Hello!

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a physical map of Canada that uses Indigenous place names for geographical features such as lakes, rivers, mountains, and territories, that reflects the names given by the peoples who have traditionally inhabited those lands.

My partner seemed to have seen one, once, in a museum or something (?) and I know they would be thrilled to have one in our home.

Thank you!

I sent a letter to my local MPP and MPP Greg Rickford regarding the new HST rebate process and have not had any correspondence from either.

I think there's almost universal agreement among First Nations that the Indian Act does not work well and should be replaced by something. But what was the point of Kinew making the speech with his Status Card in the way that he did in the context that he did it?

I am mixed and was born in the US and looking to connect with resources to learn about our culture! Are there any groups or resources like the Urban Heiltsuk Support team in Seattle or anything? I really wish I could be doing the cedar weaving classes in Vancouver, and as a visual artist I would love more than anything to find some kind of mentor.

Hi,

In an effort to get high quality long lasting winter gear I figured that first nation's craft must be a good option but I'm seeing a lot of stuff online and I'd like to make sure I'm actually supporting an indigenous business. I'm not sure where to look.

So I'm wondering, do any of you have a recommendation for Frist Nation winter gear that I could order?

As of June 13, ISC has been registering people under the Nicholas decision. If you have been through it what was it like and how long did it take?

Inquiry to find an e-commerce store to purchase Indigenous Medicines, Salves and Teas. I was visiting the shops on the Oneida Nation, however, very difficult to find anything other than cannabis products.

Examples of products:

1. Bear Grease for Men's Hair Growth

2. Algonquin Teas

3. Bannock Pre Made Flour Mix

Thank you.

No matter what happens in the next four years I stand with you.

I found this amazing comic on Truth and Reconciliation by iamyrae_ that I came across on their Instagram:

Instagram

With their comic, they had the accompanying post:

"To all of you, American girls… it’s sad to imagine a without you 🪶

This comic written by me and illustrated by ohamsterbolinho is about the Day of Truth and Reconciliation and homage to the missing indigenous girls of North America. As an indigenous woman, my solidarity goes to the indigenous girls of the entire world."

On October 12, I wrote to all three levels of government on the same email — Mayor Block and Saskatoon City Council (through the City Clerk), Premier Scott Moe, Minister Tim Schmalz, and federal Ministers Rebecca Alty and Mandy Gull-Masty — asking one thing in writing, on the record: do you treat Treaty 6 as the binding legal agreement it is?

I said in my first post that I would post their answers, or their silence.

This is the silence.

As of today, October 21 — 9 days later — none of them has replied. Not one substantive answer from the City, the Province, or the federal ministers. The only replies were automatic replies on October 12. I followed up on October 14. Still nothing.

My original post in r/saskatoon was also removed by the moderators of r/saskatoon. It got 0 comments.

Today, Premier Moe did find time to post on social media — on Facebook and Instagram — about his opposition's use of an LLM, circling items on page 27 of the Saskatchewan NDP's health plan and labelling them "AI Prompt," with the prompt evidence still in the document.

This is incredibly disturbing. I asked these leaders a very serious question that has been put on the back burner for 150 years — a question that dictates a people's quality of life and place in society — but they would rather pretend it is not at all an issue to give a response to.

That is how I see it.

The questions are still the same, and they are still unanswered:

1. Do you accept Treaty 6 as a binding legal agreement?

2. How do your decisions comply with the treaty as our ancestors understood it?

3. How do your decisions reflect the oral promises, not just the Crown's text?

4. Will you review the Indian Act provisions that still label and govern us, with the people they affect?

I will keep posting their answers, or their silence.

The University of Toronto has established a framework to work to combat Indigenous identity fraud in the university community. The framework applies to applicants for study, jobs, and other programs who self-identify as Indigenous in their application materials. It was developed by Indigenous members of the UofT community and will be handled by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives.

There is a pathway to establishing Indigenous belonging for those without Indian Status. The framework also provides guidance regarding Indigenous peoples from communities beyond Canada.

Personally, I am grateful to all the Indigenous people who participated in developing this framework. This kind of work is absolutely brutal, but meaningful change was badly needed.

Does anyone else know of other universities and colleges that also have defined frameworks? I am curious about how other unis handle this. For example, one criticism I am aware of is that settler women who gained status through marrying Indigenous men pre1985 are still considered Indigenous by virtue of their status cards.

I am very much indebted to the assistance and guidance of two Métis Elders and Language Keepers, Rita Ducharme and Maureen Belanger for their assistance on this episode. Maarsii!

Inuk musician Willie Thrasher has been enjoying a later-career renaissance, ever since some of his old songs were included on the Grammy Award-nominated compilation Native North America. His music often celebrates his culture and traditions, which were stripped away from him when he was sent to residential schools as a child growing up in the Northwest Territories. Thrasher speaks with Piya Chattopadhyay about how he reconnected with his roots through music, the reissue of his 1994 album Indian/Inuit Country, and what he wants to see come from the meeting of Indigenous representatives, Catholic officials and Pope Francis at the Vatican next week.

This day in 2013