Indigenous Voices: A Resource List by Lorrie Gallant

Posted by Lorrie Gallant on June 6, 2022

June is Indigenous History Month but it is my hope that we are always aware of the Indigenous people around us. Some of us may not share the same experiences in life, but whether you are Canadian or Indigenous or both, we have a shared history, from different perspectives. 

In this artist interview, Kent Monkman describes his art as an opportunity  to “reverse the gaze” (Artist Interview - Kent Monkman: mistikosiwak [Wooden Boat People] Met Exhibitions). I think it’s important to look through a window into another’s world, and then have courage to go through and explore. The music, social media, literature, documentaries and movies I invite you to look and listen to are all Indigenous led. 

The stories of resistance have been told from a colonial perspective for hundreds of years. Throughout the month, on National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, and beyond, the public is hungry to learn more about Indigenous world views. In The danger of a single story TED Talk Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie reminds us of the importance of breaking down single stories and honouring and celebrating people and groups in their full humanity: 

“Show people as one thing over and over again and this is what they become. The single story creates stereotypes and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete and they make one story become the only story…” 

This non-exhaustive list is about taking back the narrative and challenging single stories. So let’s sit down and read, watch and listen together.

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MUSIC

 

PEOPLE YOU MIGHT WANT TO FOLLOW ON TWITTER

 

BOOKS

These are a list of Authors that I have read and love. This is a great list from CBC that will be a wonderful resource to help see what is out there by Indigenous authors.

 

To find books by author and age group, I like to purchase from Indigenous owned and operated bookseller GoodMinds, which is located near Six Nations of the Grand River.

Here are a few that I have read and recommend:

 

MOVIES/DOCS

 

PODCASTS

  • The Road to Your Name- Aboriginal Legal Services (Apple, Spotify)
  • Warrior Life by Pam Palmater (Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud)  
  • Telling Our Twisted Histories (CBC)
  • The Secret Life of Canada (CBC)
  • The Legacy of Hope Foundation Presents: Roots and Hoots (PodBean, Apple)

 

VISUAL ARTISTS

 

Do you want us to add a resource to this list? Comment below or email canada@facinghistory.org 

 

Topics: Teaching Resources, Indigenous History, Indigenous, Indigenous Peoples' Day, Indigenous Awareness Month, Indigenous History Month



Written by Lorrie Gallant

I am married to a restaurateur which has many perks when I’m too busy to make dinner! I have two beautiful daughters, a creative and wonderful son-in-law and 2 lively grandsons- Cash who is 3 and Arwyn who is 1. I am a writer, illustrator, storyteller, visual artist, educator, Expressive Arts Practitioner, born and raised on Six Nations of the Grand River Territory Ontario. I have written a series of children’s books, participated on many inter-generational projects, and art exhibitions that are all based on Indigenous community. I worked 11 years at Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford Ontario (formerly the Mohawk Institute, the first residential school in Canada) as the Museum Education Coordinator where I developed art-based teachings and workshops to reveal the rich culture of the Haudenosaunee and the history and trauma of colonization and the residential school. Now I present workshops, and consult on these subjects for school boards, museums, educators and organizations who want to understand more and find ways to participate in the 94 calls to actions of Truth and Reconciliation.

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This is where Canadian Facing History and Ourselves teachers and community members meet to share reflections, scholarship and teaching practices that will inspire, challenge and improve teaching and student learning. Our stories provide a window into diverse Facing History classrooms in Canada, and invite you into the discussion.

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