Celebrating National Indigenous History Month
June is National Indigenous History Month
National Indigenous History Month is a time for learning about, appreciating and acknowledging the contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. Explore how Manitoba is appreciating Indigenous history, diversity, and experiences with the content and resources below.
Social Media
Michelle Chubb is a 23-year-old from Bunibonibee Cree Nation, the Swampy Cree tribe and Buffalo clan. Every summer, Michelle would visit her grandparents in Cross Lake to escape city life where her Mooshum (grandfather) taught her jingle dress dancing and other cultural traditions.
Growing up in Winnipeg's south end, Michelle experienced racism which led her to feel discouraged about sharing her cultural traditions. Today, she embraces everything about her culture and creates videos of herself making jingle dresses, dancing and talking about her experiences on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram as @indigenous_baddie.
Looking to diversify your social media feed this summer? Michelle provided CBC Manitoba with a list of other Indigenous content creators to follow this National Indigenous History Month:
Aïcha Bastien-N'diaye, @aichella
Claudia Shiigak, @pinaclauudia
Dallis Ann Rencountre, @vietmni
Faith Campos, @faithcampos
Geronimo Louie, @geronimo.warrior
Kairyn Potts, @ohkairyn
Queen Tic, @ticaks2.0
Roberta Alook, @robertaalook1996
Santee Siouxx, @santeesiouxx
Scott Wabano, @scottwabano
Shina Nova, @shinanova
Watch
CBC News produced nine artist profiles whose works are featured in the inaugural exhibit, INUA, at Qaumajuq, the Winnipeg Art Gallery's new Inuit Art Centre.
CBC Gem's Everything Indigenous focuses on Indigenous experiences across Canada, from documentaries to interviews to dramas.
CBC Gem's Celebrating Indigenous Storytellers is a curated collection of Indigenous work for Indigenous History Month.
APTN lumi's first original series, Querencia, premiered on June 1st for Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month. Querencia is a coming-of-age 2SLGBTQ+ web series that centres on the budding romance between two young Indigenous women: Abe, played by Mary Galloway (Never Steady, Never Still) and Daka, played by Kaitlyn Yott (Charmed). The 8x10 minute episode series is a love story that follows two queer women from divergent backgrounds as they navigate and explore their complex Indigiqueer identities and their differing cultural upbringings.
For more information, see the Querencia Instagram page @QUERENCIASERIES and the official trailer.
The National Film Board of Canada curated a list of Indigenous cinema ranging from 1968 to 2020.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights will make a selection of films from the National Film Board archive by renowned Indigenous artists available on their website for on-demand streaming for the month of June.
The National Arts Centre shared media created by Indigenous artists for Indigenous History Month here.
The University of Winnipeg's Aabijijiwan New Media Lab, a new Indigenous creative and research space that provides opportunities for technology-based skills training and development for Indigenous youth hosts many informative webinars related to Indigeneity.
Listen
CBC Listen offers a variety of Indigenous content, including:
Podcasts
-
Telling our Twisted Histories, a new series that reclaims Indigenous history by exploring words whose meanings have been twisted by centuries of colonization.
-
Kīwew, the Radio-Television Digital News Association of Canada - Prairies Region Winner for Best Podcast, in which Governor-General award-winning author David A. Robertson dives into his family's history and mysteries as he discovers and connects with his Cree identity.
-
Muddied Water where host Stephanie Cram explores the history of the Métis, from resistance to renaissance.
-
Boushie, the story of Colten Boushie, a young Indigenous man who was shot and killed by a white farmer, Gerald Stanley, in rural Saskatchewan, inciting racial tensions across the province.
-
Pieces, a mix of Indigenous and white heritage, Jeremy has experienced life through both vantage points – as well as the stereotypes. Join 19-year-old Jeremy Ratt on a journey of self-discovery as he seeks to understand his roots and all of the distinct "pieces" that form who he is today.
-
Life Jolt examines the lives of women navigating Canada's correctional system. Hosted by Rosemary Green, a former inmate herself, Life Jolt focuses on individual women's stories and the realities of prison life. It explores a wide range of issues, including parenting behind bars, segregation, the over-representation of Indigenous women, addiction, trauma and the many obstacles of reintegration.
Playlists
Radio
-
Unreserved with Falen Johnson is the radio space for Indigenous community, culture, and conversation. Host Falen Johnson takes you straight into Indigenous Canada, from Halifax to Haida Gwaii, from Shamattawa to Ottawa, introducing listeners to the storytellers, culture makers and community shakers from across the country.
-
Reclaimed with Jarrett Martineau is a weekly series that explores the many worlds of contemporary Indigenous music from traditional songs and acoustic sounds to Native hip-hop, R&B, and the dancefloor-filling beats of electric powwow.
Discover Indigenous artists' discographies on Indigenous Music and Manitoba Music, featuring singer-songwriters like William Prince, Sierra Noble, and more.
Listen to Aakoziiwigamig: An Ojibwe Radio Drama, the University of Winnipeg's Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre, the University of Manitoba, Indigenous Languages of Manitoba, Native Communications Inc. Radio and Mazinaate Publishing's Indigenous Language radio show that premiered on January 13, 2021.
The objective of the radio program is to create an Ojibway-speaking community outside of the classroom. Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre and Indigenous Languages of Manitoba saw this as an exciting opportunity to build on their language outreach in a time of the pandemic and be part of something that had not been done before. The program airs every second Wednesday at 12:30 pm on NCI Radio FM and will continue until June 2021.
Virtual Events
The Manito Ahbee Writing Contest: Writing Our Story engages First Nation, Métis, and Inuit youth writers ages 14 to 17. Prizes will be awarded for 1st - $400, 2nd - $300, and 3rd - $200 place. CBC Manitoba is a proud sponsor of Writing Our Story and will be featuring the finalist submissions on cbc.ca/manitoba. The submission deadline is June 11th.
APTN is broadcasting Indigenous Day Live 2021, with hosts Earl Wood and Janelle Wookey, featuring performances by Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Tom Wilson, iskwē, Neon Dreams, Julian Taylor, Charlotte Cardin and more.
Sunday, June 20th, 8:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. ET
Monday, June 21st (encore) - APTN N 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT
Indigenous Day Live 2021 will be available for free on APTN's streaming platform, APTN lumi.
Read
CBC Books lists 35 reading recommendations for National Indigenous History Month.
McNally Robinson Booksellers has also provided a reading list for Indigenous History Month.
Picture Books:
-
On The Trapline by David Alexander Robertson
-
We All Play by Julie Flett
-
I Sang you Down from the Stars by Tasha Spillett-Summer
-
When We Are Kind by Monica Gray-Smith
-
We Dream Medicine Dreams by Lisa Boivin
Children's Novels:
-
The Barren Grounds by David Alexander Robertson
-
Ancestor Approved edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith
-
Case of the Burgled Bundle by Michael Hutchinson
Children's Graphic Novels:
-
Reckoner Rises: Breakdown by David Alexander Robertson
-
Road Allowance Era by Katherena Vermette
-
From the Roots Up by Tasha Spillett-Summer
Teen:
-
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Adult:
-
Did You See Us? Reunion, Remembrance, and Reclamation at an Urban Indian Residential School by the Survivors of the Assiniboia Indian Residential School (9780887559075 | University of Manitoba Press)
-
NISHGA by Jordan Abel (9780771007903 | McClelland & Stewart)
-
A Short History of the Blockade: Giant Beavers, Diplomacy, and Regeneration in Nishnaabewin by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson (9781772125382 | University of Alberta Press)
-
Storying Violence: Unravelling Colonial Narratives in the Stanley Trial by Gina Starblanket & Dallas Hunt (9781927886373 | ARP Books)
-
Black Water by David Alexander Robertson
-
Our Hearts are as One Fire by Jerry Fontaine, University of Winnipeg Assistant Professor of Indigenous Studies
The Millennium Library's Info Guide hosts a diversity of Indigenous content.
The Government of Canada's June 2021 #IndigenousReads Campaign features Indigenous publications.
Learn
The Forks offers a free 50-minute guided audio tour in English or French. Niigaan Sinclair, Curator of Indigenous History at The Forks and Professor of Native Studies at the University of Manitoba, leads the audio tour with guest appearances from elders Barbara and Clarence Nepinak, architects Glen Manning, Constantina Douvris, and Étienne J. Gaboury, Curator of Archaeology at the Manitoba Museum, Kevin Brownlee, and local musician Matt Schellenberg. Download the free audio tour here.
Download the Native Women's Association of Canada's resource manual to learn about First Nations elder perspectives, Indigenous histories, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), definitions, useful links, and more here.
The Government of Canada highlights Indigenous History Makers on their website as well as a panel discussion about National Indigenous Peoples Day with Knowledge Keepers. View Part 1 and Part 2 of the discussion.
Research the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action on the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website.
Online Resources
Stay up to date on Indigenous news stories with CBC Indigenous.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights gathers various resources on Indigenous rights and education on their website:
-
The Spirit Panels are a series of 13 works of art on display in the Museum's Indigenous Perspectives gallery. They were created in communities across Canada by Indigenous artists working collaboratively with Indigenous youth and Elders. The art reflects youths' experiences, perspectives on Indigenous and human rights, and visions for their future. This online web interactive has detailed descriptions and short films about each panel.
-
Nursing and Indigenous peoples' health: reconciliation in practice shares the story of nurses working together for respect, fairness and social justice for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
-
"Childhood denied" focuses on Indian Residential Schools and their role in the genocide committed against Indigenous peoples in Canada.
-
"The murder of Elzéar Goulet and the struggle for Métis rights" shares the struggle for Métis rights and recognition from the founding of Manitoba to the present day through the story of Elzéar Goulet.
-
"Picking up the Pieces: the Making of the Witness Blanket" is a feature-length documentary film about the Witness Blanket, a work of art made from hundreds of items reclaimed from residential schools, churches, government buildings and traditional and cultural structures across Canada. The Witness Blanket is currently on display at the CMHR as part of an exhibition that focuses on its conservation, Witness Blanket: Preserving a Legacy. While the Museum is closed due to public health regulations, the free online documentary is a great way to continue engaging with the stories it shares.
Support
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has gathered Indigenous cultural healing supports, Indigenous-specific mental health counselling resources, and Indigenous crisis services here.
The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-721-0066. Support is available for people affected by residential schools, and those triggered by the latest reports. A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. Access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line at 1-866-925-4419.