Category Archives: Indigenous Nations

Community, Indigenous Nations

Reclaiming Culture

Reclaiming Culture is a look into Culture nights with Michelle Robinson. What is shared over a meal? More than food, teachings are passed along through generations. Gathering to celebrate identity inspires drum making, and new songs are sung. Songs were lost as a direct result of intentional oppression [eg. residential school]. When Klahoose writes new songs to Welcome people to their lands, we are witnessing a profound moment of living culture, of cutting edge language work and a powerful pivot point in history. We also hear the voice of Jessie Louie, Drew Blaney drumming and song workshop, Cortes Museum and Archives work recording school children learning a new public song. Hands up to Jessie Louie, Michelle Robinson, CIMAS’s Brittany Baxter and Drew Blaney.

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Indigenous Nations, Women

Behind Every Good Man Are Strong Women

Originally published on Cortes Radio.ca, as part of the Deep Roots Initiative, Season Two.

In this episode Deep Roots producer  Jacqueline Mathieu takes us on a journey through one woman’s determination to reclaim a piece of her culture, through a coming of age ceremony and her son’s journey to claiming his identity.

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History, Indigenous Nations History

The Trail From Pre-contact Toba Inlet

Originally published on Cortes Radio.ca, as part of the Deep Roots Initiative, Season Two.

Toba Inlet is a remote fjord roughly 180 kilometres north of Vancouver. It is geographically closer to Campbell River, though the trip is an hour and 45 minutes by water taxi. A recently discovered arborglyph, believed to be a trail marker, suggests this area was not so isolated in pre-colonial days. Deep Roots story producer Roy L Hales interviews Michelle Robinson and Ken Hanuse, from the Klahoose First Nation, and local historian Judith Williams about a trail connecting pre-contact Toba Inlet to the rest of British Columbia.

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History, Indigenous Nations History

Awaken the Canoes

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Originally published on Cortes Radio,ca, as part of the Deep Roots Initiative, Season Two.

What was the role of the canoe in pre-contact indigenous culture? What caused its decline? And how are canoe journeys helping the Klahoose and her sister nations rediscover their past? In this episode, producer Roy Hales asks how they awaken the canoes.

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Humanity, Indigenous Nations

Princess J – A story of Indigenous Roots

Originally published on Cortes Radio.ca, as part of the Deep Roots Initiative, Season Two

Jacqueline Mathieu’s journey to uncover her indigenous roots began in the most unexpected of places – an animated movie. Driven by an obsession with the main character, an interest in her own heritage blossomed over the course of her young life, as her journey to understand her culture began to stretch into the lives of her mother, her family, her community and beyond. In this episode of Deep Roots Island Waves, Jacqueline tells producer Morgan Rhys Tams the story of a young woman’s quest to uncover, reclaim and ultimately celebrate her indigenous heritage, reclaiming her identity from mass media, personal demons and Canada’s shameful past.

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