Beat Nation: Hip-Hop's Aboriginal Connection

Hip Hop as Indigenous Culture

http://www.npr.org/2014/01/04/259428743/hip-hops-aboriginal-connection

"Beat Nation: Hip Hop as Indigenous Culture has become something of an art sensation in Canada. Featuring more than two dozen artists using beats, graffiti, humor and politics to challenge stereotypes, the exhibit coincides with the growth of Idle No More, an indigenous political movement in Canada. "Aboriginal culture isn't a monolithic, single, static entity. It's always changing, always takes from other cultures," he says."

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"Proud To Be"

"What American Indians call themselves..."

http://youtu.be/mR-tbOxlhvE

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Blackfoot Digital Library

Ensuring that knowledge is carried to future generations

http://blackfootdigitallibrary.org/

A nice example of how technology can preserve and enhance the teachings and stories of elders, allowing them to touch the whole community. This is a wonderful initiative by the Blackfoot.

"The Blackfoot Digital Library is a venue for sharing our families and our communities stories, past and present. Most certainly it is intended to be an educational resource for all those now living in kitawahsinnoon. But above all, The Blackfoot Digital Library is meant to honor akaitapii, and their desire to speak through a variety of recording media to the grandchildren they never had a chance to meet, thereby ensuring that their knowledge is carried through to future generations."

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Much ado about being Mi’kmaq | TheIndependent.ca

The federal government has pulled a U-turn

http://theindependent.ca/2013/05/21/much-ado-about-being-mikmaq/

This article provides a good overview of the situation in which we many non-status Newfoundland Mi'kmaq find ourselves!

"A recent headline in the Toronto Star perhaps said it best: "In Newfoundland, too many want recognition as Mi'kmaq Indians, federal government says". The situation is one we in Newfoundland and Labrador are probably already much more familiar with than the national press, which is newly a-Twitter over it. Or perhaps not."

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Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature - CODE

Celebrating FN, M and I literature

http://www.codecan.org/burt-award-canada

The first winners of the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature were announced on October 2nd, 2013.

They are:

• 1st place: Indian Horse, by Richard Wagamese (published by Douglas and McIntyre)
• 2nd place: As I Remember It, by Tara Lee Morin (published by Theytus Books)
• 3rd place: As Long as the Rivers Flow, by James Bartleman (published by Random House of Canada Ltd.)
  

Congratulations to all winners and finalists!

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First Nation Elders share language skills with UBC students

A language game to share with the younger generation

https://news.ok.ubc.ca/2013/11/26/first-nation-elders-share-language-skills-with-ubc-students/

A session using WAYK to teach an aboriginal language. I wonder if anyone is offering this in the Mi'kmaq language?

"The Splatsin elders recently came to UBC's Okanagan campus to play a verbal game with students in Christine Schreyer's endangered languages course. The goal was to teach the elders a language game they could take home and share with the younger generation. In exchange, UBC students learned some Secwepemc (Shuswap) language.

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C'est Parti Mon Tipi

Emission de télé ado-autochtone

http://aptn.ca/cestpartimontipi/

http://www.cestpartimontipi.tv

A show in French on APTN for and about aboriginal youth and their communities.

"C'est une émission de télé qui en est à sa troisième année sur APTN et qui est animée par Charles Bender, un Huron-Wendat de Wendake. Mais encore plus qu'une émission de télé, c'est surtout une gang d'ados autochtones qui reçoivent une vedette qu'ils aiment dans leur communauté et qui trippent avec elle en faisant des sketches absurdes et des activités loufoques. En somme, c'est du fun, des niaiseries, des fous rires et des moments inoubliables passés avec une vedette."

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Talking Circles: First Nation Pedagogy

A model that encourages dialogue

http://cce-wakata.blogspot.ca/2013/03/talking-circles-first-nation-pedagogy.html?m=1

"Talking Circles or Circle Talks are a foundational approach to First Nations pedagogy-in-action since they provide a model for an educational activity that encourages dialogue, respect, the co-creation of learning content, and social discourse."

Read more on the Wakata blog about ways to use the circle in class.

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Aboriginal Language Initiative - Mi'kma'ji'jk Song

Mi'kma'ji'jk  - Mi'kmaw Children

http://www.firstnationhelp.com/ali/mikmajijk.php#lyrics

Here's a song about children learning to speak the Mi'kmaw language. Download the clip or listen to it on the web page. The lyrics are included.

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Aboriginal Children's games

Some FN games to try

[Link to PDF activity sheet]

"Games are an important part of Aboriginal society, passed down from generation to generation. Games teach cooperation, team work and social skills. Some games also teach other essential skills such as target practice, hand/eye coordination, agility, and dexterity. They were important for the emotional, physical, and mental development of the community members. Games also provide a good form of exercise and leisure activity for the young and the old. Many games were played in the winter- time."

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