What lessons came when Frances Elizabeth Moore hosted London Morning
Moore called the show 'a love letter to her community'
Frances Elizabeth Moore, of Timiskaming First Nation, moved to London nearly 16 years ago and has become a passionate, local advocate for Indigenous people. On National Indigenous Peoples Day, CBC London invited Moore to take the reins of London Morning.
Moore selected and interviewed all of Monday's guests and assembled an all-local Indigenous playlist. She called the two-and-half-hour show, a 'love letter to her community.'
Listen to the show below or continue reading for a quick take on some of the biggest lessons from the program.
Get rid of the word 'Aboriginal'
Sara Mai Chitty, an Anishinaabekwe storyteller, educator and member of Alderville First Nation, is currently Western University's Indigenous Curriculum and Pedagogy Advisor.
"Indigenous is the best word to use. With a capital I." Get rid of the word Aboriginal, she added.
Want to be an ally? Find 5 more people to be one too
Eva Jewell, associate fellow at the Yellowhead Institute, a First Nation-led research centre based at Ryerson University, has been tracking the federal government's progress in implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 recommendations.
Progress has been slow and largely performative, said Jewell.
So how can non-Indigenous Canadians be better allies to Indigenous people?
"They need to be open to hearing the truth and they need to bring each other along on that," said Jewell. "So if you're a Canadian and you know the issues and you're very passionate, you need to bring five more people who aren't passionate with you. So that's something that you could help us do."
If an Indigenous boy has long hair, he's proudly participating in his culture
Status/Non-Status frontman, Adam Sturgeon's preschool-aged son, Oda has long hair and is often asked if he's a girl.
"We have to teach them to speak up for themselves," Sturgeon said. "In our culture, our hair is our connection to the earth, and our men have long hair, and that's the way it is."
"We only cut our hair for certain purposes. That means that we're participating in our culture and our way. It's important to do that."
Representation at schools matters for Indigenous kids too
Longtime public school teacher Robyn Michaud currently teachers Grade 6 at Central Public School in Woodstock, with the Thames Valley District School Board, and is hopeful there will soon be more Indigenous teachers and staff in schools.
"I've taught a lot of kids who've told me they don't see themselves as part of the school because they don't see other people that look like them, especially in roles of leadership," said Michaud.
"I feel the same way," she add. "When I see an Indigenous students in the school. It's that instant connection and that feeling like you're home."