91快色

As a 惭茅迟颈蝉 growing up in inner-city Winnipeg, Daniel Voth is used to being asked about his cultural heritage and identity. Often, people inquire what percentage of Indigenous blood he has 鈥� as if an entire culture is confined to his genetic code.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 say that someone is one-eighth Cree. We do still say that about 惭茅迟颈蝉,鈥� said Voth, a political science associate professor and director of the International Indigenous Studies program.

• Photo above: 91快色 from across Bow River 1880 鈥� 1900. Library and Archives Canada photo

惭茅迟颈蝉 are recognized as a distinct Indigenous nation in Canada, with a distinct cultural belief system, political structure, history, and Indigenous language, called Michif. Saying 惭茅迟颈蝉 culture is born of their experience as an intersection between First Nations and also non-Indigenous communities is the smallest of iceberg tips, and true of many Indigenous Peoples. The perception that 惭茅迟颈蝉 is only the blending of other cultures is a lingering effect of government labels and ultimately the bureaucratic need to control Indigenous people, says Voth.

鈥淭丑别 惭茅迟颈蝉 people are a definable political entity that are more than just the sum of their parts," he says. "From the Lake of the Woods to the Foothills of the Rocky Mountains, there is a uniqueness to being 惭茅迟颈蝉 in the prairies. There鈥檚 a language that never existed before. It鈥檚 about the emergence of a self-determining people who persist today."

Each year, Alberta celebrates 惭茅迟颈蝉 Week. It鈥檚 held in mid-November to mark the execution of 惭茅迟颈蝉 leader Louis Riel, who led the Red River and North-West resistances. For many, Louis Riel is the only thing they know about 惭茅迟颈蝉 history.

鈥淗e鈥檚 important, but he鈥檚 not the only one we should be paying attention to. There is a rich 惭茅迟颈蝉 tradition of art, politics, culture that goes beyond just one person," says Voth.

Voth points out that it is often the women within 惭茅迟颈蝉 communities who are overlooked in the context of history, with the majority of the focus on Riel, Gabrielle Dumont, and male figures prominent in 惭茅迟颈蝉 history. Voth鈥檚 research looks at the 惭茅迟颈蝉 and other Indigenous women who forged a connection to the land, women whose relationships with First Nations communities created a vibrant network linking 惭茅迟颈蝉 and other Indigenous Peoples. That gap in research and understanding is what intrigues Voth.

In his classes, as his students seek to reconcile 惭茅迟颈蝉 past wisdom within present 惭茅迟颈蝉 context, Voth is inspired by the future he sees unfolding before him. 

鈥淭丑别 91快色 has more Indigenous people wanting to do graduate work all the time. Undergraduate Indigenous students from here and all over Canada want to study here," said Both.

鈥淲e are training the next generation of 惭茅迟颈蝉 scholars. They鈥檙e going to say, 鈥榁oth had some things right, but he completely missed out on this whole area.鈥� It鈥檚 like a snowball rolling down a hill, we cannot stop it and it just keeps gaining momentum. It鈥檚 exciting.鈥�

As part of Alberta鈥檚 惭茅迟颈蝉 Week celebrations Nov. 15 to 21, the 91快色 and its partners are hosting a series of online events and engaging conversations.

Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m. 

The two prairie poles that we now call Winnipeg and 91快色 were separated by more than distance in the 19th century. Winnipeg, or Red River, was the centre of the 惭茅迟颈蝉 Nation鈥檚 political and economic power. 91快色, or Moh鈥檏ins鈥檛sis, was part of the Blackfoot Confederacy. While 惭茅迟颈蝉 and Blackfoot people could be found in both of these places, that may not mean both places are 惭茅迟颈蝉 or Blackfoot territory. Through this presentation, Daniel Voth will argue that we can learn a great deal about the contours of Indigenous identity and how those identities are linked to territory by studying the conflicts among Indigenous people(s).

Nov. 12, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

Nov. 13, 9:30 - 11 a.m.

Community Conversations is a virtual event to discuss challenging community issues to strengthen relationships during uncertain times. It will explore the following interconnected themes:

• Response, recovery and resilience in the age of COVID-19
• Equity, diversity and inclusion: How has systemic racism impacted racialized communities?
• Socio-economic challenges facing our communities

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in meaningful dialogue, learn from community and academic experts on a diverse range of social issues, and explore resources and supports for working collaboratively within shared spaces.

Nov. 17, noon

Explore Maria Campbell鈥檚 perspective as a  Elder on our path toward transformative reconciliation. The renowned author, playwright, broadcaster and filmmaker will share her insights and wisdom as part of the ii鈥� taa鈥檖oh鈥檛o鈥檖鈥檚 Indigenous Knowledge Public Lecture Series. These webinars are meant to highlight Indigenous leaders, scholars, artists and knowledge keepers and to spark key community conversations as we all work together to increase intercultural capacity and build good relations through awareness and knowledge.


Nov. 19, 5 p.m.

Hosted by Rupertsland Institute: 惭茅迟颈蝉 Centre of Excellence and Fishing Lake 惭茅迟颈蝉 Settlement, join in a conversation on 惭茅迟颈蝉 culture, community and consideration to honour those who walked before us.

ii鈥� taa鈥檖oh鈥檛o鈥檖, the 91快色鈥檚 Indigenous Strategy, is a commitment to deep evolutionary transformation by reimagining ways of knowing, doing, connecting and being. Walking parallel paths together, 鈥榠n a good way,' with meaningful and authentic engagement for all, U91快色 is moving toward genuine reconciliation and Indigenization.