June is Indigenous History Month
June is National Indigenous History Month in the place currently known as Canada. Each June, people of all Nations celebrate this month by finding meaningful ways to deepen their own understanding of Indigenous Peoples and traditions. The month culminates on June 21st with National Indigenous Peoples Day, marked every year on the summer solstice. Since 1996, National Indigenous Peoples Day has been celebrated across the country with events, performances, and learning opportunities to share Indigenous cultures with others.
With the global pandemic continuing this year, celebrations throughout the month of June will continue to look different than in the past. However, there are still many ways you can connect, learn and celebrate Indigenous Peoples all month long:
- Tune into performances on APTN for Indigenous Day Live
- Choose a book from the #IndigenousReads book list to read on your own or with your kids
- 3. Listen to Indigenous podcasts on different topics (see the Amazing Indigenous Podcasts list below)
- 4. Learn the name of your town/city in the traditional language of the local Indigenous Nations (here are lists for Calgary, Edmonton, Alberta, and Canada
- 5. Explore Indigenous-led cultural experiences near you
- 6. Check the online exhibit from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
- 7. Watch an Indigenous film from the National Film Board (use this overview of Indigenous filmmaking at the NFB)
Amazing Indigenous Podcasts
A fantastic way to learn about Indigenous issues, ideas, arts, culture and many other things is through podcasts. These Indigenous podcasts, the majority of them Canadian, are not just highly informative but very entertaining. AUPE is not responsible for the content of these podcasts. Some of these podcasts may use graphic language and/or graphic descriptions of situations that may be disturbing or offensive to some.
Award-winning Cree journalist Rick Harp hosts this roundtable podcast about weekly Indigenous issues, mostly within Canada. You’ll learn history, context and academic ideas. You’ll also laugh because Harp is very funny. https://mediaindigena.com
Warrior Life is a feisty podcast hosted by renowned Mi’kmaq lawyer Dr. Pam Palmater, a Professor and the Chair in Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University. A highly respected scholar and speaker, Palmater regular appears on national news shows to speak about Indigenous issues. In Warrior Life, she interviews grassroots activists, Indigenous leaders, and knowledge keepers. https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/warrior-life/id1434096503
Ryan McMahon is an Anishinaabe comedian and journalist who was first indigenous person in Canada to record an hour-long CBC TV comedy special. Red Man Laughing covers Indigenous arts and culture with plenty of humour and special guests. McMahon is also behind the Indian and Cowboy Podcast Network which hosts several Indigenous podcasts but also gives incubator support for up-and-coming Indigenous podcasts. https://www.indianandcowboy.com/red-man-laughing-podcast
Also hosted by Ryan McMahon, Thunder Bay is five-episode, true crime podcast about the deaths in Indigenous teens, and the roots of racism and systemic inequities in the northern Ontario town. Produced by Canadaland, Thunder Bay (and its sequel Return to Thunder Bay) is powerful and gripping and will be adapted as a TV drama series for the CBC. https://www.canadaland.com/shows/thunder-bay
Metis is Space is a quirky and funny podcast that discusses the tropes and themes of Indigenous people in popular culture. Hosted by Molly Swain & Chelsea Vowel, both Metis scholars in Alberta, each episode of Metis in Space reviews a film or TV episode from a decolonial and Indigenous perspective. http://www.metisinspace.com
Storykeepers is a new podcast in which an Indigenous or Inuit author in Canada is invited to talk about their book or one of their favourites written by another Indigenous or Inuit author. Hosted by Anishinaabe writer Waubgeshig Rice (Moon of the Crusted Snow), also a former CBC reporter, and Cree journalist Jennifer David, the former Director of Communications for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network and Senior Consultant for NVision Insight Group in Ottawa. https://storykeeperspodcast.ca
Toasted Sister is the only non-Canadian podcast on this list. It focuses on Indigenous cuisine, where it comes from, where it’s headed and how it connects to community and people. Hosted by Navajo journalist and foodie, Andi Murphy. https://toastedsisterpodcast.com