Aiysiniiksin: Keeping the Tradition Alive

Stories of the past with my cousin Shawanda Backfat, Part 1

In this special, two-part episode, Darylina and Shawanda come together to recollect their childhood of growing up on the Treaty 7 territory. From living on the Rez and the city, to dancing in basements, to first boyfriends, first crushes, kisses and fights, and to falling in love and snagging on the powwow trail and the Calgary Stampede exhibition. These are stories of remembrance. Natohkotaikanna [Holy Come Shining] is the name of our great great grandmother Mildred Backfat, and it's been passed down to Shawanda Backfat, a 27 year-old aspiring Journalist and Anthropologist, born and raised on Treaty 7 territory, Calgary, Alberta. Shawanda is Blackfoot and of Jamaican and Trinidadian descent, and dreams of one day broadcasting Indigenous beauty, culture and triumph through short-film and documentaries. For more details and information on previous and upcoming episodes, you can follow my page on instagram @aiysiniiksin_

Stories within stories with Quelemia Sparrow

In this episode with Quelemia Sparrow, we explore land acknowledgements, language revitalization, and the process of creating land-based work in theatre spaces. A question that often comes up in my own creative processes is; how can I as an artist create work in a good way? Especially if its land based or community based work, or involves the revitalization of language and culture. And how can I as an artist hold myself accountable to this work? Quelemia Sparrow is an actor, writer, director, dramaturge and consultant from the Musqueam Nation. Over the years, she's developed multiple works, and in this episode we discuss her play titled Women of Papiyek, a weaving of land-based work, fiction and history that highlights the voices of women who lived in Papiyek, or what is currently known as Brockton Point in Stanley Park. In this discussion, we also learn a little bit about how Stanley Park came to be. She also shares with us the Musqueam Creation story, which sparks another conversation on the importance of Creation stories throughout Turtle Island. These are stories within stories within stories. Additional references includes a quote shared from the book Embers, written by Ojibwe author and journalist, Richard Wagamese.

Akaotsistapi’takyo’p with Butch Wolf Leg

In this episode we explore the worldview of Siksikaitsitapi, beginning with a historical overview of colonization, assimilation and cultural genocide, disrupting the Natural Law of Siksikaitsitapi, and displacing them of their natural alliances. Leading us into resistance. We are then joined by our next guest, Elder and Knowledge Keeper from the Siksika Nation, Butch Wolf Leg, who shares stories of creation, a gift of the family tree and a teepee teaching. These stories center relationality, and bear meaningful teachings. These are stories of survivance. Additional sources include Betty Bastien, Neal McLeod, and the Bawaka Collective. *Content warning: residential schools, Indian day schools, and the 60's scoop.

Introduction: Îethka Ways with Mîtûwîn

Living the îethka way, an oral remembrance, shared in the îethka language by Stoney Nakoda Community member Wyo Powderface, and Auntie to host, Darylina Powderface. This episode explores the reconstruction of listening through an Indigenous ontological worldview of language, song, and storytelling - while simultaneously undoing a western, colonial perception of knowledge. Additional sources include Dylan Robinson, Leanne Simpson and Gerald Vizenor.