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“… what we were working on was a dramatic narrative based on truth.”
Powerful multi-generational residential school stories told in film BONES Of CROWS
By Sam Laskaris, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 12—Yes, other films have been made about the residential school system that existed in Canada. But Marie Clements, a Métis director/writer, has set a new precedent with her film BONES OF CROWS, which had its world premiere this past Friday, Sept. 9, at the Toronto International Film Festival.
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“…we wanted them to have purpose in their writing. This was a project that they were really excited about because, in the end, they knew they were going to be telling important stories…”
Book publishing project helped school children connect with the Elders
By Crystal St. Pierre, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 12—Students in the Northland School Division in Alberta were given a unique opportunity to participate in the creation of a book titled Finding Fire Within By Reconnecting with the Land. The book was a collaboration of the entire school division, including students from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
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“She said ‘we have to go to my home and we have to film these places. This is where the music comes from. These are my influences’.”
Tagaq’s vision was clear: Documentary film about the throat singer had to include her homeland
By Sam Laskaris, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 12—Renowned Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq had often been approached to collaborate on a documentary about her life. But Tagaq, a 47-year-old who was born in Nunavut but who now primarily lives in Toronto, had turned down all those previous offers. That was until her friend Chelsea McMullan asked Tagaq whether she would be interested in making a film together.
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“It really opens the door where a financial door would be a barrier.”
Fund will help BIPOC culinary students with their tuition costs
By Crystal St. Pierre, Windspeaker.com
SEPT 12—Students of under-represented and equity-deserving communities will be given a Seat at the Table through a new funding initiative being launched this year at four post-secondary education facilities across Canada—Vancouver Community College (VCC), Humber College, Centennial College and the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec.
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“We just want to find her.”
Tragedy surrounds life of missing Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation woman
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 12—Hope is hard to hold on to when malicious rumours about the disappearance of Angela Morningstar Alexis are spreading across the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation in Alberta, says her godmother and aunt Jessica Alexis. Angela, 28, was reported missing to the Mayerthorpe RCMP by her father Gerald “Bobby” Alexis on Sept. 2.
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“It’s remembering what has been and what can be.”
Treaty brought to life in new art installation in Edmonton river valley
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 13—The buffalo have joined the magpies again in Edmonton's river valley through the newly unveiled artwork of Matthew James Weigel. His piece, “The Magpie and the Buffalo Treaty”, was chosen from one of six proposals received by EPCOR for its monitoring station art installation.
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“My bannock is now at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and my aunt has passed but she would be just tickled pink that that had happened.”
Resident chef at the National Arts Centre presents her greatest recipe hits
By Crystal St. Pierre, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 14—The National Arts Centre’s (NAC) resident chef, Jenni Lessard, is bringing the stories of her childhood blended with some of her family’s traditional recipes to the table during her time at the centre this fall. Lessard, a Métis chef from Saskatchewan, comes highly recommended to NAC through her colleagues.
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“We’re excited for the future. And we think there’s a lot of good things to come for him.”
Curve Lake First Nation teen drafted by National Lacrosse League’s Philadelphia Wings
By Sam Laskaris, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 14—It’s unlikely that Deacan Knott will pay off with some immediate dividends for the Philadelphia Wings. But the National Lacrosse League (NLL) franchise has some high hopes for the 19-year-old member from Curve Lake First Nation in Ontario. The Wings selected Knott, a goaltender, in the second round, 38th over-all, in the NLL Entry Draft held this past Saturday, Sept. 10 in Toronto.
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“The feeling here is like we are in this big waiting room, waiting and waiting for an outcome.”
Election custom code ignored over and over again, say Whitefish Lake First Nation members
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 14—Members of Whitefish Lake First Nation 459 are waiting for an arbitrator's decision that could force a new election for chief and council. But that decision is months and months behind the schedule laid out in last year's amended customary election regulations. And, says Nicole Auger, the community is divided.
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“A Blanket of Butterflies…usually brings them to tears because it's a really beautiful story about redemption…”
Van Camp graphic novel inspired by samurai artifact re-released in colour
By Adam Laskaris, Windspeaker.com
SEPT. 15—If you’re ever travelling through Fort Smith, N.W.T., you could stop to see an authentic piece of Japanese samurai armour, with sword, at the Northern Life Museum. No one in town is really too sure why it’s there. But it’s the inspiration behind Richard Van Camp’s graphic novel A Blanket of Butterflies, originally published in 2015 and re-released this September as a full colour edition by HighWater Press.
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“I wish it wouldn’t take so darn long to get things done.”
Indigenous identity data collection on victims, perpetrators will help target resources to combat violence against women and girls
By Shari Narine, Windspeaker.com
SEPT 15— A system by which Canada’s police forces will collect data on the Indigenous and racialized identity of victims and accused persons won’t begin until at least 2024. According to the StatsCan report, a collection process for new data is expected to be rolled out gradually across police services by
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“I’m so proud, and want to congratulate two very talented individuals…”
We celebrate Windspeaker.com contributors for excellence in human rights reporting
SEPT. 16—The Board of Directors of the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta, and the management and staff of Windspeaker Media, publisher of Windspeaker.com, send congratulations to staff reporter Shari Narine. She is the winner of the 2021-2022 Amnesty International Canada Media Award in the Local/Alternative Media category.