is revolutionary for any trans person to choose to be seen and visible in a world that tells us we should not exist." 

To all transgender people who read this post, I just want to say, 

“You rock! You are wonderful and amazing! You are an inspiration!”

Wishing you much strength and wisdom as you live an authentic life, and many family members, friends, colleagues and acquaintances who love and support you! You do exist and should exist, and your beauty and your gifts make the world a better place!


Happy Transgender Awareness Week!

Thursday, November 04, 2021

[colored hockey championships]

 

Stamp showing drawing of seven Black men in older era hockey gear, some holding hockey sticks, and another five Black men in suits. The suited man in the middle is holding a tray covered with a maroon cloth, with silver goblets, a pitcher and a tray on it. Large text says "Colored Hockey Championships". Smaller text lists teams: Jubilees, Stanleys, Eurekas, Sea-Sides, Victorias, Rangers, Royals, Moss Backs. Text at lower left says "CANADA"; lower right as a "P" inside a maple leaf indicating the denomination of the stamp is "Permanent"

"Canada Post’s stamp honours the Colored Hockey Championship and the all-Black hockey teams in the Maritimes that competed for it between 1895 and the early 1930s.

It is impossible to fully appreciate this story without understanding the Canada of the day, when Blacks lived in segregated communities that often lacked proper roads, health services, water or street lamps."

Read the rest of the story at Canada Post.

Friday, October 22, 2021

[gender decoder for job ads]


Words are words... and we tend to associate some of them with men and others with women. 

Image showing two lists of words. On left, the heading says Masculine coded words in this ad. The list has: "competing, active, challenge, individuals, leader, leading, analysis, and driven". The right side is headed "Feminine-coded words in this ad." The list has: "commitments (2 times), understand (3 times), together, responsive, supportive, enthusiastic, cheerleader"


If you are writing a job description or a job ad, you can test out the associations for the words using the new (and free) Gender Decoder for Job Ads:

Note: this is not about whether an ad uses "he/him/his" and "she//her/her" instead of "they/them". It's about words that are typically in English associated with masculinity or femininity.