Podcasts & Blogs

Since the iPortal was launched in 2005, there have been some significant changes in internet technologies and in the multimedia landscape. Many of these changes have resulted in increased access to media production for previously marginalized people and communities. Indigenous communities in Canada have been especially effective in harnessing online streaming, publishing, and social media; and in using those technologies to bypass traditional media gatekeepers. The result is a growing community of artists, academics, and activists that are using internet based communication technologies to share their stories in their own voices, to communicate their own perspectives, and to challenge the dominant media discourses and representations of Indigenous peoples. The following feed links to a series of Indigenous written/focused blogs and podcasts. These have not been curated for their scholarly value, but rather they have been selected to showcase the variety of perspectives that exist under the label Indigenous content

Indigenous playwrights take centre stage

| Unreserved (Podcast -- 54:08)

“Humour is the WD40 of healing.” Indigenous playwrights are telling stories their own way – and it includes a lot of laughter! This week Rosanna explores what’s behind a shift in the theatre world that has Indigenous playwrights showing works on about a dozen of the biggest stages in Canada. They’re moving away from the early years of tackling mostly heavy subjects to telling stories that can be playful, unique, dark and funny.

Disarm, Defund, Dismantle!

| Native Calgarian (Podcast -- 01:17:12)

Disarm, Defund, Dismantle. Police abolition in Canada book club.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Close Encounters of the Colonial Kind: Pt. 1 (ep 342)

| MEDIA INDIGENA : Indigenous current affairs (Podcast -- 01:06:15)

This week: 'Close Encounters of the Colonial Kind,' the title of a talk given by our very own Kim TallBear (University of Alberta professor of Native Studies) at “Of the Land and Water: Indigenous Sexualities, Genders and Ways of Being,” hosted earlier this year in Whitehorse, YK by the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning.

Dance revolution

| Unreserved (Podcast -- 50:04)

Resistance and rebellion run deep in the history of dance in Indigenous communities. Margaret Grenier’s Gitxsan grandmother hid family items in her walls to protect important dance traditions from destruction. This week Rosanna speaks with dancers and choreographers about how they are reviving, restoring and re-imagining the art of dance.

Ali Nahdee

| Native Calgarian (Podcast -- 01:16:24)

Trigger warning, all the topics of violence, murder, transphobia, SA to unaliving. If you are not in the right head space, maybe skip to the resources at the end. We welcome Ali Nahdee, an Indigiqueer from the States to discuss the media and whitewashing issues of Nex Benedict death.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Is the Supreme Court ruling on Canada's Indigenous child welfare law a victory for the status quo? (ep 341)

| MEDIA INDIGENA : Indigenous current affairs (Podcast -- 50:54)

On this week’s Indigenous round table: legal limbo? Did the Supreme Court's recent rejection of Quebec’s constitutional challenge to Bill C-92 really cement the self-determination of Indigenous peoples on child welfare? Or did it seal in the status quo, one where the feds still hold all the cards and all the funds?

Danielle English Returns

| Native Calgarian (Podcast -- 01:24:48)

Trigger warning, all the topics of SA to unaliving. If you are not in the right head space, maybe skip to the resources at the end. Returning guest, Danielle English, talks about being in psychosis since September and how hard this Alberta mental health system is to navigate.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Food and memory

| Unreserved (Podcast -- 47:08)

For many Indigenous people, food memories are intricately tied to family, community and culture. Meet three Indigenous chefs who are using their food knowledge to transport people to the past and inspire Indigenous menus of the future.

Kels of Queer in Alberta Podcast

| Native Calgarian (Podcast -- 01:08:34)

Meet Kels, arts professional and host of Queer in Alberta podcast! Find more: https://linktr.ee/_kelsifer

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Claiming space in the Great Outdoors

| Unreserved (Podcast -- 51:20)

Join us as we check out some birds, hit the halfpipe and prepare for the sugar bush. You'll hear how Indigenous nature enthusiasts are empowering others to get outside and claim space in the Great Outdoors.

Unflagging settler colonialism in Minnesota / Mni Sóta Makoce (ep 340)

| MEDIA INDIGENA : Indigenous current affairs (Podcast -- 54:17)

This episode, another ‘mini’ INDIGENA (the easy-peasy version of MEDIA INDIGENA)—one where the first item went way longer than anyone expected!

Heritage Conservation Act (HCA) Transformation Project

"cultural heritage resource" means an object, a site or the location of a traditional societal practice that is of historical, cultural or archaeological significance to British Columbia, a community or an aboriginal people; [1]

Policing In Calgary

| Native Calgarian (Podcast -- 58:45)

Went solo to talk about Calgary Herald article on police in schools, a message from about police undeserving Indigenous Families, the AB School Walkout, the bylaw response to the Conversion Therapy event happening tonight at a Catholic Church, The Valentines Day Women March and more.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

2SLGBTQ+ Love Songs

| Unreserved (Podcast -- 53:58)

There are a lot of love stories out there, but not everyone can see themselves in them. This week we hear from Trans, Queer and Two Spirit artists on how they’re pushing against heteronormative narratives in today’s love stories and love songs.
So everyone can see - and hear - themselves in love.

Israelism, Barbie, pretending, &2SLGBTQ+ in Alberta

| Native Calgarian (Podcast -- 01:17:00)

Went solo to talk about Israelism, the Barbie Movie, pretendindianism, The Premier of Alberta and lots on 2SLGBTQ+ issues.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Gentle book, giant impact: 10 years of Braiding Sweetgrass

| Unreserved (Podcast -- 51:31)

It was an invitation to reconnect with the land, but Robin Wall Kimmerer's bestselling book ended up being more of a call to action. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants is now ten years old. Robin tells us how her humble book of essays spread like seeds in the wind around the world, selling more than 1.6 million copies in the US alone. We also hear from readers and friends who were inspired by the book and took action in their own lives to change their relationships with plants, animals, rain drops...and each other!

Drug Poisoning Crisis

| Native Calgarian (Podcast -- 01:21:15)

Danielle and I discuss the drug poisoning crisis, the lack of resources, lack of cultural understanding and burn out

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Unmapped: NYC

| Unreserved (Podcast -- 54:08)

We're headed to New York, baby! This episode is part of a travel series from Unreserved called Unmapped. The series invites us to look for the Indigenous presence in some of the most iconic travel destinations around the world. Meet the people who are nurturing community and raising the visibility of Indigenous pasts, presents and futures.

The 'clean, green' face of colonialism (ep 339)

| MEDIA INDIGENA : Indigenous current affairs (Podcast -- 47:02)

For our first mini INDIGENA of 2024, Candis Callison (associate professor in the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies and Graduate School of Journalism at UBC) and Kenneth T. Williams (associate professor with the University of Alberta’s department of drama), joined host/producer Rick Harp this Friday, January 19th to discuss:

  • Norway to pay Sámi reindeer herders millions for violating their human rights
  • How Canada led efforts to weaken original UN Indigenous rights declaration

Jon Nishimura

| Native Calgarian (Podcast -- 01:07:24)

Jon Nishimura, a regular at the Palestine protests and proud ally of the 2SLGBTQ community, is a Cdn-Japanese man who discusses previous and present racism he has and continues to experience.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Daring to be different as Indigenous entrepreneurs

| Unreserved (Podcast -- 54:09)

Many Indigenous entrepreneurs start their own businesses to fill a void that the mainstream is missing --
because they want to create businesses that were better aligned with their values and the values of their communities. From coffee to tech to cosmetics, we hear from entrepreneurs who dared to do things differently. The result is business success - and mainstream industries are starting to take notice.