Culture Shift - My Culture

Gloria Knott: My Culture

Gloria talks about her Oji-Cree culture. She didn’t live very culturally while growing up, but is now rediscovering her roots.
Audio (0:54)

Gloria talks about the Oji-Cree language and says a few words.
Audio (0:46)

Aaron Rae: My Culture

Aaron explains what it means to be Anishinabe and the importance of humour to his people.
He also talks about the importance of elders’ teachings in his life.
Audio (1:48)

Tyson Monias: My Culture

Tyson lives his Oji-Cree culture every day. Here, he talks about two important traditions he still practices - the Sweat Lodge and Sundancing .
Audio (1:52)

Oji-Cree is still spoken in St. Theresa Point. Hear Tyson say a few words in his mother tongue.
Audio (0:31)

Sandy Paishk: My Culture

Sandy talks about two important cultural activities she enjoys participating in: The Pow Wow Trail and smudging.
Audio (2:43)

The Moccasin Game is a popular game they play in her community.
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Sandy talks about why it’s important to respect elders.
Audio (0:57)

Thadius Leveque: My Culture

Thadius talks about what it means to be Ojibway and to speak his language.
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Grandparents play an important role in Aboriginal cultures. Thadius talks about the important role his grandfather played in his life.
Audio (1:30)

Ricky Bittern: My Culture

Ricky talks about his Ojibway culture and language.
Audio (2:26)

Charlie Bittern was one of the Aboriginal runners who carried the torch during the 1967 Pan Am Games. They carried the torch from Minnesota to Winnipeg but were not allowed to carry it during the final let into the stadium.
Hear Ricky talk about his father.
Audio (1:42)
Read about Ricky's dad here

Norma Monias: My Culture

Norma talks about her grandfather’s traditions and her own. Norma drums, which isn’t very common for female Aboriginals.
Audio (1:28)

The trapline is something most families in her community visit.
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Norma has a conversation with her friend, Myrna Flett, in Oji-Cree and explains the strength of the language on her reserve.
Audio (1:08)

Paul Frobisher: My Culture

Paul talks about how he lives his Ojibway culture in the city.
Audio (1:54)

Jonathan Owens: My Culture

Jonathan talks about his Ojibway culture and his pride in knowing how to speak his language. He says Hello in Ojibway.
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Little Bow Bighetty: My Culture

Little Bow talks about an important ceremony for Aboriginals – the giving of spirit names.
Audio (0:37)

And what is Little Bow’s spirit name?
Audio (0:39)

Drumming is one of Little Bow's favourite activities. However, in her community, it’s not allowed. She explains why.
Audio (0:58)

Marcia Quill: My Culture

Marcia talks about her Cree language.
Audio (2:02)

Maria Aksic: My Culture

Maria grew up in a mixed culture. Her mother is Cree and her father is Serbian. Here, she talks about what it means to have both cultural backgrounds.
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A very important aspect of Aboriginal culture is respect.
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Maria speaks a bit of Cree and Serbian – her parents’ languages.
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Myrna Flett: My Culture

Dancing is an important part of Myrna's life. She enjoys jigging and square dancing.
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Myrna says a few words in her mother tongue – Oji-Cree.
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Myrna is a member of a drum group. As leader, she must take on certain responsibilities. Here, she explains the importance of warming the drum, and respect.
Audio (1:49)

Lindsay Sinclair: My Culture

Lindsay again uses key adjectives to explain what it means to be Ojibway.
Audio (1:12)

Smudging is an activity practiced by many Aboriginal people. Lindsay smudges in her house at specific times.
Audio (0:55)

Derek Beardy: My Culture

Derek talks about his first memories of hearing and learning the Cree language.
Audio (0:24)

Garry Fisher: My Culture

Garry talks about how people from Bloodvein celebrate Hallowe'en a little differently.
Audio (0:29)

Garry talks about his mother tongue- the Ojibway language and says a few words.
Audio (0:57)

Garry talks about why his hair is important to him.
Audio (0:40)

Zaid Aboud: My Culture

Food is an integral part of any culture. Here, Zaid describes Iraqi food - Kubbah and Kunafa.
Audio (1:43)

Language is also very important to any culture. Here, Zaid says a few words in his mother tongue - Arabic.
Audio (0:20)

Thomas Gerezghier: My Culture

Thomas talks about what it means to be Eritrean.
Audio (1:29)

Eritrea has two official languges and Thomas speaks both.
Audio (0:35)

A hero to many Eritreans, including Thomas, is runner Zersenay Tadesse.
Audio (0:43)

Othello Wesee: My Culture

You can identify which region a Liberian is from by the food they eat.
Audio (0:55)

And what kind of food do you eat, Othello?
Audio (0:32)

Refusing a glass of water is not acceptable in Africa. It means you're not welcoming.
Audio (1:43)

Othello says a few words in his local dialect.
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Darios Ahmed: My Culture

Darios talks about his mother tongue, the
Amharic language, and says a few words.
Audio (0:29)

The Ethiopian calendar is unique: It has 13 months, every month has 30 days, and their 13th month only has 5 days. Even the way they count the hours is different. 7 am in Canada, would be called 1 in Ethiopia. Noon in Canada would be 6 in Ethiopia.
Audio (1:12)

In Canada, shyness can be interpreted as being rude, but shyness is considered a quality in Ethiopia.
Audio (1:16)

Lacina Dembele: My Culture

There are three things that make the country of Ivory Coast unique.
Audio (1:28)

Lacina has a passion for music. He writes and performs his own music with his band, Les D’s.
Audio (0:40)

Click here to access Lacina’s Youtube channel

Biya Joba: My Culture

Each region in Ethiopia has its unique foods.
Audio (0:51)

Singing and storytelling is very important in Ethiopia.
Audio (0:46)

Biya still listens to Ethiopian music. Hear him talk about his favourites.
Audio (0:43)

As it is in many cultures, family is very important to Ethiopians.
Audio (0:54)

Biya speaks two of Ethiopia's languages: Oromo and Amharic.
Audio (1:07)

Many people who meet Richie are surprised to learn he's from Africa and, like most Liberians, speaks English fluently.
Audio (1:00)

Does Richie think Canadians know enough about Africa?
Audio (1:00)

My Culture