Indigenous Cultural Awareness

Trick or Treaty? – Covering a vast swath of northern Ontario, Treaty No. 9 reflects the often contradictory interpretations of treaties between First Nations and the Crown. To the Canadian government, this treaty represents a surrendering of Indigenous sovereignty, while the descendants of the Cree signatories contend its original purpose to share the land and its resources has been misunderstood and not upheld. Enlightening as it is entertaining, Trick or Treaty? succinctly and powerfully portrays one community’s attempts to enforce their treaty rights and protect their lands, while also revealing the complexities of contemporary treaty agreements.

For more information and to purchase a copy, visit the National Film Board of Canada website at https://www.nfb.ca/film/trick_or_treaty/.

The Secret Path (Animated) – “The Secret Path is an animated film adaptation of Gord Downie’s album and Jeff Lemire’s graphic novel. Working with Downie’s poetry and music, Lemire has created a powerful visual representation of the life of Chanie Wenjack. The film is divided into ten chapters, each a song from Downie’s musical retelling of Chanie’s story – from his escape from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School, to his subsequent and heartbreaking death from hunger and exposure to the harsh weather. The final product is a uniquely immersive emotional experience – an insight into the life of a little boy who, as Gord has said, he never knew, “but will always love.”

Gord Downie’s The Secret Path full length film is available on YouTube by CBC Arts at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGd764YU9yc

In this searing documentary, Indigenous people share heartbreaking stories that reveal the injustices inflicted by the Canadian child welfare system.

The documentary is available on Netflix at https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/81616321.

Telling Our Twisted Histories – Words connect us. Words hurt us. Indigenous histories have been twisted by centuries of colonization. Host Kaniehti:io Horn brings us together to decolonize our minds– one word, one concept, one story at a time.

Listen to the podcast on CBC Listen at https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/906-telling-our-twisted-histories.

This Place – Based on the acclaimed graphic novel anthology, This Place is a 10-part journey through one-hundred and fifty years of Indigenous resistance and resilience. Through dramatizations and interviews, along with your host and time-guide storyteller Rosanna Deerchild, the series reveals the heroes, battles, triumphs and traditions which live outside and beyond the national story we have been taught … to learn, to share, and to heal the future of “this place” we call Canada.

Listen to the podcast on CBC Listen at https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/1020-this-place.

The Secret Life of Canada – The Secret Life of Canada is a podcast about the country you know and the stories you don’t. Join hosts Leah-Simone Bowen and Falen Johnson as they reveal the beautiful, terrible and weird histories of this land.

Listen to Episode 2 of the podacast ‘The Indian Act’ on CBC Listen at https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/203/episode/15721469.

Muddied Water – Who are the Metis? It’s complicated. This podcast explores the history of Metis people in Manitoba, beginning with Louis Riel who was hero to some and traitor to others. Host Stephanie Cram unravels the intricate history of the Metis…and follows the thread from resistance to renaissance.

Listen to the podcast on CBC Listen at https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/371-muddied-water.

You may be able to request a copy to borrow from the Indigenous Services & Initiatives dept. or campus library. Please contact the Indigenous Services Administrative Assistant at 705-235-3211 ext. 7102 or visit the library on your campus to borrow a copy of one of these or another title available.

• ‘The Secret Path’ (children’s book) by Gord Downie
• ‘Braiding Sweetgrass/Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• ‘There There’ by Tommy Orange
• ‘Inconvenient Indian’ by Thomas King
• ’21 Things You Didn’t Know About the Indian Act’ by Bob Joseph
• ‘Seven Fallen Feathers’ by Tanya Talaga

“Envisioned by Indigenous leaders and knowledge holders, the standards reflect and respond to the worldviews, educational needs, and priorities of diverse northern Ontario Indigenous peoples, specifically Anishinaabe, Mushkegowuk and Métis communities, on whose traditional lands the colleges reside. The standards were developed collaboratively over three years with six participating colleges – Cambrian College, Canadore College, Collège Boréal, Confederation College, Northern College and Sault College – through a project funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development.”

This document is available in PDF format for download or to read online in browser at https://az184419.vo.msecnd.net/canadore-college/corporate/BuildingAStrongFire_Nov28_PrintSetup.pdf [PDF]

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action (Action # 16) – In order to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission made calls to action.

This publication can be read online at  https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.801236/publication.html.

First Week of November, Annually

A week that honours the importance of treaties and helps everyone to understand the significance of treaty rights, treaty relationships and their relevance today. This week occurs during the first full week in November each year.

The Indigenous Services & Initiatives Department, as well as many other organizations, distribute learning materials regarding treaties during this week.

Here are some materials previously shared by various organizations:

• https://eco.ca/online-learning/indigenous-awareness-101/
• https://eco.ca/online-learning/cultural-self-reflection-indigenous-cultural-sensitivity-training/
• https://www.ontario.ca/page/treaty-teaching-and-learning-resources

Month of June, Annually

National Indigenous History Month in June is an opportunity to learn about the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. It’s a time to honour the stories, achievements and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, who have lived on this land since time immemorial and whose presence continues to impact the evolving Canada.

Watch for announcements about events happening on campus or in the community.

Annually on June 21

National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st annually is a day when many Indigenous groups and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on June 21 or around that time of year because of the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year.

Watch for announcements about events happening on campus or in the community.

National Day for Truth & Reconciliation & Orange Shirt Day is recognized on September 30 annually.

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”.  The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations. This day often includes exploring the rich and diverse culture, voices, experiences and stories of Indigenous people.

On September 30, we encourage all employees to wear orange to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools. In addition, employees are welcome to participate in Truth & Reconciliation events taking place on campus.

National Day for Awareness of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), also known as “Red Dress Day” – May 5th of each year: Also knows as “Red Dress Day,” it began in response to the alarming number of missing or murdered Indigenous women. A 2014 RCMP report titled, “Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: A National Operational Overview,” reveals that more than 1,000 Indigenous women were murdered in a span of 30 years in Canada (1980-2012). At the time of the report, Indigenous women and girls represented 16% of all female homicides in the country but only 4% of the total population. The day also includes Trans and Two-Spirit Indigenous individuals who have gone missing or have been murdered. 

You can wear red on May 5 to raise awareness about MMIWG in Canada. To learn more, visit https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/ (National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls).