Introducing Romeo Saganash NDP!

 ( Romeo Saganash and I at the 18th Annual CanAB Festival)

So, there I was at the 18th Annual Canadian Aboriginal Festival at the Better Living Centre on November 19, 2011, strolling along and wondering what pictures to take next, when all of a sudden I ran into NDP Candidate Romeo Saganash. It was kind of cool because I was kind of lost with deciding what pictures to take. I mean sometimes I get to feeling that I can only take so many pictures, before I start to think "oh gawd! how long is it going to take me  to download everything onto my computer and then organize all of it?  oh the life of a writer/photographer right? lol 

In all seriousness though,  I was happy to meet Romeo Saganash because after all he is the first Indigenous person to seek the leadership of a major federal political party and that means breaking new ground for the First Nations people of Canada. We need a change! 

Here is a bit about Romeo Saganash:

Romeo was raised in the small northern community of Waswanipi, Quebec. He is a residential school survivor and a graduate of the Universite du Quebec a Montreal law school. Multilingual, he is fluent in Cree, both of Canada's official languages and Spanish.

Romeo is one of the principal authors of La Paix des Braves-the landmark agreement between the James Bay Cree and the Government of Quebec-and a key player in many national and international initiatives, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

He has been in politics for almost 30 years. For more information or to support his NDP Leadership Campaign, please visit www.saganash.ca

A Poem: Lights, Sounds

By: Christine McFarlane

Lights

Sounds

Bouncing

Off the walls

Around me

Feeling 

enclosed

trapped

Too many

Bodies

In one room

People yelling

People laughing

Conversation

Next to impossible

Lights

Sounds

Bouncing

Off the walls

Around me

I stand 

Against the wall

Observing

A hand

Wrapped around

A cold drink

To help 

Pass the time

And

Make me forget
About the anxiety

That threatens
To engulf me

Susan Aglukark and I at Circle of Light Conference

(Susan Aglukark and I- November 14, 2011)

What NOT to Blog About

What NOT to Blog About

All Out (de) Occupy Toronto: Solidarity with Indigenous Struggles

(Photo Taken by Christine McFarlane)

By: Christine McFarlane

It has now been almost a month since Occupy Toronto protesters first gathered in the financial district at Bay and King Streets and marched to St. James Park, near King and Church, where they set up camp.


As in other cities, Occupy Toronto’s message has morphed from the original “Occupy Wall St” protest in New York, which started out as a demonstration against the action of U.S. investment banks and the American government in the subprime mortgage securities scandal that led to the global economic recession in 2008.

St. James Park has been home to about 500 protesters since October 15, a day of global protests against the concentration of wealth in the hands of a small elite. These protests are worldwide. Some of them have already faced the dismantling of tents, (eg. London, Ontario) clashes with the police (Oakland) etc. What’s going to happen if Toronto’s Mayor Rob Ford makes the move to dismantle Occupy Toronto? 

On Saturday, November 12, 2011 Occupy Toronto marched in solidarity with Indigenous struggles to raise awareness about the links between Indigenous issues and struggles against austerity, privatization and neo-liberalism, and sovereignty.

The march was to support our own decolonization as well as the larger decolonization needed for our society. Occupy Toronto recognizes that they are occupying already occupied lands, and are saying no to the violent imposition of economic austerity, industrial development and privatization on themselves and people around the world.

The movement means different things to different people.  What does it mean to you?

An Interview with Pura Fe

(Pura Fe: Photo Taken By Christine McFarlane)

By: Christine McFarlane

Recently I was given the chance to interview Pura Fe and was immediately struck by her warm demeanour and candidness as I sat and interviewed her. Pura Fe is a founding member of the internationally renowned native women's a cappella trio Ulali and a Native American singer who is recognized for creating a new genre in music by bringing Native contemporary music to the forefront of the mainstream music industry. She is currently a World Music Visiting Artist in Residence at the University of Toronto.

Pura Fe was born in New York City, and grew up in the working class community of Corona in the Queens borough of New York, but her family has traced its roots back to the Cherokee and Tuscarora tribes of the southeastern United States. Her Spanish name translates as “Pure Faith” which was given by her father who is from Puerto Rico. She was raised by her mother and a gifted family of female singers, that are descendants of the Tuscarora Nation that had migrated from North Carolina to New York in the early 1900’s.

Though she is only here until December 15, 2011, she is bringing her unique style of music to the students who are getting a chance to study with her. Pura Fe is teaching/mentoring a core group of 15-20 students in the Music Department, has been brought into other courses at the University to do presentations and workshops, and most recently held a concert in October for the Chocolate Woman Collective Theatre group fundraiser that took place October 25, 2011.

(the full interview will be in the next issue of the Native Canadian newsletter)

An Ojibwe Story: Who I Am

Ojibwe Story: Who I Am

By: Christine  McFarlane

Aanii-Hello

Christine nitishinikaas- My name is Christine

 Kanoohken weti kaa-onciyan- Remember where you come from

 Peguis nitoonci- I am from Peguis

 Baskkodebizhiki nitootem- Buffalo is my clan

 Shaakooc ni daabishkoo indigo mahkwa- However I like bears

 Ni ombigi’aawaswaanag- I am adopted

Nikii ontaatis mekwac pimankasoc Kashkatinoo-piihsim- I was born in November

Ni’dibaajimoomazinaigan- I write for the newspaper

 nindibaajimoowikwe I am a female journalist

 Ni minwentan ahpi masinahkeyaan I am happy when I am writing

Nimaamaa Peguis nitoonci- my mother is from Peguis

 Anna ishinihkaaso- her name is Anna

 Nimaamaa noonkom Peguis ishitaa- my mother now lives in Peguis

 Nitaataapan Fisher River oonci- My father is from Fisher River

 William ishinihkaasopan- His name is William

 Kaawiin nitaataa ayaawaasiin- No, my father is not around anymore

 nintAyaawaa peshik nimihses-  I have one older sister

Marguerite ishinihkaaso- Her name is Marguerite

 nintaayaawaa peshik nintooshamihkwen- I have one niece

 Samantha ishinihkaaso- Samantha is her name

 Kinokaapawi-  nimpahshitahok-She is tall, bigger than me

 Jiikendaagozi moojigendaagozi- she is fun

wiinge ni gichi-inenimaa- I think the world of her

Nisaakihaa nintoshamikwen- I love my niece.

 Nikihci-metawemin- We play a lot

Niwii waapamaa nintooshamihkwen shaakooc ishi ishkooniwikamik- I want to visit my niece, however she is in school