Supporting Indigenous Art, Learning & Initiatives.
I am creating a place for us to gather links and resources for continued learning, ongoing awareness, and the need to be active as an ally. The initial list and many links were generously provided through the 2021 webinar series ‘Durham Indigenous Voices: Reconciliation, Resistance, Resilience, Resurgence’. Reiterating from my previous post, the speakers emphasized in their presentations that supportive actions, even small ones, are the way to move forward so that real change can happen for Indigenous communities.
As I continue to learn and find new resources, I felt it might be helpful to create a new resource page, a living buildable document, where more information can be shared and added. And as an artist and art therapist, the page could serve as a way to continue to discover and share Indigenous art and artists as well. Please reach out to me here, if you have more to add or have constructive comments Both are needed.
As a young girl and artist growing up in Ontario, I was so captivated by indigenous art. For research-based art assignments in both elementary and high school, I focused on indigenous art whenever I could. Although at the time I would have commented on the vibrant colours, dynamic forms, symbols, interesting patterns and the flow and harmony of each image that I viewed, looking back now through the adult lens, I enjoyed and engaged more with the artistic narrative conveyed in these pieces. I am drawn to art that invites me in to wonder, imagine, learn and discover – to be a participant in that story whether joyous or difficult. For me personally, indigenous art has always been an inspiration.
“Allyship: an active, consistent, and arduous practice of unlearning and re-evaluating, in which a person of privilege seeks to operate in solidarity with a marginalized group of people”
Art. Resources. Learning. Allyship.
Below is an in-progress resource list for further learning around being an ally and supporting the arts and other Indigenous initiatives (Many links provided during Durham Indigenous Voices Series).
Support Artists and Creative Indigenous Industries.
• Mo Thunder - Monique Aura Bedard is an art therapist and artist. Read about their TATI major project and the formation of the OSOT Program - ‘Our Stories Our Truths’, where Indigenous youth connect with mentors in the community with an art and land-based focus
• Elsa Jayne is a singer-songwriter and Anishinaabekwe. Her song and beautiful voice in ‘Mini-Giizhigad’ (It’s A Good Day) opens Part 1 of the Durham Indigenous Voices series.
• Pass the Feather Indigenous Arts Collective of Canada - “was founded in 2012 to preserve and revitalize endangered Indigenous art forms and enrich lives through Indigenous arts and culture”— www.passthefeather.org
• Pow Wow Pitch - “is a grassroots community of Indigenous entrepreneurs purpose-built to provide a safe, collaborative and empowering platform for inspiration, education, mentorship, celebration and reconciliation through entrepreneurship”— www.powwowpitch.org
• IndigenARTSY - Indigenous Arts Marketplace
• Indigimall.net - Indigenous Marketplace for art, beading and accessories
Sharing Art Stories and History.
• The Indigenous Collective - “The Indigenous Collective is an ongoing video series that collaborates with Indigenous artists, musicians, performers, and storytellers in order to celebrate their creativity and vibrancy of life! — www.theindigenouscollective.com
• Indigenous artists share the seven teachings with students through mural project. — www.guelphtoday.com
• See an art collection come to life at the library in Thunder Bay, Ont. — www.cbc.ca
• How Indigenous artists are reinvigorating the art of birch bark biting. — www.washingtonpost.com
• 'Our mission is to uplift': New art space founded by Indigenous women comes to Phoenix — www.azcentral.com
• How some Indigenous people are reclaiming Thanksgiving to honour their food and culture — www.cbc.ca
• Indigenous Elders’ knowledge has saved lives during the pandemic • Objiway Elder Shirley Williams — www.ricochetmedia.en
Advocacy & Allyship.
• How can you advocate? Seven Free Ways to Help • Blackwood
• Support Indigenous Charities that help educate people on the Canadian Indian Residential Schools: Legacy of Hope Foundation
• Remember Me: A National Day of Remembrance
• Truth and Reconciliations Commission and the Calls to Action that have been proposed: http://www.trc.ca/
• An Action Plan for the Lost Children who Died in Residential Schools focused on the Five Stages of Grief: #215 Pledge
• A Guide to Allyship • British Columbia Teachers Federation. 2016
Durham Indigenous Voices.
• A Four Part Anti-Indigenous Racism Discussion. 2021. AP Connections Blog Post here.
• Follow Durham Indigenous Voices: @durhamindigenousvoices
• Follow Suswanning Endaajig: @Suswaaning Endaajig - Durham Colleges First Peoples Indigenous Centre
Books & Resources.
• Resources here to help educate yourself about different values & teachings
• The Digital Indigenous Encyclopedia: A new online encyclopedia will be a hub of Indigenous teachings - Debby Wilson Danard to be launching in 2022 • Instagram: Indigipedia.ca
• Summary here: Positionality & Intersectionality
• #215 Pledge Recommended Resources and Links: https://www.215pledge.ca/recommended-resources/
• Recommended Book • Why Indigenous Literatures Matter - Daniel Heath Justice
• Check out this list of Ajax Library titles that celebrate and amplify Indigenous voices
• Whitby Library. Book recommendations by Powwow Summers
• A timeline of history by D‟Arcy Rheault a Métis gentleman: www.omfrc.org
Upcoming Virtual Events and Continued Learning.
• Tracy Bear’s Online MacMaster University Course: Indigenous Canada • ARTICLE from www.CBC.ca: Canadians have 'woken up' to the need for Indigenous education, says creator of popular course
• Podcast :Pow Wow Pitch - Conversations with Indigenous Entrepreneurs - Hosted by Sunshine Tenasco
• Nov 4 • Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards - Presented by Pow Wow Pitch
• August 26 • “Indigenous Art and Activism: Three Voices’ - Calgary Institute of the Humanities 3rd Annual LGBTQ2S+ Lecture. Register here on Eventbrite. Joshua Whitehead + Billy-Ray Belcourt + Shawnee Kish
Donations & Support.
• Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund: www.downiewenjack.ca
• First Nations Health Authority • Support Indigenous-led initiatives that support equitable treatment for Indigenous people in Canada’s health care: https://www.fnha.ca/about/compliments-and-complaints
Land.
• Land Back - Land Acknowledgement • Monique Aura Bedard • Toronto Art Therapy Institute
• Territory Acknowledgement • Native Land Digital • www.natiive-land.ca
• Whose Land. • Maps & Land Acknowledgements • Territories by Land
Organizations.
• First Nations Child & Family Caring Society • national nonprofit organization for research, policy, professional development & networking to support First Nations.
* Indian Residential School Survivors Society • 24 Hour Crisis Line
Reports.
• Final Report of National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
• Indigenous Children in Foster Care,
• First Nations Schools are Chronically Underfunded.
• Indigenous People in Federal Custody Surpasses 30%.