With the news of the birth, Spirit Wind called on the audience members to join in singing and drumming a traditional welcoming song for the newest and very blessed member of our community. There are times when the universe conspires a perfectly orchestrated synchronicity of events that no human could po...
Part Three in a Three Part Series Jump to: Part 1 | Part 2 This is the third of three posts looking at diversifying Science Fiction and Fantasy cons. Part One of this blog outlined the issue. Part Two we explore suggestions for diversifying events. In Part Three we look at suggestions for panel titles b...
Part Two in a Three Part Series. Jump to: Part 1 | Part 3 This is the second of three posts looking at diversifying Science Fiction and Fantasy (SCi Fi&F) conferences (cons). Part One of this blog outlined the issue. Part Three will contain concrete suggestions for panel titles. Here in Part Two we...
Part One in a Three Part Series. Jump to: Part 2 | Part 3 What I’d like to offer in the next three segments are some suggestions to Science Fiction and Fantasy conference (con) organizers everywhere who might be interested in growing and diversifying their events. Part one of this blog will outline the...
Indigenous peoples have resisted the hegemony of settler society ever since Columbus mistook us for Indians. Our persistence to maintain sovereignty over our lands is a testament to our resilience and strength. But have we put the horse before the cart in our pursuit of sovereignty? It seems to me that...
Ghost Dance: Activism. Resistance. Art. is a visual and audio journey into the deep roots of Indigenous activism on Turtle Island. Curated by Steve Loft, the timely and significant multimedia group exhibition opened to a packed house at the Ryerson University Image Centre in the fall of 2013. Ghost Danc...
Photo: David Coombs I still feel as though there’s a right way to do this, a right way to observe the drumming – a truly enlightened ally way. If there is I don’t know it, but that doesn’t stop the mind, does it? The singing of the drummers does that. It invades my skull like ...
by Janine Manning I’ll never forget the moment I pressed ‘send’ on the #IdleNoMoreYorkU invite; my finger hovered in the air, reluctant, needing a minute to allow the movement’s importance to force my hand. Had I known then the security hassles the event would attract, my finger probably would have gone...
The Ogimaa Mikana Project is an effort to restore Anishinaabemowin place-names to the streets, avenues, roads, paths, and trails of Gichi Kiiwenging (Toronto) – transforming a landscape that often obscures or makes invisible the presence of Indigenous peoples. Starting with a small section of Queen St.,...
As part of the phenomenally successful Aboriginal Student Association at York’s powwow and gathering, I was invited to sit on a panel with Lee Maracle and York U’s Elizabeth Brule. We were asked to speak about the responsibilities of Indigenous storytelling. It was one of those topics where I felt confi...
