Auntie Up!

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In a country that continuously tries to drag us down, we have to uplift ourselves. That may be easier said than done, but the Aunties are gonna give it a try.

What does it mean when people say Defund the Police? Does it mean get rid of the police force in your city? Or does it mean find healthier solutions for a better and more safe community? Why has the call to defund the police become so loud in recent years? Joining the Aunties are Mi’kmaq lawyer and the chair in Indigenous governance at Toronto Metropolitan University Pam Palmater, and Eleanore Sunchild, Q.C. an Indigenous lawyer from the Thunderchild First Nation

In many Indigenous cultures, humor is medicine. It’s not out of the ordinary to have an auntie, uncle, cousin or friend tell a spontaneous joke, usually at the most inappropriate times to get the whole room laughing. But that’s why it’s our medicine. It helps us get through some really hard times and we’ve had a few. With millions of views on social media Amber-Sekowan Daniels and Geraldine King have the cure for whatever ails you.

Writing our truths can take a lot out of our own mental and physical wellness. But when you are writing out your issues and engaging in this form of therapy, how do you keep from crossing over to trauma porn? And is that for readers to determine for themselves? Author Katherena Vermette joins the Aunties to talk this through.

As our stories, history, music, art and culture grow in popularity – so do the people who want to belong. How do we determine who belongs and how do we weed out those who want to take advantage of the almighty funding dollar? Dr. Winona Wheeler and Sadie-Phoenix Lavoie join the Aunties to wade through the weeds on pretendians and identity.

What would the media look like if we told our own stories without a colonial lens? Auntie Up! talks with Connie Walker, host of the podcast Stolen: Surviving St. Michael's.

When it comes to our bodies, Indigenous women have lived through sexual assualts, forced sterilization and childhood sexual abuse. But we are reclaiming our bodies and our sexual health. Joining the Aunties to talk about our sexual health is Dr. Suzanne Shoush and midwife Cheryllee Bourgeois, and guest host Rosanna Deerchild

Our teachings, worldviews, and values are all connected, just as we are to one another – All our relations. Colonial rule did all it could to silence women’s voices, to sever their connections and break the circle. Nahanni Fontaine, organizer of the Matriarch Summit and Andrea Menard, founder of Matriarchs in Training are working hard to strengthen the circle again. Hosted by Kim Wheeler and Rosanna Deerchild.

The time honoured tradition of midwives meets modern day medicine. Guests Melissa Brown and Ellen Blais joins Aunties Stephanie Moses Feletto and Kim Wheeler.

Auntie Up! returns for season two. The aunties discuss intergenerational strength through blood memory.

While bannock is not a traditional food, it is a staple in Indigenous homes. But what happens when you take bannock and pair it with high-end Indigenous recipes and plate it for some of the most discerning diners across the country? Inez Cook, owner of Salmon n’ Bannock in Vancouver and Tracey Kim Bonneau, creator of the TV show Quest Out West (Wild Food) share their food journeys.

Tanya Talaga hosts this episode examining the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and two-spirit people. Jolene Banning and Gladys Radek share their stories of their own family members they have lost. Dr. Pamela Palmater also joins the conversation to offer her expert advice on what more needs to happen to put the 231 Calls for Justice into action.

Water walker Tasha Beeds shares why she walks to raise awareness about the importance of honouring the water. Journalist Stephanie Wood talks about her work covering climate change in B.C. Guest hosts Christine Genier and Brandi Morin lead the conversation.

It used to be called crabs in a bucket syndrome -- once one is climbing up and out, the others try to pull them back down. Why do we try and keep those who rise down? How do we address lateral violence with lateral kindness?

Beaded earrings are a visual reminder that we are still here and will not be assimilated. Every piece is a statement of our resistance. We’ll look at how beading has become an act of resistance and how it still is a part of trade and commerce.

Your favourite cousin, Rosanna Deerchild joins the aunties to pay tribute to literary legend Lee Maracle.

The Aunties get schooled in Indigenous languages -- in more than one way. Elder Edna Wigwas and language enthusiast Christi Belcourt talk mother tongues.

Utilizing traditional knowledge and values to build successful businesses while empowering and giving back to Indigenous women, guests Patrice Mousseau and Sage Paul share what makes them resilient and adaptable in today’s market and how they broke through on their own terms.

On Auntie Up! land defenders Ellen Gabriel and Kahanus Manuel join the Aunties to share firsthand accounts of what it’s like to stand-up and fight for what is right - your land.