SAY Magazine, Sovereignty, Indigenous Lifestyle

CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS MAGAZINE

Reclaiming Nationhood through Language Sovereignty through Healing Indigenous Lives Matter

Cover Art by Autumn Whiteway

ISSUE 114 SOVEREIGNTY DISPLAY UNTIL JULY 1, 2022

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SINCE 2002

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Meaningful Relationships: Key to Growing Indigenous Economy

CONTENTS ISSUE 114 SOVEREIGNTY

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SAY MAGAZINE Volume 21, Issue 2 SAY Magazine is a bi-monthly publication that publishes six issues a year—one issue every eight weeks.

SAY Magazine is published by Spirit of Youth Enterprises Inc.

Submissions are welcome.

Articles, letters, queries, etc. should be sent by email to the editor at editor@saymag.com.

SAY Magazine assumes no responsibility for submitted material.

Mailing Address: Kildonan Place, RPO Box 43084 Winnipeg, MB Canada R2C 5G7

SAY Magazine assumes no responsibility for statements made by advertisers or in submitted material.

E: info@saymag.com www.saymag.com Publishers: Dominick Blais and Kent Brown Editor-in-Chief: Danielle Vienneau editor@saymag.com Editorial Team: Terra MacPhail terra@saymag.com Cheliza Crawford cheliza@saymag.com Sarah Ritchie sarah@saymag.com Theresa Peters theresa@saymag.com Art Director: Orli Gelfat - Orli G. Design Sales Team: Terra MacPhail terra@saymag.com Megan Henry megan@saymag.com Darrell Boyko darrell@saymag.com Website and Social Media Sphere Media Agency info@spheremediaagency.com

Graphics, photographs, editorial content and other printed material that are created by SAY Magazine are the property of Spirit of Youth Enterprises Inc. and may not be used without written permission from the publishers.

Printed in Canada ISSN: 1707-3049 GST: 856627534RT0001 This project has been made possible [in part] by the Government of Canada

SAY Magazine acknowledges that we publish in Treaty One Territory, at the crossroads of the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene Nations, and at the heart of the Métis Nation homeland.

Cover Feature Meet Autumn Whiteway, the Artist behind Our Cover Image Vision Quest Conference Celebrates 25 Years

Sovereignty by 28 Building Reconnecting with Food

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Building Wealth and a Better World

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Building a Rewarding Career as a Virtual Assistant

30 Literature Aglukark Receives 32 Susan 2022 Humanitarian Award

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Finding Sovereignty through Healing

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24 Tethered to Creation 26 Women Entrepreneurs

33 Music 37 Marketplace 38 Advertiser Index

Creating Change

As a diverse team of both Indigenous and ally collaborators, we strive to embrace, embody and live the truth that we are all Treaty people. All our relations!

Connect with us: www.facebook.com/saymagazine www.twitter.com/SAYMagazine www.instagram.com/say_magazine www.pinterest.ca/SAYMagazine www.linkedin.com/company/say-magazine

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Education and Self-Determination: Finding Your Path to Sovereignty

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Language Revitalization Warrior Belinda Daniels on Reclaiming Nationhood APR 2022 l SOVEREIGNTY | 3

OPENING MESSAGE

“Power is not brute force and money; power is in your spirit.

Power is in your soul. It is what your ancestors, your old people gave you. Power is in the earth; it is in your relationship to the earth.”

- Winona LaDuke

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overeignty is not just a state of mind.

It is an act of freedom of choice and the power of self-determination to take control of one's resources (time, energy, money, etc.) and the ability to govern.

It is not something granted to you by any other overseeing authority; rather, it is a right that you claim, whether as an individual who decides to start their own business or a community that asserts Nationhood under treaty law. Sovereign means “possessing supreme or ultimate power” and is often used to refer to a monarch (like a king or queen). In a modern democracy, it is—at least in theory but rarely in practice—the will of the people that is sovereign.

To claim oneself as sovereign is to assert your independence and supreme authority over your own life. In the context of Indigenous sovereignty, it is to assert independence and authority over one's own land, water, resources and people, and to govern in such a way that honours the traditional ways of knowing, being and respecting one another.

execute on making those possibilities real for yourself. The point of power always rests with you, but sometimes it doesn’t feel that way. We need to embrace critical thinking, strategic alliances and the capacity to see through the mirage of deception and misdirection that seeks to undermine and disempower us as Indigenous Peoples.

In this issue, we have made a first attempt at covering such a vast and important topic.

We too are still learning. With much more work ahead, this issue highlights the voices of several people who are embracing, each in their own way, a path of sovereignty through personal healing, economic empowerment and personal choice. We hope these stories will inspire you to choose sovereignty in your own life as well. ~ The SAY Magazine editorial team (Danielle, Terra and Cheliza)

Choices. In life we always have choices; however, the real skill in claiming your own sovereignty is the skill to perceive what viable choices are, and then build up enough tools to

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2022

Vision Quest Conference and Trade Show Opening Ceremonies 2019

MAY 4-5

2022 Soaring: Indigenous Youth Empowerment Gathering Virtual gathering about post-secondary education and career options for Indigenous high school students. lnkd.in/dui7r5SR

MAY 17-19

Vision Quest Conference & Trade Show Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Vision Quest Conference & Trade Show will proceed as an in-person event focusing on Indigenous business, community and economic development.

RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada vqconference.com

MAY 19-20

Indigenomics Institute Conference Activating the Financial Architecture of the 100 Billion Dollar National Annual Indigenous Economy.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada indigenomics.events

MAY 25-26

Forward Summit In-person and virtual. Forward Summit exists to amplify the voices of Indigenous champions, and connect community and industry together.

Grey Eagle Event Centre Tsuut’ina Traditional Territory / Calgary, Alberta, Canada forwardsummit.ca

JUN 1-30

National Indigenous History Month In June, we commemorate National Indigenous History Month to recognize the history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples in Canada. canada.ca/en/crown-indigenous-relations-northern-affairs.html

JUN 9-12

Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival Indigenous Fashion Arts (IFA) is the presenter of the biennial Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival (formerly Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto – IFWTO). The event connects audiences to artistic and cultural expression that celebrates and advances Indigenous artists and designers.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada indigenousfashionarts.com

JUN 14-16

2022 Turtle Island Indigenous Science Conference Through interactive workshops and sessions, explore the Indigenous scientific legacy and the value of the application of two-eyed seeing to modern science today.

University of Manitoba, Fort Garry Campus Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada event.fourwaves.com/turtleisland2022/pages

JUN 16

Indigenous Women in Leadership (IWIL) Hosted by the CCAB and themed Empowering Women to Lead: What It Will Take to Move the Indigenous Economy Forward, this event features a panel of prominent Indigenous women, all previous recipients of CCAB’s national IWIL award. ccab.com/events

JUN 21

National Indigenous Peoples Day The arrival of the summer solstice and a day to celebrate and honour each member of our diverse National Indigenous family, and their unique cultures and histories.

SAY Magazine makes every effort to ensure our calendar of events is up to date; however, we encourage you to check event websites regularly for updates due to interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Celebrating 25 Years

The Vision Quest Conference and Trade Show May 17-19, 2022

By Danielle Vienneau

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his spring the Vision Quest Conference and Trade Show will celebrate 25 years of promoting Indigenous entrepreneurship and economic development with its annual event taking place at the RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg. This year not only marks an incredible milestone in the evolution of this event and its commitment to Indigenous businesses, but it also symbolizes the strength of a community coming out on the other side of a pandemic.

After the 2020 event was cancelled due to COVID-19, Vision Quest quickly pivoted and was able to proceed with a 2021 event that was held virtually last October. With 600 Carol Johnston participants, the fall event was quite successful given the online format. “I was so impressed with how our virtual event went but something was missing,” said Carol Johnston, the board chair for the Vision Quest Conference

Photo credit: Colin Vandenberg

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and Trade Show. “Our communities have been deeply affected by the pandemic— increased isolation and depression—and we lost so many of our businesses as well.

It’s so important for us to come back together now to motivate and inspire, and to let everyone know we are here to help.”

With the easing of restrictions, there is the hope that people feel ready, and the need, to reconnect in a conference type of setting once again. “It is critical that organizations of our type are out there providing the support services that our clients need,” remarked Johnston. “It’s time for networking to take place again, to ignite that fire, that entrepreneurial spirit.”

With the vision of promoting Indigenous entrepreneurship in Manitoba on a large scale, the Vision Quest Conference and Trade Show launched in 1997. According to Johnston, almost everything has changed since then. From the number of delegates to the number of workshops and the format of the trade show. “There may have been about 200 delegates at the very first conference, and the trade show was quite small. Since then we have

grown to 1,000 delegates, and our trade show is sold out every year.” When asked what special moments stick out for her over the last 25 years, Johnston, who began with Vision Quest as a volunteer over two decades ago, recalls one very influential speaker. “When Ralph Junior Moar spoke at the conference in 2010, I was almost in tears.” Moar, a professional Canadian boxing champion, grew up in Winnipeg’s North End, an area known for a high incidence of violence and gang activity. “He spoke about his life in gangs and how he was able to come out of that—when I looked around the room, everyone, especially the youth, was so into his story. Everyone in the room was so affected by his address.”

Johnston also fondly remembers hypnotist Scott Ward who entertained the delegation at the closing ceremonies one year and a talented musical group from the Hollow Water First Nation. “I was so impressed because these youth came from a new music program. They entertained us by singing songs and playing different instruments—I was so proud to see them showcasing their talents.”

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Honouring

Kim Bullard

Highlights for 2022

“We are really excited to welcome two high-profile keynote speakers,” shared Johnston. “From the series Yellowstone, we are thrilled to welcome Mo Brings Plenty via a virtual presentation, and we are honoured to have former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould address everyone at the conference during the opening of the last day.”

“From Vision to Reality” remains the focus of the Vision Quest Conference, so in addition to nearly 100 trade show exhibits, delegates can look forward to a selection of 15 workshops, including a cultural stream that will include Indigenous crafting and a Turtle Island experiential journey that will take place in two parts. New to the trade show this year is an Elder’s Corner. “This is part of our cultural stream, and it is so important given what everyone has gone through over the last two years,’’ said Johnston. “It will give people opportunities to speak with an Elder if they need to.” Also new to the trade show is a fun treasure hunt type activity for delegates with prizes to be won.

Vision Quest also continues to offer an empowering youth program that has evolved greatly since its inception. “A lot of our focus has shifted to the youth delegates to ensure they are supported as future leaders. The youth delegation has grown immensely, with more interactive sessions compared to the very beginning,” explained Johnston. “We are also able to offer a special rate for youth thanks to grant dollars, which lessens financial barriers so that more young people can participate.”

With access to professional artists and entrepreneurial advice throughout the threeday event, all delegates will get to enjoy spectacular entertainment and cultural presentations, networking opportunities, great food and a closing banquet.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN For more information and to register, visit vqconference.com/conference.

Danielle Vienneau, Editor-in-Chief with SAY Magazine, believes in the power of sharing stories to inspire greatness in others. To submit your story, email editor@saymag.com.

The 25th celebration also marks a celebration of life, honouring a very important person who positively impacted the lives of all who knew her. For the first time since its inception, Vision Quest will go on in memory of past Chair Kim Bullard. Bullard was a strategic thinker, gifted visionary and mentor, deeply committed to improving the strength of community and economic development in First Nations.

Johnston and Bullard were good friends and long time colleagues— they worked together for 30 years and were on multiple boards together. “She was often introduced as the queen of Vision Quest, and not having her here this year will be really difficult for many of us,” said Johnston. “I know Kim would want us to continue with the event. This was her baby and we are going to carry it forward for her.”

Kimberly Dawn Bullard passed away unexpectedly on June 1, 2021, from complications related to COVID-19. Vision Quest will pay tribute to Bullard at the 25th anniversary Conference & Trade Show in May.

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MONEY MATTERS

Impact Investing 101:

Building Wealth and a Better World Investment professionals Marissa Bronfman and Magnolia Perron have spent almost two years working together on projects that empower women business owners.

Below they share their knowledge and experience to help others build the confidence needed to start their investing journeys.

Our Journey towards Financial Literacy and Investing

Bronfman: While I am now proudly an impact investor after many years as a serial entrepreneur and women’s empowerment advocate, I learned about money the hard way. Like many people, I was not taught about money at home or in school.

However, it’s never been easier for people to learn how to invest. Impact investing poses a very exciting future in which we can build our wealth and financial freedom, while also building a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

Perron: My first memory of investing was when I was 12 years old and my grandma took me to open my first bank account and set up a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). I had a little bit of money saved from birthdays and other holidays, and my grandma insisted I invest that money into my education. I am now 27 years old and have recently purchased my first condo, and I give a lot of credit to my grandma for teaching me the importance of investing in my future. This year I enrolled in an Indigenous impact investing course, and I am finding ways to invest in ways that align with my values. And the good news is that you can do it too!

The Myth of Saving and Why Inflation Means You Must Invest Have you noticed that groceries and gas are more expensive but your paycheck has stayed the same? When the cost of living increases but your income doesn’t, 10 | SOVEREIGNTY l APR 2022

Magnolia Perron

Marissa Bronfman

that’s inflation. It means keeping your money under your mattress, or even in a high-interest savings account in the bank, will result in lower spending power in the future. And if that inflation rate exceeds that of the interest earned from your bank account, you are actually losing money. That’s why investing is so critical to building wealth.

are creating positive social and/or environmental impact while also creating positive financial returns. Indigenous businesses are often conscious of environmental impact and promote sustainability, which means they can be considered potential impact investments.

Unlike traditional investing, which seeks return at any cost (investing in oil and gas, for example), or responsible investing, which seeks to fund companies that at least have no negative effects, impact investing uses a number of metrics to evaluate the positive impact a business is having according to ESG: environmental, social and governance.

Impact Investing to Build a Better World while Building Wealth

For many Indigenous Peoples, there is a narrative that investing means you’re participating in capitalism and this often conflicts with Indigenous values. But as impact investing has evolved over the past decade, it has never been easier to invest in yourself and a better world.

Impact investing is an exciting opportunity to fund businesses that

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a common tool to measure impact. But be wary of “greenwashing”, the misleading practice of attempting to convince consumers and investors that a product or service is sustainable or eco-friendly. This happens as often

MONEY MATTERS

in grocery store aisles as it does in the stock market. It’s important to note that impact investing is not charity, even though they both produce positive impact. Impact investing is the marriage of purpose and profit.

Breaking Barriers and Starting to Invest

While learning about money and investing can feel intimidating, knowledge is power; it is up to you to build wealth and financial freedom through the investments you make, and there is no better time than now. As a general rule, you want to have paid off all your debts (especially those with high interest rates like credit card debt) and have an emergency savings fund (the size will depend on your cost of living).

It is important to do your homework, often referred to as “due diligence”, on both the company you want to buy stock

in, the industry in which it operates and larger market trends. You may also consider company business practices in relation to Indigenous Peoples and communities, such as their employment and recruitment strategies, employee training and their commitment to uphold Indigenous rights.

many of the world’s problems. At this time of international unrest, rising inflation and economic instability, we collectively need to shift from spending and saving to impact investing.

Investing in stocks used to be expensive, but new financial technology companies like QuestTrade and Wealthsimple have put inexpensive investing in the palm of your hand. It’s up to you to decide how much or how little risk you want to take with your stocks and which companies align with your values.

Marissa Bronfman is a serial entrepreneur, writer, speaker, women’s empowerment advocate and Chief Brand Officer of Kizmet Impact Capital, a new impact investment firm. She has built businesses and women’s initiatives across India and Canada.

The stakes have never been higher for people and the planet. We need massive change on a global scale and impact businesses often hold the key to solving

Magnolia Perron is from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and a proud member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. She is currently the Indigenous Women and Youth Team Lead at the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA).

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COVER FEATURE

Indigenous Lives Matter On the cover is the brilliant work of Saulteaux/Métis visual artist Autumn Whiteway (“Night Singing Woman”). Created in 2020, “Indigenous Lives Matter” was inspired by what was happening with Wet’suwet’en, Mi’kmaq lobster fishing, the Land Back movement, 1492 Land Back Lane and racist anger towards Indigenous Peoples for rail blockades. This powerful image features Whiteway herself and gives a nod to “Rosie the Riveter”. “The intention is to inspire Indigenous Peoples to know their power and keep fighting for sovereignty,” explained Whiteway. This piece particularly celebrates women as water protectors and land defenders.

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traditional craftworker, curator and archaeologist, Whiteway has always been curious about the material culture produced by her ancestors, in addition to traditional knowledge passed down through the generations.

This curiosity led her on a path of discovery to learn many different types of traditional Indigenous crafts. As an artist, Whiteway explores Indigenous themes from a contemporary perspective

through painting and photography. She is inspired by artists such as Norval Morrisseau and Kent Monkman. Her painting and digital art focus primarily on the symbolic Woodland style of art.

Her photography, on the other hand, is used as a form of activism to highlight issues that impact Indigenous Peoples and communities.

Throughout her career as an archaeologist, Whiteway has worked and conducted research in Canada, Jordan, Ethiopia, Italy and Iceland. She holds an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Manitoba, a B.Sc. (First Class Honours) in Archaeology concentrating in Physical Anthropology from the University of Calgary, and a B.A. (with Distinction) in Greek and Roman Studies from the University of Calgary. Whiteway specializes in mortuary ethnoarchaeology, the archaeology of pastoral nomads, human osteology and zooarchaeology, and traditional knowledge. In the near future, she hopes to publish a book on her current research with respect to the archaeology of body modification.

Whiteway has spent the last few years curating numerous Indigenous group

Autumn Whiteway

exhibitions and pushing boundaries by creating innovative works that challenge the norm and spark conversation. Her latest project called “History Is Written by the Victors” includes a series of 12 pieces of artwork that turns colonial narratives on their heads, and SAY Magazine looks forward to sharing more about this exhibition when it is complete.

For more information about Whiteway’s work visit autumn.ca or search @ojicreations.

I like to push the boundaries by creating artworks that highlight Indigenous issues and generate conversations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples.

- Autumn Whiteway 12 | SOVEREIGNTY l APR 2022

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CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Prospering on Their Own Terms Sponsored by Virtual Gurus

Lauri Forcade

Métis with family ties to the Papaschase Cree. Lives in Sturgeon County, Alberta.

What made you decide to become a VA?

Stacey Wells

Squamish First Nation. Lives in Wetaskiwin, Alberta.

Leona Sayer

Métis-Cree-Saulteaux from Treaty 4 territory in Saskatchewan. Lives in Edmonton, Alberta.

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QA

Whether faced with limited work opportunities in their communities, tired of long commutes, craving more variety or seeking more flexible ways to earn an income, more and more First Nations Peoples are building rewarding careers as virtual assistants (VAs). We spoke with three of them to learn more about this new form of work.

Lauri: When I came back to Alberta after working in Inuvik for a few years, I knew I wanted to work from home so I didn’t have to commute. I kept seeing ads for Virtual Gurus, thinking I should apply. I found out they would be able to give me work right away with clients in different provinces, and I liked the idea of trying different things.

Stacey: I was laid off after working in administration for many years. Our community is small, so there’s a lot of competition for any job that’s posted.

After looking for a while without any luck, my stepson suggested I look into Virtual Gurus.

I liked that I would have control over my schedule and who I worked with, and the freedom to be able to step away and support my family when they needed me. I have a son who needs some extra support, and my mom has some health challenges. Being able to take my work with me if I have to travel, and even work while I’m away, those were all huge selling points for me.

Leona: When the pandemic came, I lost my job. I knew about Virtual Gurus and

Virtual Assistant

&

I liked that it was contract work and that I would be able to choose my own hours.

Also the concept of working from home, it saves a lot of time if you don’t have to drive or take the bus. It’s a lot easier, and good for mental health too.

What do you like about working as a VA?

Lauri: I like that I can work as much as I want. If I want to work more hours, I let them know and they’ll give me more hours. If I want lots of clients, I’ll get them.

Or I can take a break when I need to.

The flexibility of hours is great too.

Sometimes I’m wide awake from 11 pm to 1 am. With everything being online, I do a lot of my work then. It gives me the chance to spend time with my grandkids in the afternoon, then do my work later. And I don’t have to spend hours commuting on the bus; I can just wake up and do it from home. It just fits better.

Stacey: Every day is different. I like the variety and the diverse challenges. I’ve had two of my clients for over a year, so they trust me with a lot of different things. I like to be able to work by myself but also to know that I’m not necessarily alone since there is a great VA community online.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Leona: I like that my clients have been all over Canada and are from different kinds of organizations. I like the fast pace, and I never get bored. I haven’t felt burnout; I feel I have the right work-life balance. It’s also appealing to me that I’m learning new skills, and I’m using them too.

What have you learned through your VA work?

Lauri: When you work with different types of organizations, it gives you new skills. I’ve been able to expand into different areas beyond my original focus in legal, whether it’s managing emails, recording meeting minutes or working with different apps and software.

Stacey: I’ve learned that I know a lot more than I used to give myself credit for. But if I don’t have the answers, there’s always

somebody else out there in the Virtual Gurus community who does.

Leona: Definitely a lot about communication and dealing with different people. I have taken several courses, including one on how to be an executive assistant, which I’m putting to use with a client already.

Any advice for new or aspiring First Nations VAs?

Lauri: Go into it with an open mind.

A lot of us doubt our abilities based on how we’ve been treated in the past.

It might not seem easy at first, so take your time, keep talking to other VAs, ask questions and hang in there. Take some of the courses they offer. And if you’re wondering about it, just apply! You never know what could happen.

Stacey: Be open and be real. Even if my kid or my dog comes into the room when I’m on a video call, my clients understand and even appreciate it. We’re all human; don’t try to hide it.

Leona: Be grateful for everything that you have. When you’re given a client, work hard and give 'er! And don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re stuck. The community is really supportive.

Virtual Gurus is a talent marketplace that leverages proprietary technology to match organizations with highly skilled Canadian and American virtual assistants. For more information visit: thevirtualgurus.com.

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HEALING

This photo was taken on my grandfather’s land last fall. I went for a walk and didn’t know this piece of land held on to such beauty tucked away amongst the hardwood trees with a view so stunning. This photo reminds me of sanctuary and that there is beauty and magic in nature when you take the time to go outdoors and connect. This place feels like a piece of heaven. - Grace Debassige

Finding Sovereignty through Healing

By Grace Debassige

There was a time when they said there was a possibility that you could get better or you could outgrow your condition. Those words were both hopeful and hopeless at the same time. It was over 20 years ago when that was said to me when I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. It was this event that led to my healing journey after my body started to flare up and become immobilized.

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wise knowledge-keeper named Red once told me, “My child, your body doesn’t want to fight you; it’s doing everything it can to help you.” Those words changed everything. If somebody would have said that to me 20 years ago—that my body wasn’t trying to fight me, but in fact, it was doing all it could to help me and to get my attention—then maybe I would have learned to listen. My body was trying to

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speak to me. If I had realized this earlier, maybe I wouldn't have been in so much pain mentally and physically. It is through my journey that I have learned to listen.

Thankfully I met an Indigenous energy healer named Arrole Lawrence who taught me the power of my beliefs and the link between thought, feeling and experience.

I learned how to connect and create a relationship with my body and spirit.

Grace Debassige

HEALING The first step was learning how to release the build-up of unresolved emotions living within my being. I had to allow myself to feel all of my pain, hurt, suffering, worry, doubt and fear. It is through this process that I was able to understand how my experiences shaped my belief system. I learned to heal the trauma fragments of my spirit. As a result of this experience, I have learned to blend and integrate my background in counselling psychology and Aboriginal social work with Indigenous wisdom to create a mind, body and spirit approach to health and wellness. With this new perspective, this is how I found sovereignty through healing because I am no longer influenced and controlled by fear.

I have healed and continue to heal the remnants of fear that still exist inside of me. I am now in control of my emotions, my thoughts and my feelings. I am

I found sovereignty through healing because I am no longer influenced and controlled by fear.

intentional about what I want to feel and I direct my focus and energy towards those intentions. I am the sovereign of my experience because I remembered that I have a choice and the free will to choose what I want in life. By learning

how to regain my sovereignty, I am freed from all fear, and if my pain comes back it is only because I chose it to be.

I lived over 20 years with those limited beliefs that kept me stuck, stagnant and paralyzed. I found a new way forward—a new belief system so strong that I believe in it with all of my being. It is this new belief system that holds unweaving truth.

This is my truth. This is my experience. I am worthy of this life!

Grace Debassige is Ojibway from M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island. She is the owner and operator of Shadow Healing, a business providing a blended approach of Indigenous and Western perspectives on health and wellness through online education and land-based learning opportunities.

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LANGUAGE

Reclaiming Nationhood through Language with

Belinda Daniels

By Jenny Nguyen

Awarded “Outstanding Indigenous Educator” by the Canadian Teachers Federation in 2015 and recognized by the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations for her valiant efforts in education, language and culture, Dr. Belinda Daniels is an internationally renowned Language Revitalization Warrior. Founder of nēhiyawak Language Experience—now in its 18th year—Daniels continues to empower Indigenous communities through land-based education to reclaim their language and their right to exist against all odds. With the guidance of her ancestors, the cosmos and Creator, Daniels is a powerful force to be reckoned with.

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Photo credit: Sweetmoon Photography

any inspiring tales have been told of warriors who stand fearlessly in the face of adversity to defend the honour of their people, territories and ways of living—and this language revitalization warrior does not fall short of this description. A humble changemaker, Daniels attributes her strength in the battle for Indigenous language preservation and sovereignty to her community of pakitahwākan sākahikan (Sturgeon Lake First Nation) and her maternal grandparents who raised her. “Despite residential schools, despite the punishment… they were still able to look forward with love and optimism,” said Daniels. This hope for the future was passed down to Daniels,

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and with it she discovered a passion for life-long learning and a special calling to strengthen Indigenous communities for generations to come.

Reminiscing on her upbringing in Sturgeon Lake, Daniels fondly recounted her first experiences with the earth and what the land could do. At the age of seven, she was already a novice gardener basking in the innocent joy of pulling fresh vegetables from the earth and feeling the dirt between her fingers. But what captivated young Daniels the most was the rose bush in her grandmother’s garden. She watched in awe and admiration as her grandmother carefully tended the thorny stalks; Saskatchewan’s unfavourable soil did not stand a chance

Belinda Daniels

against her grandmother’s devotion to protect and nurture life. “She grew roses in a First Nations community, and I don’t know how often or how rare that is, but I saw beauty in that process,” said Daniels.

As time carried her away from the comfort of the garden and into the world of academia, Daniels would always carry this lesson of relationality and connectedness with her—she understood that the essence of her identity was that of the land.

Reflecting on these experiences as one of the many that sparked her nēhiyawēwin (Cree) language recovery, Daniels explained: “Land is alive with spirit, and so is our language, which relates to our identity and nationhood. That’s the very essence, the reason why we’ve existed since time immemorial.” This is the framework that Daniels has brought to her vision for Indigenous language immersion, community wellness and other notable projects, such as curriculum building with the National Center for Collaboration on Indigenous Education.

Find out how we can all play a role in reclaiming and revitalizing Indigenous languages in this candid interview between Daniels and the International Indigenous Speakers Bureau (IISB).

LANGUAGE IISB: With the United Nations declaring 2022 as the start of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, what does this mean for you as a Language Revitalization Warrior?

Daniels: It’s been a long time coming.

We’re realizing that multilingualism and Indigenous languages are significant in the way we look at, think about and perceive the world. Our greatest downfall as Canadians is the notion of only speaking English—if you go elsewhere, everyone is multilingual and it is something to be revered. This declaration for the revitalization of Indigenous languages gives me a sense of movement into the light and gives me a sense of renewed rejuvenation. It gives me so much to look forward to and makes me realize I am in the right place at the right time. I specialized in language revitalization in 2003, and now I’m finally seeing what I’ve always wanted.

IISB: How will this declaration impact Indigenous sovereignty?

Daniels: As Indigenous Peoples, we have to start exercising our nationhood and our birthright—our God-given, constitutional right to speak and teach our languages without feeling the need to ask for permission. I think once people have this realization of how much

our languages offer, the sense of power within the language itself will give us back our integrity—give us back our strengths, our love for ourselves and each other. Our languages offer a doorway of opportunities to live and co-exist with each other and with the Earth, and that is absolutely beautiful.

immersion language camps, but it’s always such a struggle. We need to be educated on the benefits of language on mental well-being, community wellness and positive self-esteem. Lastly, we need to change the way we teach language in schools and look at it from a gaze of the land to create different futures.

IISB: What steps can be taken to start aligning with the goals of Indigenous language preservation?

Daniels: Well, for one, our languages can be recognized to the maximum, and there can be money attached to that, just like French. As sovereign nations within Canada, we shouldn’t have to adhere to the provincial education curriculum.

We should have our own educational systems where the benchmark standard pertains to who we are as Indigenous Peoples. Why does everything have to be about how well you write or speak in English? People should know whose lands they live on, what languages are spoken on those traditional territories and how to speak one of Canada’s 70 languages. For Indigenous Peoples, our community knowledge is more important to our children’s understanding, and so those in charge of funds for community development should want to promote languages, bilingual education and

IISB: How can we engage youth in this process?

Daniels: I don’t think the youth need any special engagement—they’re smarter than what the school system is offering them. They just need to keep asking the questions. And as far as people from my generation, we just have to keep sharing.

I do have a special place in my heart though, for young men. I’ve worked on a couple of projects with my First Nations home community, and young men were my sole focus. They need mentoring on self-sufficiency and to be shown sustainable ways of living. The space for young men and boys gets smaller and smaller, and they need to be shown that it’s okay to love, cry and fail as long as we get back up.

Jenny Nguyen is a communications team member with the International Indigenous Speakers Bureau (IISB) and an English Major at York University.

Daniels with fellow instructors and students from The Warriors Club at Sturgeon Lake Central School. The club’s vision is to empower the next generation of young men in her community with land-based knowledge.

APR 2022 l SOVEREIGNTY | 23

SPIRITUALITY

Tethered to Creation

By Lee Mae Spence

Fireweed stands tethered to creation; its flowers and leaves hold intergenerational memories, songs and stories among the train tracks along the River Flats, near the Churchill River, located in Churchill, Manitoba.

T

he River Flats became home to many Indigenous families as they transitioned from around the territory to "begin again." Expected to adapt to the mainstream way of living, some leaving their intergenerational practices and immediate connection to black spruce, rock and plant kin.

The story of relocation to survive in hopes of thriving and beginning again isn’t new among Indigenous folks and communities throughout Kanata. Intergenerational trauma, genocide, disconnection to spirit and language—the list continues deeper, above and on either side. This expands across generations, connected to the land, water, air and fire.

In saying that, the ability to intentionally look back to the past creates a foundation for us right now in this moment. It is an invitation to build from here on what we know in a holistic perspective and felt sense.

With this foundation felt by your spirit, I want to invite you to feel joy, pleasure, happiness, contentment, comfort and safety. When you feel into these, this is spiritual sovereignty.

My relative, when you and your community create space to simply exist and be, rather than do, this is sovereignty. You are rewiring and reclaiming space within your being to embody joy, celebration, acceptance and courage into your spiritual being.

When you speak your ancestral language, pray, make offerings, sit in ceremony or on the land and call in your ancestors, this is spiritual sovereignty.

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Lee Mae Spence

When you welcome in those grandfathers, smelling cedar as it sizzles, and breathe in that hot air in the lodge, you are in ceremony for those who were banished from practicing their birthright ceremonies.

The stream flows for you.

The trees grow for you.

The sun shines for you.

The wind blows for you.

Knowing what you know in this moment, what will you reclaim and embody next?

Lee Mae Spence (she/her/hers) is a proud Metis Muskego Ininew Iskwew (swampy cree woman) from Dene, Ininew and Inuit Territory in Northern Manitoba where she was born and raised. With roots now firmly planted in Winnipeg, she supports and guides individuals and organizations to remember who they are and the power they hold to create impactful change for future generations.

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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FOOD

Building Sovereignty by Reconnecting with Food

I

By Cheliza Crawford

am from the community of Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.

Growing up in my family’s home, food played a major role in many different aspects of my life. My family showed our love through food—we bonded over food, we celebrated with food and we even apologized with food. The foods my family ate were things like boxed jambalaya or homemade spaghetti with meatballs. My siblings and I experienced foods from various cultures, but hardly any from our own.

I would often wonder what recipes and foods our people ate before colonial foods were introduced. I began to dig deeper into the disconnect that turned out to be one of the detriments of my people.

The knowledge I share here is the product of my research, findings and experience.

When you hear the term Indigenous foods, what comes to mind? You could answer that question the same way I once did, with Indian Tacos or Bannock, but in reality, these foods aren’t as rooted in Indigenous history as you may think.

There are various forms of Bannock made throughout Indigenous history, but wheat flour was not an ingredient traditionally used or sourced.

Much like our relationship with food, our lives have changed greatly due to colonization and the introduction of new foods.

Indigenous Peoples have traditionally followed or lived with their natural resources; this is well

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documented in modern history books although filtered through a colonial lens.

The importance of the symbiotic relationship shared between the first peoples and their natural surroundings have since been diluted by minds unable to comprehend its significance.

Certain groups were located permanently near their dietary resources while others had to journey to various areas for food.

There were many factors involved in sourcing sustenance, but two things in particular: their abilities and the quantity of each particular resource. An example of this is the Ancient Pueblo people.

It is said that the Ancient Pueblo people of Mesa Verde, in the United States of America, migrated south for seemingly unknown reasons. One theory suggests that droughts made it nearly impossible to grow corn, the main ingredient in their diet and way of life.

Through colonization and industrialization, we have effectively

severed the relationship we shared with both our Mother Earth and the animals that provide our food. This is demonstrated throughout history, from the introduction of the five white gifts to the rotting mush fed to children in Residential Schools.

In the 21st century, our dietary habits look much different. Many of us now eat cows and pigs instead of deer and rabbits.

In some situations, the conditions animals live in are not always as picturesque as green pastures or natural, healthy production. The phrase “you are what you eat” hits a different note when held in the context of our past diets.

Animals are beings that are to be treated with respect and appreciated for the life they give us. Things like hunting and foraging have morphed from ways of survival and a humbling connection to activities for sport or unique skills.

Meanwhile, the food industry continues to desensitize the population to the mass production of creatures as if they are only vessels for profit.

Food has strong healing abilities and typically plays a role in many forms of ceremony, which is why food sovereignty is key to the future development of Indigenous communities. Being broken and having our traditional foods stripped from us has caused detrimental effects to our people. Now it is believed that Indigenous people are at a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease.

It’s scary to live in a time when having access to vegetables grown naturally in soil that hasn’t been tampered with is a challenge.

What’s most distressing is that so-called organic or clean food is not always accessible to everyone at affordable prices.

The Inuit to the far north of Canada have been fighting for food sovereignty for many years against quite the formidable foe, animal rights activists. The Inuit of Northern Canada have historically hunted seals, beluga whales and narwhals to feed their communities.

The hunting of these animals is purely for sustenance and no part of the animal is wasted. When an animal is hunted and killed for food to feed an Indigenous family, they are taught ways to give thanks for that animal who laid its life down.

Animal rights activists have repeatedly tried to demonize Indigenous groups over hunting rights, meanwhile the grocery store prices of food in the North make it nearly impossible to feed yourself, let alone your family.

Accessibility is one of the main issues affecting both rural and urban Indigenous Peoples when it comes to food sovereignty.

Some communities have implemented different methods to try to restore food sovereignty for the better health of everyone. Community gardens, cooking classes and foraging lessons have been implemented by various Indigenous communities to try to restore that connection to our food.

Community gardens have also been used to boost economic sovereignty alongside food sovereignty.

Engagement is the modern term for the unity created by everyone in the community to help each other and restore teachings that were once believed to be lost.

To reverse these damaging effects and reconnect our people with their traditional foods we need to ensure each community has access to proper education and resources for their people.

As we move into the future, we see our communities as a whole trying to fight this plague. No action is too small, from shopping local to learning where your food comes from. It’s about putting humanity back into how we source our food.

Cheliza Crawford is a proud member of both the Ojibwe of the Mississaugas of the Credit and the Mohawk Nation of the Haudenosaunee, and is an aspiring herbalist and forager. She is completing her internship as a content creator and communications team member at SAY Magazine.

APR 2022 l SOVEREIGNTY | 29

LITERATURE

A Magical Sturgeon

I

n the water sat a sturgeon, born there, so they say, thousands of years ago, though the sturgeon themselves have been here for two hundred million years. It was at first a little egg, a big egg, born into the river. Now the sturgeon is back but how did it get here?

How did the first sturgeon come to be?

Earth and the river, moons and suns and clouds. Time, thousands of years and the Skwó:wech has seen it all. But what gift does the sturgeon have for us?

Photo credit: Peter Arkell

So begins this second charming story for children by Kwantlen storyteller Joseph Dandurand, illustrations by Elinor Atkins.

A Magical Sturgeon is the sequel to the earlier critically acclaimed The Sasquatch,

the Fire and the Cedar Baskets. Narrated in the tradition of the Kwantlen people, the story highlights the important Indigenous belief of interconnectedness, and the cycle of giving and receiving—a concept relevant to all generations in an oftencommodified world.

This thought-provoking story follows two sisters who are rewarded by the spirit of the great river with a magical sturgeon, big enough to feed the whole village. But when they neglect to follow their mother’s advice of offering thanks, what follows provides essential lessons about kinship and the relationship shared between humans and all other living beings.

About the author:

Joseph Dandurand is a member of Kwantlen First Nation located on the Fraser River about twenty minutes east of Vancouver, BC. He resides there with his three children. Dandurand is the director of the Kwantlen Cultural Centre and the author of several books of poetry including The East Side of It All (Nightwood Editions, 2020), shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize. His first children’s book was The Sasquatch, the Fire and the Cedar Baskets (Nightwood Editions, 2020). In 2021, Dandurand received the BC Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence.

Scratching River

O

verflowing with ecological metaphors and interweaving stories of Métis migration across the Prairies, Michelle Porter confronts grief and trauma experienced in her childhood through the strength of her family and the resilience of her ancestors.

Scratching River weaves multiple stories and voices across time to explore the strengths and challenges of the ways in which Métis have created, and continue to create, home through a storied and mobile social geography that is always on the move.

Photo credit: Bojan Fürst

The book foregrounds the story of a search for a home for Porter’s older

About the author:

brother, who holds dual diagnoses of schizophrenia and autism, and the abuse he endured at the rural Alberta group home that was supposed to care for him. Interspersed throughout are news clippings about the investigation into “The Ranch,” the home in question.

Métis history is woven between the contemporary stories of the author, her brother and her mother. As the pieces come together, the book uses the river as a metaphor to suggest that rather than a weakness, the ability to move and move again, as well as to move on, has enabled survival, healing and ongoing reconciliation.

Michelle Porter’s first book of poetry, Inquiries, was shortlisted for the Pat Lowther Memorial Award in 2019.

Her first book of nonfiction is Approaching Fire, in which she embarks on a quest to find her great-grandfather, the Métis fiddler and performer Léon Robert Goulet. She is a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation and currently lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

30 | SOVEREIGNTY l APR 2022

APR 2022 l SOVEREIGNTY | 31

PHILANTHROPY

Susan Aglukark

2022

Humanitarian Award Recipient Photo credit: Denise Grant

Submitted by the Arctic Rose Foundation

The iconic and talented Inuk singer-songwriter Susan Aglukark will be honoured at this year’s 51st Annual JUNO awards for her unwavering dedication and hands-on work as the founder of the Arctic Rose Foundation. The recipient of the 2022 Humanitarian Award presented

by Music Canada, Aglukark will receive the award at the JUNO Opening Night Awards on May 14 in Toronto, Ontario—her fourth JUNO Award over an illustrious career spanning nearly three decades.

E

ach year, the Humanitarian Award recognizes an outstanding Canadian artist or industry leader whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada and beyond. In past years, the Humanitarian Award has been given to Canadian musical icons like The Tragically Hip, David Foster, Bryan Adams and Sarah McLachlan, among others, for their charitable endeavours.

This year, Aglukark is being awarded for her outstanding work as the founder of the Arctic Rose Foundation, a charitable organization that provides Indigenousled, arts-based and culturally-grounded after-school programs to Inuit, First Nations and Métis youth in Northern Canada.

Born in Arviat, Nunavut, Aglukark is the first Inuk artist to win a JUNO and a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime artistic

achievement. She was named to the Order of Canada in 2004 and has held command performances for several global dignitaries, including HRH Queen Elizabeth, Canadian Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Brian Mulroney, and former South African President Nelson Mandela.

Recognizing the role art played in her healing journey from intergenerational trauma, Aglukark started the Arctic Rose Project back in 2012, which grew to become the Arctic Rose Foundation after receiving charitable status in 2016.

Incorporated in 2020, the Arctic Rose Foundation helps families living in Northern communities⁠—its programs are designed to support Northern Inuit and Indigenous youth who face structural inequalities and barriers, as well as cultural disconnects, brought on as a result of intergenerational trauma and the legacy of Canada’s Residential School System. The Arctic Rose Foundation

Susan Aglukark

gives these youth a safe space, a cultural connection and an opportunity to fully recognize their strength, resilience and identity. Their small but dedicated staff currently operates in three communities across Nunavut.

The Arctic Rose Foundation works to support Northern Inuit, First Nations and Métis youth through the creation of Indigenous-led, artsbased after-school programs, as well as other engaging cultural and creative projects.

“Susan has realized her dream to create a foundation that is grounded in a dedication to Inuit and Indigenous youth and children to empower wellness, and to deliver cultural knowledge programming created by Inuit and Indigenous people, for Inuit and Indigenous people.”

- Victor Tootoo, member of the Arctic Rose Foundation Board

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MUSIC

SALTY DOG interconnectedness interwoven with the SALTY DOG is a powerhouse band bedrock sounds of blues and rock n’ roll. based out of North Carolina, most Their music is a powerful technology known for their epic live performances, for collective resurgence soulful flare and and resistance. highly progressive Bands play music, songs that evoke phenomenons The band is made up Native American of a group of seasoned elements. Through impact society. musicians, led by the relatable storytelling phenomenal vocal talents and bringing attention ‘ᎢᎦᎵᏂᎩᏓᎨ’ ᏂᎦᏓ ᏱᎦᎵᎪ / of Andrew Saltz. Rocking to Indigenous issues, the guitars is Roger Moore the band has won over ‘Igahlanigidage’ (former guitarist for an eclectic audience nigada yigaligo / Category 5), a virtuoso in of young and old ‘We are stronger his own right. Bringing everywhere they together.’ the bottom end of the perform. band to life and serving as visual timekeeper is With an eclectic the extremely talented Jeremy Hambrick mix of the healing soul vibrations on drums (Fractured Frames, Washington of bright pop harmonies combined Nadir, Livius), with Gustavo Juarez on with the darkness and rebelliousness percussion and Mark Bumgarner (former of alternative rock, SALTY DOG’s bassist for Delbert McClinton and Jimmy music presents a joyful message of Thackery) on bass guitar. tradition, infusing elements of our

Described as Santana meets progressive rock, the band crosses over genres effortlessly and keeps folks dancing all night.

If any of the band members look familiar to you, it’s because they have all played with well-known regional bands over the years.

SALTY DOG is ready to take the southeast by storm.

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MUSIC

Dan-Georges Mckenzie Dan-Georges Mckenzie is an Innu singer-songwriter from the community of Uashatmak Mani-Utenam, located on the North Shore (Côte-Nord) in Quebec. His brilliance caught the attention of Musique Nomade in 2019, and, shortly thereafter, he recorded his first song “Nishim,” which is dedicated to his twin brother.

In early 2022, Mckenzie launched his first EP Uitamui, produced with the Musique Nomade team, Simon Walls and Sylvaine Arnaud, and in collaboration with Studio Makusham. Working almost entirely in isolation during the production of this album, Uitamui—which means “tell me”— is about resilience, family, love and hope.

With a folk-pop vibe and acoustic guitar accompaniment by Kim Fontaine, four out of the five tracks on this debut album are in Innu-aimun, and the other in French.

Known for his high-energy live performances and undeniable charisma

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on stage, Mckenzie is proud to be able to express himself in his language and encourages others to embrace the revitalization of their ancestral languages.

With his music, Mckenzie aims to inspire others and, in particular, hopes to further bridge relations between Quebecers and Indigenous Peoples.

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MUSIC

Melody McArthur Originally from Treaty 8 territory in Northern Alberta and a member of Bigstone Cree Nation, Melody McArthur is a melodic hip hop and R&B artist with four full-length albums to her name.

She is a self-made indie artist who began recording in 2014 and her first-ever album Redneck Reservation debuting in 2018. With a sound that has been described as a mix between Doja Cat and the Weeknd, McArthur has received many accolades for her work, including being a two-time Edmonton Music Award nominee (2018 and 2019) for Indigenous Recording of the Year and earning the IWBP Artist of the Year Award in 2019.

After the success of her album Rising Waters (2020), McArthur received a nomination for R&B Single of the Year at the International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards. She’s also had a total of nine singles chart the National Indigenous Music Countdown. In May 2021, McArthur hit the number one spot on Jukasa Radio with her single “Learn to Breathe” alongside the likes of Justin Bieber and 24kGoldn, and in September 2021 her new song “Unceded” hit number one on the National Indigenous Music Countdown.

She is a proud Nehiyawak artist who uses her platform to uplift others, inspiring them to set goals and follow their dreams.

In 2019, she began a free mentorship program for aspiring and emerging Indigenous musicians in order to support the rise of Indigenous representation in the Canadian music industry. After two years of COVID-19 restrictions, McArthur is looking forward to continuing to positively affect others with the kick-off of her first tour this spring, visiting locations all across Western Canada.

Having just released her newest album Kizmet, she is looking forward to the results of her various nominations for the 2022 Native American Music Awards, to be held in New York City.

May 2 | SALTY DOG May 9 | Melody McArthur May 16 | Dan Georges McKenzie Visit us at IndigenousinMusic.com 36 | SOVEREIGNTY l APR 2022

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