My last post was about what non-natives learn about us, and thus how we are portrayed by them. I suppose this post is about what we learn (and teach) about ourselves. Pan-Indianism If you’ve ever been to an urban ceremony, you are probably used to hearing about the medicine wheel, Read more…
In Quebec, I’ve come to realise, “Métis” still means “half-breed” to most. If you identify as Métis, people will ask which of your parents is an Indian. At first I used to go into this long explanation about the genesis of the Métis, and how the founders of my community Read more…
I talk about language a lot, so it is not strange that on various occasions people have brought up the issue of language as power. This has happened enough times that I’ve given it a fair amount of thought, without necessarily having resolved any of the issues. Most of us Read more…
Tân’si. I think a good start for a first post is that word, “tân’si”. I use it when I answer my phone, when I prepare to introduce myself, when I write an email. It’s full of layers, that word. First of all, I spell it wrong. I know I spell Read more…