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How do we address our personal bias? How does staying curious breakdown stereotypes, address prejudice and help eradicate racism? In this episode of the Peyakoskan Podcast, hosts Sammy Paquette, Tristan Paragas & Russell Willier sat down with Cecilia Mzvondiwa, Lawyer, Human Right Advocate, Leadership Coach & Author of the book, Beyond Tokenism, Embrace a Sense of Belonging and Stand Out as an Inclusive Leader.
Purchase Cecilia's book here: https://www.amazon.ca/Beyond-Tokenism-Embrace-Belonging-Inclusive/dp/1772775401
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This podcast episode contains sensitive content discussing trauma and mental health. We'll be addressing personal experiences and emotions that might be triggering to some individuals. While we intend to foster understanding and provide insights, we strongly encourage listeners who might be deeply affected by these topics to consider their emotional well-being before proceeding. If you need immediate support, please reach out to a mental health professional or a trusted person in your life.
When Tristan Paragas and I met for the first time after he reached out to me to be a part of the podcast, we both totally geeked out over our love of business Guru Gary Vaynerchuk as well as Dr. Gabor Mate and his work with trauma and the body. Tristan shared his incredible story with me and Matthew Hilkewich about immigrating to Canada at the age of 16 and why he was passionate about being a mental health advocate.
Resources
Canadian Mental Health Support
Philippines Mental Health Support
United States Mental Health Support
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How do we encourage youth to embrace their cultural identity? In this episode of The Peyakoskan podcast, Russell Willier, Brett English, and Remi Tucker sat down with Len Auger, President of the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre, business owner, Knowledge Keeper and youth mentor.
Len is an inspiring community development leader whose impact on the lives of youth is evident through his simple but profound message. Be proud of who you are.
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Indigenous Canadian Veterans have played an integral role in the nation's military history, yet their contributions and sacrifices have often gone unrecognized and underappreciated. For centuries, Indigenous peoples across Canada have answered the call to defend their lands, allies, and the principles of freedom and justice.
It is estimated that 7,000 First Nations People served in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War; an unknown number of Métis, Inuit and non-Status Indians also served. However, it was not until 1995, fifty years after the Second World War, that Indigenous Peoples were allowed to lay Remembrance Day wreaths at the National War Memorial to remember and honour their dead comrades.
Despite the sacrifices and bravery Indigenous Veterans exemplified, they often returned home to face continued systemic inequality and the ongoing struggle to have their rights and contributions recognized. It wasn't until the 1990s that significant efforts were made to address the historical injustices faced by Indigenous Veterans, including recognition programs, tributes, and the establishment of the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument.
Their resilience, courage, and commitment to the ideals of honour and duty serve as a powerful reminder of the indomitable spirit of Indigenous peoples throughout Canada's history.
In today's episode, we are sharing a conversation we had with Renee Charbonneau about the Veterans Memorial Guardian as well as a couple of stories highlighting the lives of the many inspiring Indigenous Canadian Veterans.
To learn more about the Veterans Memorial Gardens & Interpretive Centre, Click HERE
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Starting university can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially for first-year students.
The On-Campus Friendship Centre supports a smooth transition for students entering the community to become college students.
The first and only of its kind in Canada, the On-Campus Friendship Centre is located in the heart of the Northwestern Polytechnic campus in Grande Prairie, Alberta. It is a hub for students to connect, engage, and build relationships. It's a vibrant space that fosters inclusivity and a sense of belonging.
In today's episode, Sammy Paquette, a student at Northwestern Polytechnic, sat down with Cree Elder Theresa Gladue to discuss her various roles at the college and why the friendship centre is so vital for students. Theresa is a storyteller, knowledge keeper, playwright, advocate, and mentor to many. Here is their interview
To learn more about Northwestern Polytechnic and the On-Campus Friendship Centre, check out the link:
https://www.nwpolytech.ca/services/indigenous/friendshipcentre.html
Thanks for tuning into this episode of the Peyakoskan Podcast. Make sure to follow, share, like and leave a review. This way, you won't miss out on any of our upcoming content where we tackle diverse topics as one nation. one tribe.
www.peyakoskanpodcast.com
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Have you ever wondered what the 2S means in the acronym for 2SLGBTQ+? 2S stands for Two-Spirit, an English word created to define a unique spiritual way of being that has existed in Indigenous communities for millennia. Today's guest on the Peyakoskan Podcast, we welcome Jaylenn Tourangeau. Jaylenn is a Two-Spirit Traditional Knowledge Seeker and caregiver of the Two-Spirit Medicine Bundle. They are an advocate for Self –Determination through the Dene Teachings they have been gifted and share their knowledge through their work as an Academia Researcher and Advisor, as well as an International Visual Artist.
Join Kiera Hommy as she asks Jaylenn:
What does it mean to be Two-Spirit?How do you feel when Non-Indigenous People claim a Two-Spirit identity?How can the Indigenous communities support Two-Spirit people?To learn more about Two-Spirit please visit:
https://2spiritsinmotion.com
To learn more about the Peyakoskan Podcast please visit:
www.peyakoskanpodcast.com
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This podcast episode covers discrimination, oppression, racism, eraser, 2SLGBTQIA+, privilege, mental health and disabilities.
When I lived in Grande Prairie from 2014-18, I was lucky to work as the Youth Services Supervisor for the Municipality. As part of my role, I was responsible for facilitating the city youth council, a group of 24 young people with direct access to the city council as advocates for youth voices. From mental health to recreation and the rights and freedoms of 2SLGBTQ+ youth in Alberta, the youth were part of the decision-making processes that directly impacted their diverse population.
I'm sharing this because this episode was a special one for me. After five years, I had the opportunity to sit down with three former youth council members who are not only part of this podcast initiative but are now adults.
Matthew Hilkewich is 21 years old and a proud trans mentor and youth advocate. I met Matt when they were 15 years old as they were getting ready to board a plane to Toronto, where we were attending the same Gender & Sexuality Alliance conference. In those first few minutes, I saw Matt's leadership qualities and knew he was meant to change lives, and he has.
I met Raylee Morrissette when they were 13 years old through her dad, Len, an award-winning Indigenous filmmaker. I scooped Raylee up to be a part of the Youth Council and knew her leadership style would make an impact through her sense of humour and genuine compassion. Now 20 years old, Raylee continues to inspire me, and I can't thank her enough for sharing her experience with the podcast.
Natal Rivas Bolaños was part of my first youth council cohort in 2014. Now, 29-years-old and the founder of Bipan Support Services & Bipan Magazine, Free Queer Media is a place to experience representation and embrace the queer community.
They are an incredible facilitator and led today's podcast discussion on Intersectionality. What is it? Why is it essential, and how can we identify the different lenses through which we experience it?
https://www.bipanmag.ca/magazine
www.peyakoskanpodcast.com
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I'm Kaylee Nitsiza, and this is the Peyakoskan Podcast. One Nation. One Tribe.
I was one of the delegates at the 2023 Growing The North Conference in Grande Prairie, Alberta, which brought together many economic leaders and innovators from around the province. One of the themes of this conference was discussing technology's role in driving growth and innovation in the North, from things like remote sensing and precision agriculture to renewable energy and digital infrastructure.
Technology is transforming economic development within Northern regions nowadays. Nipiy Industries was one of these companies that attended the conference, and they're working towards building sustainable practices. Jason Lizotte, the founder and CEO of Nippy Industries, created an environmentally conscious product that is the first of its kind in North America. The name of this Indigenous-owned business, "Nipiy," translates to "water" in his native Cree language.
They make solar-powered handwash stations that are fully automated, touchless and portable. With this kind of leading-edge technology, they're helping to bring a sustainable solution to creating clean hands with clean energy. It was amazing to hear about how this Indigenous man started his own business around sustainable technology. I met with Jason during the conference and asked him a few questions about his business journey. Here is our interview.
Our podcast is available on all your favourite streaming apps.
www.peyakoskanpodcast.com
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The Growing the North Conference takes place in Grande Prairie, AB and brings innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and researchers together to explore opportunities and solutions for economic growth in northern regions. The conference showcases the latest developments in agriculture, energy, technology, and other sectors, highlighting the potential of Northern communities to drive sustainable and inclusive growth.
Our podcast team had the opportunity to engage with experts from various fields, including industry, academia, and government, and to connect with other professionals working to build a brighter future for northern communities.
Charles Rouleau is the Chief Executive Officer for Sucker Creek First Nation Group of Companies, a Tribal Council group located within Treaty 8. Charles has worked with First Nations groups and communities since the early 2000s. Since starting his career, Charles has mentored and devoted many hours working for the people. He has dreams of empowering the youth within these communities to be self-sufficient and strive as they did years ago. Charles comes from a long lineage of First Nation leaders. He proudly grew up around the community of Alexis First Nation and called many communities home as his family relocated over the years. Charles is also a highly experienced Oil & Gas professional with extensive experience in various operational roles for a diverse set of major Oil & Gas Exploration and Production companies. Mr. Rouleau’s experience also includes implementing best practices in many of these companies in the context of logistics & operational management, well-site management and well-site rehabilitation and reclamation.
https://lsenergy.ca/
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Loretta Parenteau-English is an Indigenous Black Foot Elder from Piikni Nation. Through her stories and teaching, listeners gain a new appreciation for the wisdom and resilience of the First Nations people and the importance of passing on culture to the next seven generations.
Loretta Honors traditional ceremonies in many ways, such as through dance, storytelling and the vital connection, a relationship between an elder and the youth. Throughout her life, Loretta has been a leader and advocate, as well as an important mentor to young people, helping to pass on the knowledge and wisdom of her elders to the next generation. She is a true inspiration to all who know her, especially her grandchildren.
So, it wasn't a surprise when I asked Brett English, one of our podcast participants, who he would like to interview, and he didn't skip a beat when he responded. My Nama. This is Brett English and Dakota Olson's interview with Bret’s rock star Nama, Loretta Parenteau-English.
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The Grande Prairie Friendship Centre is a leading organization in community development, leadership, and comradery. That is why it is a perfect place to host this podcast program that brings together multicultural youth and different generations to learn how to work together and discuss complex topics such as racism, Truth & Reconciliation: @2SLGBTQ+ perspectives, disabilities and much more.
Working with young people and providing spaces for them to grow as leaders, and share their ideas and insights into current social problems while encouraging them to share their voices, well let’s just say there is a lot we can learn from the younger generations. That is why I’m excited to share this interview with one of the podcast participants Kaylee Nitsiza. Kaylee might only be 19 years old, but she is beyond her years and is an aspiring journalist who has already had some of her work published. When I hear the passion in her voice when she speaks about storytelling, sharing her culture and taking on being a role model for young people from her community in the Northwest Territories, it’s difficult not to feel inspired.
This podcast would not be possible without the support from Canadian Heritage. Don’t forget to subscribe; every little bit helps spread the word about the incredible work these youth are creating. If you would like to learn more about the program, you can visit our website, www.peyakoskanpodcast.com
You can also learn more about the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre by visiting: www.gpfriendshipcentre.org
