Content warning: This post contains references to the Canadian Residential Schools system. I was horrified and deeply saddened by the news that the remains of 215 Indigenous children of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation had recently been discovered at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia. My country, Canada, wasContinue reading “I’m Going Home”
Tag Archives: Indigenous Peoples
Gitchi-Manidoo
Over the past two days, I’ve posted songs about two different responses to being down on one’s luck. Today, I randomly landed on the piece “Gitchi-Manidoo (Advice for the Young).” The track comes from the album Chants and Dances of the Native Americans, by the Sacred Spirit project, which I explained in my post onContinue reading “Gitchi-Manidoo”
Goose Snow Cone
Content warning: this post contains discussion of mental health. I first heard Aimee Mann’s music in the film, I Am Sam, which starred American actor Sean Penn as a single father with an intellectual disability, at risk of losing custody of his daughter. The soundtrack is made up entirely of covers of Beatles songs; MannContinue reading “Goose Snow Cone”
Autumn Leaves
Autumn leaves. As autumn begins. My sweety loves to create a family dinner. Over the years, we’ve had the good fortune to share our Thanksgiving dinner table with our own and other families, sometimes folks who had no relatives here to be with, or were experiencing severe challenges, or came to be with us forContinue reading “Autumn Leaves”
Symphony No. 9, II: Largo
I’ve always thought when listening to the 9th symphony by Czech composer Antonin Dvořák (1841-1904), that the second movement, the largo, is so understated and unique that it almost doesn’t belong with the rest of the work. The movement starts so simply, peacefully, and as one online reviewer comments, it says so much with soContinue reading “Symphony No. 9, II: Largo”
Deadwood, South Dakota
Today in the car, Nanci Griffith’s rendition of the song “Deadwood, South Dakota” came on autoplay. I’ve posted Griffith’s songs twice before: “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness,” and “Late Night Grande Hotel,” and the latter is one of the selections on Sweety’s and my wedding CD. In these posts, I talk about Griffith’s longContinue reading “Deadwood, South Dakota”
The Dreaming
Today a dear friend and mentor shared an article from DailyOM.com. This website promotes “… a universal approach to holistic living for the mind, body, and spirit and supports people who want to live a conscious lifestyle.” The article, “Aboriginal Dreamtime,” is about the Indigenous people of what is now known as Australia. It’s aContinue reading “The Dreaming”
American Tune
Today, on July the 4th, I’ve been thinking of dear friends and family living in America. Like Canada’s national holiday a few days ago, it is a day of pride in one’s nation and celebrating the vast and beautiful countries we live in. But it’s also a reminder of what European settlement here has costContinue reading “American Tune”
Starwalker
Content warning:This post contains disturbing information about abuse against Indigenous Peoples. Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians! I wasn’t on social media much today, but I did come across a few posts where people wrote about how fortunate they feel to live in our country. Many of them are like me, first-generation Canadians; ourContinue reading “Starwalker”
Goodnight
The Canadian-American-Indigenous singer, songwriter, educator, visual artist and social activist Buffy Sainte-Marie released the album Coincidence and Likely Stories in 1992. I can always remember this woman having a strong presence in Canadian and American creative media. She has also been a dedicated activist and influential voice for the Indigenous peoples of North America. IContinue reading “Goodnight”
Yeha Noha
Today’s song comes from a collection by the musical project, Sacred Spirit, which combines new age music with traditional stories and chants of the Navajo, Pueblo and Sioux nations in what’s now the United States as well as the Sámi people of Norway and Sweden. The group donates funds to the Native American Rights FundContinue reading “Yeha Noha”
Song of the Day for Today 