Exploring Racism Through Clothing : Radio Documentary

This radio documentary focused on how racism towards Aboriginal people can be seen through clothing. The main points addressed were racism through sports jerseys, traditional clothing, Victoria's Secret 2012 fashion show, and the “Got Land? Thank an Indian” t-shirts. Each member of the radio collective interviewed different people and worked together during the production of the documentary. Of the people we interviewed, only one wanted to have their names released so they will remain anonymous. 

taken from CBC Web-site

People we interviewed:

Interviewee #1

Middle-aged woman. She is of a mixed background including German, and Cherokee.

Interviewee #2

Man in his twenties. Asian background.

Interviewee #3

Man in his twenties. A former University of Manitoba student. Ojibway and Metis background.

Interviewee #4

Angela Fey

Graduate student at the University of Manitoba

   

To Learn More (Podcast of Radio Documentary)

https://archive.org/details/Group7FinalMixdown

Racialized Policing: Aboriginal Peoples Encounters with the Police

I had a long conversation with Elizabeth Comack about her book Racialized Policing Aboriginal Peoples encounters with the Police near the anniversary of the Manitoba Justice Commission from 20 years ago.  In this wide a far ranging conversation we discussed the beautifully romantic sounding star light tours and the myths and realities surrounding these events. The culture of policing and the creation of the other. Police reproduce the order of the day and even when Aboriginal people become part of that police culture the blue becomes thicker than blood. It feeds into another controversy surrounding another blogger James Jewell and his opposing point of view on racism within Police services in Canada and Winnipeg. Is there racism within police services in Winnipeg; is the violence perpetuated against women in the sex trade based on the individual life choices on the part of those women or is it based on ethnic origin and they have little role to play except as victims?

To Learn More (podcast)

https://archive.org/details/33PolicingLizComackMixdown

Citations

The Prison in the Minds of Manitobans and Kings Dream: 50 years on

Open Letter concerning the Minister Eric Robinson and Osborne House Case -Racism as published in the Winnipeg Free Press August 30, 2013.

It is ironic that all too often we are still at the same points we were 50 years ago. The movements of liberation that swept the world; challenging old world orders in Africa, Asia, South America, North America and even Manitoba have become unachieved dreams. We have come along way, but the case of Minister Robinson and Osborne House show us that too many still live in prisons of the mind and this is true of everyone. The 1963 march on Washington by the American Civil Rights movement and the address of Martin Luther King Jr to the 250 000 people amassed 50 years ago demonstrate we must still work for the human rights of every individual even today. The dream that King held that his four children “will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character” is true for every human being and for all citizens of Manitoba. Should Euro-Canadians or “white people” have a role to play in the terrible conditions that plague too many Aboriginal peoples; of course, for we live together and the issues that affect my neighbour affect me in some small way. We are all connected. The issues though affecting Aboriginal people must have strong leadership by the Aboriginal community, but if a need is not being met, someone must fill the void. The issues affecting Osborne House concern all citizens, because violence against women is an example of the breaking of the dream of King. We need more “do good white people” and we also need strong Ministers like Robinson. Debate is good and we need more of it in society. There are too many fundamental truths that we have not been addressing in Manitoba, preferring ignorance of current injustice. I too dream when my five young children will be able to travel across our city without fear of violence; I dream they will not live in a prison of the mind shacked to past oppression and injustice, but facing the future full of hope and confidence. I dream that in another fifty years we will fulfill King’s vision and proclaim that we are “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.”

Winston Wuttunee, A Life of Music and Spirit: The Early Years

Winston Wuttunee &
Robert-Falcon Ouellette
University of Manitoba

Cree Elder Winston Wuttunee was in the studio and completed a series of interviews about music, spirituality. Here is a discussion of his early life as a musician and the events which shaped him as a human and allowed him to grow spiritually as a human being.

Resume:
Winston initially talks about music and how young Aboriginal Cree youth traditionally would learn music in the family in his time. Winston's father was the farm instructor at the local IRS. A place that Winston refused to say the name out loud. Winston's father was born in 1892 and was well educated having earned a grade 12 education at the IRS. His family was eventually moved to Battleford when Winston was only 2. The family did not speak English at home for they only spoke Cree, but he sure did learn English quickly. His father soon started a business of a livery stable (horse repair shop). After that he created another Business selling water and delivering water from house to house for 75¢ a barrel. Whenever he would come home after work he would empty his pockets full of coins and Winston's uncles Bill and Noel would then come over and help him count the coins. The family become quite well off and eventually Winston's father would start selling and delivering ice from house to house. 

Winston and my father (James Ouelette as recorded on the birth certificate and with Indian Affairs but he always used Ouellette) would fight side by side against the other Moonyas children. They were very smart because they needed to be. They were able to run extremely quick. They would place rock piles around the streets in corners in order to defend themselves against the Moonyas (white) children. I asked if there was some racism at that time period and Winston there was just some racism Robert but a lot. Even though there was racism in the town from the RCMP and others, still members of the family were popular in school and they were able to take roles of responsibly like speaking at assemblies, music or defending fellow Neechi, brothers and sisters. “We were able to take these roles because we are Wuttunee descended from chiefs, it is in our blood.” Wuttunee means Golden Eagle Feather.

Winston also told more stories about North Battleford and the old times when he was growing up. Winston also discussed the environment and the role that Moonyas culture has taken in destroying the land that we live on and air we breathe!

Winston is a 2013 winner of an Indspire award for his work as an elder and in spirituality. This is for many the Noble prizes of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

To Learn More (podcast)

https://archive.org/details/WinstonWuttuneePartIMixdown  

Citations

Jamie Wilson Manitoba Treaty Commissioner and the Racism of lower expectations

James B. (Jamie) Wilson is the second Treaty Commissioner for the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba. He was at the University of Manitoba to speak about racism during the recent homecoming events. He was a guest speaker at the Presidents Visionary Conversations: We Need To Talk About Racism on Wednesday, September 12. This is a double header where we attempt to tread lightly around the themes of racism, family, role models, success, thoughts on the racism of lower expectations that we project on Aboriginal youth, and Jamie's work building trust between communities across Manitoba.

To Learn more (Podcast):
part I:  ttp://archive.org/download/JamieWilsonAndRacism/JamieWilsonAndRacism_vbr_mp3.zip
part II: 
http://archive.org/download/JamieWilsonAndRacismPartIiTheGoodStuff/JamieWilsonAndRacismPartIiTheGoodStuff_vbr_mp3.zip