Category Archives: Culture

The do’s, don’ts, maybes, and I-don’t-knows of cultural appropriation.

Posted on January 30, 2012 by âpihtawikosisân

Cultural appropriation is a seriously hot-button topic. It ranges from the aggressively entitled stance of, “I can do whatever I want!” to the perpetually angry approach of “everything is cultural appropriation!”. Of course, the former is a much larger portion … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural appropriation, Culture, Decolonisation, Metis beadwork, Pan-Indian, Representation of natives | Tagged authentic native american, cultural appropriation, hipsters in headdresses, indian hat, native appropriations, tumblr NDN community, why can't I wear a headdress | 42 Comments

A rose by any other name is a mihkokwaniy.

Posted on January 16, 2012 by âpihtawikosisân

It is always eye-opening to go outside the comfortable confines of this blog and read what questions (or assertions) people are releasing into the ether. As frustrating (and sometimes hilarious) as it can be to surf around, reading these questions … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture | Tagged Aboriginal, First nations, Indian, Indigenous, inuit, metis, native, native american, native canadian, What do you call indian people | 15 Comments

The “that isn’t traditional” meme.

Posted on January 14, 2012 by âpihtawikosisân

Dude. Say it with me. Traditions aren’t technology-dependent. I feel like I’ve said this so often, it should be indelibly emblazoned on the mind of every person who has ever lived, but the sad fact of my limited vocal reach … Continue reading →

Posted in Aboriginal law, Culture, Injustice, Lac Ste. Anne, Representation of natives | Tagged frozen in time, gill nets, Interim Metis Harvesting Agreement, Métis Nation of Alberta, powdered wigs, Powley decision, that's not traditional, traditional native hunting | 26 Comments

Questioning assumptions, Sawyer did it, will you?

Posted on January 11, 2012 by âpihtawikosisân

I’ve been reading a lot of Robert J. Sawyer lately, because as pointed out by Adam Shaftoe and Matt Moore in the fall 2011 On Spec, he’s a Canadian Sci-Fi author who is surprisingly optimistic in his writing, in an … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Representation of natives | Tagged Dan Simmons, How much time hunter-gathers work, Hyperion, Ladder theory of civilization, Robert J. Sawyer, The Neanderthal Parallax, What does nomadic mean | 18 Comments

Don’t let them call you uneducated.

Posted on January 1, 2012 by âpihtawikosisân

The other day my partner and I were on our way to see the Nutcracker ballet for the first time with our four daughters (two are mine, two are his). We walked by a discarded Christmas tree and a forgotten … Continue reading →

Posted in Alienation, Culture | Tagged Bush PhDs, cultural, powwow etiquette, wîsahkeâhk | 17 Comments

Building relationships requires education.

Posted on December 21, 2011 by âpihtawikosisân

When it comes to the many challenges that aboriginal peoples face here in Canada, I find I have to strike a balance between identifying those problems and trying to come up with solutions for them. Spending too much time on … Continue reading →

Posted in Alienation, Culture, First Nations, Fluency, Language learning, Representation of natives | Tagged Aboriginal languages in Canada, building relationships | 42 Comments

You’re Métis? So which of your parents is an Indian?

Posted on December 20, 2011 by âpihtawikosisân

In a previous post, I described what it is like as an Alberta Métis to come to Quebec and realise that ‘Métis’ does not mean the same thing here. I’m not a shut-in…I realised that there were different definitions out … Continue reading →

Posted in Aboriginal law, Culture, First Nations, Half-breed, Kinship, Lac Ste. Anne, Métis, Metis beadwork, Michif, Pan-Indian, Pan-Métis, Representation of natives | Tagged Alberta Métis Settlements, Angelique Callihoo, Chris Andersen metis, David Garneau, definition of Métis, Lac Ste. Anne, Louis Kwarakwante, Louis Riel, Maria Campbell, Métis fiddling, Métis flag, Métis identity, Métis jigging, Métis Nation of Alberta, Métis rights, Métis Sash, Powley test, Red River Métis, Who is Métis | 66 Comments

Khodi Dill sums it up nicely.

Posted on November 28, 2011 by âpihtawikosisân

I am working away on a series of posts I’d like to put together to help untangle the web of confusion surrounding oft-misunderstood issues such as First Nations health-care, education, housing, taxation, self-government, settlement claims and so on. It isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Alienation, Culture, First Nations, Injustice, Turtle Island | Tagged Holmes on First Nation homes, Khodi Dill, Residential school apology | 2 Comments

Images that make you go hmmmm.

Posted on November 10, 2011 by âpihtawikosisân

Every once in a while I come across an image in my daily life that has an immediate impact on me. (You’ve already had my opinion on ‘native-themed’ costumes.) First comes the flood of feelings. Annoyance, frustration, confusion. Then I … Continue reading →

Posted in Alienation, Culture, Injustice, Law, Pan-Indian, Representation of natives | Tagged McGill law school, Patricia Nova, Quid Novi | 29 Comments

kiyam, let it be, let it be…

Posted on November 3, 2011 by âpihtawikosisân

During the ‘wearing us as costumes‘ discussion, one poster suggested to another that he ” kiyam-pi”. To me this word, kiyam, contains a glimpse into a world-view that is very much at the core of Cree-ness. I have had this word … Continue reading →

Posted in Cree vocabulary, Culture | 5 Comments