Matriarchs

It's already week 4! Thank you for all the support that you have given to this newsletter. It really makes it easy and exciting to write each week. It's Valentine's Day as I release this episode, but for Indigenous people and allies across Canada, it's also a day for Women's Memorial Marches, honouring and mourning MMIWG2S+ lives.

I hope you're ready for your mid-week updates on Indigenous culture and events! Indigenous and Allies are all welcome!

??Today's Topic: Raising up our Matriarchs

This is a topic that hits really close to home for me this week, with some of the reasons being that I take care of my mother and my grandmother, it being MMIWG2S+ March day, and having lost a close woman friend this week. So this is my homage to our Matriarchs all across Turtle Island.

Many First Nations communities are historically matrilineal, where wealth and family name would have been passed down through the mother's side of the family. Our matriarchies really took a hit going through colonialism, so let's take the time to raise up and celebrate our Matriarchs!

Tag a Matriarch you know in the comments!

??Hero of the Week: Cindy Woodhouse

Our hero for week 4 is Canada's, the Assembly of First Nations , National Chief, Cindy Woodhouse - Nepinak ! On December 7th, 2023, Chief Woodhouse was elected the 2nd female National Chief. The AFN has had some bumpy roads over the last few years, but Chief Woodhouse promises to bring the AFN back to a productive and collaborative path.

What better showing of our Matriarchs than having our highest leaders be First Nations women? There is an excellent precedence being set and returned to in Indigenous governance right now, and I am excited for us to have this opportunity to shift back toward following our Matriarchs. I am so grateful for them standing up and leading.

??Music of the Week: Fawn Wood

Keeping the focus on our Matriarchs, this week's musician is the Cree and Salish singer Fawn Wood! She has won the Juno for Traditional Indigenous Artist of the Year, and her music brings so much light and positive energy. Music runs in her family, as her father is also a part of the traditional Cree supergroup Northern Cree (spoiler alert, they will be in this section in the coming weeks).

Of course, Fawn's mega-hit Remember Me was recently focused on our IndigiBeats 365 playlist on Spotify . Over this last week, we also added songs by Thomas Weelkes, Mali Obomsawin, Cris Derksen, and The Bearhead Sisters. We will be adding a song every day this year, so make sure to keep checking back in!

??Posts of the Week:

• I try to keep these posts to less viral topics, but I can't help but share this one and celebrate it with you. This week, history and giant steps forward in reconciliation were made when the Supreme Court of Canada upheld Indigenous jurisdiction over its own child welfare. This is the kind of news that really shows the positivity in what's happening country-wide regarding Indigenous rights.

"The bottom line is that every First Nation wants to make sure that their children grow up healthy and proud in keeping with those standards. This could mean they no longer spend their childhoods trying to get basic rights that other kids enjoy." - Cindy Blackstock.

• I alluded to this in the opening. February 14th is the annual Women's Memorial March, honouring MMIWG2S+ lives. I am excited to take part in this today in Vancouver, and I apologize for not adding this in last week's article instead so that more people could have planned ahead to attend! I'll take pictures for us.

• The way I found out about the MMIWG2S+ March in Vancouver this week was through the Native Women's Association of Canada , which represents Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people, using the Seven Grandmother Teachings: love, truth, bravery, humility, wisdom, honesty, and respect. Their President is a strong Matriarch, Algonquin leader and Elder from Timiskaming First Nation, Carol McBride . Her advocacy and activism on behalf of her people began at 18, and she’s still leading the way to this day!

“Red dresses are used to call the spirits of missing and murdered women and girls back to their loved ones. Let’s think of our stolen sisters and their families. Let’s take this opportunity to push for meaningful implementation of the Calls for Justice of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG),” said Carol McBride, NWAC President.

I couldn’t decide on a single post, so I encourage you to explore their website and make sure to follow Carol’s LinkedIn profile to see her essential updates.

??Recommendation of the Week: Warrior Life podcast with Pam Palmater

Dr. Pam Palmater is a Mi'kmaq lawyer, professor, activist and politician. The motto on her website perfectly describes what she does on a daily basis: Educate, Empower, Transform. She has numerous books and podcasts, among other projects to check out.

The project we are spotlighting today is her Warrior Life podcast.

"featuring the voices of Indigenous warriors, advocates & leaders on the front lines of Indigenous resistance, resurgence and revitalization, who are protecting our lands, peoples and sovereignty."

Here is one of the more recent episodes, interviewing Chief Rueben George on his new book, It Stops Here. (Two-for-one recommendation? This book is at the top of my reading pile).

??From Michael:

I'm in Vancouver for work this week, and I am excited for my first opportunity to attend an MMIWG2S+ March. These sort of events really tug at my heart strings, but I am always trying to take away a positive - these marches bring honour and attention to a space where it's direly needed, and I can't help but appreciate and celebrate that.

Check out my website. There will be some major updates there soon, so make sure to sign up for the newsletter there too:

I hope this week's article has brought some brightness into the middle of your week. Please share this with your networks, and remember to tag an Indigenous Matriarch in the comments!

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