A Smudge For Your Thoughts

Abolition and Indian Country

Topic: The possibility of abolition of prisons and jails in Indian Country and how we can achieve it. Guest: Joseph Henry Morsette, MSCJA, JD, LL.M. Bio: Joseph Henry Morsette, MSCJA, JD, LL.M.; is a two-time self-published #1 bestselling author in multiple categories and #1 new release on Amazon; original course creator, coach, speaker, consultant, adjunct professor, pancreatitis survivor, tribal attorney, judge, prosecutor, public defender, federal police officer, enrolled member of Rocky Boy’s Band of Anishinaabe, Indigenous Combat Two-Service Veteran of Foreign Wars (USA/USAF), husband, father, grandfather. We hope you learn something and have fun along the way! Migwech/Hiy-Hiy (Thank You) Check out our website: www.asmudgeforyourthoughts.com [http://www.asmudgeforyourthoughts.com/]

Antonio Rafael - Interview

Antonio Rafael is an indigenous (Coahuiltecan and Boricua) agroecologist, educator, outdoorsman, radical economist, artist, beekeeper, and gardener from Southwest, Detroit. As an educator, facilitator and consultant he weaves together disparate phenomena from economic and environmental history to the current neoliberal assault on public goods in a way that’s easily digestible for all grade levels from youth to professionals. His political street art has gone viral, been featured in movies, articles, and movements. Learn more: #decolonizeDetroit [https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/decolonizedetroit?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWRfjtIQeB6Ar_ccDwHcdmKGGDyOLcy09sIzKWBVyVuU3J0GRPfv8VrtNMcx-hGxhAXLtiC5nt6dci5ok_5BcGK4rz-eidoMEJnR2BaY9BmH34SuIxk0IvdfEGh7yTjrD5oZWR2nSlXm8EgRlow34FD&__tn__=*NK-R] Antonio organizes with his neighborhood through his agroecology and arts center called Southwest Grows. #SWGrows [https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/swgrows?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWRfjtIQeB6Ar_ccDwHcdmKGGDyOLcy09sIzKWBVyVuU3J0GRPfv8VrtNMcx-hGxhAXLtiC5nt6dci5ok_5BcGK4rz-eidoMEJnR2BaY9BmH34SuIxk0IvdfEGh7yTjrD5oZWR2nSlXm8EgRlow34FD&__tn__=*NK-R] He and neighbor-gardeners started a beekeeping cooperative called Southwest Beetroit. #SWBeetroit [https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/swbeetroit?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWRfjtIQeB6Ar_ccDwHcdmKGGDyOLcy09sIzKWBVyVuU3J0GRPfv8VrtNMcx-hGxhAXLtiC5nt6dci5ok_5BcGK4rz-eidoMEJnR2BaY9BmH34SuIxk0IvdfEGh7yTjrD5oZWR2nSlXm8EgRlow34FD&__tn__=*NK-R] Sharing his love for nature, he co-founded the Black to the Land Coalition to encourage BIPOC Detroit residents to explore the outdoors. #blacktotheland [https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/blacktotheland?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWRfjtIQeB6Ar_ccDwHcdmKGGDyOLcy09sIzKWBVyVuU3J0GRPfv8VrtNMcx-hGxhAXLtiC5nt6dci5ok_5BcGK4rz-eidoMEJnR2BaY9BmH34SuIxk0IvdfEGh7yTjrD5oZWR2nSlXm8EgRlow34FD&__tn__=*NK-R] He works closely with Anishinaabe communities across the Great Lakes, hunting, harvesting wild rice, and building birch bark canoes. Antonio works with the National Wildlife Federation pouring his knowledge and networks into developing the Detroit Leadership and Environmental Education Program, to cultivate the next generation of critically conscious environmental leaders from Detroit High School Students. Check out Antonio's IG profiles to see what he's up to with these projects! @blacktothelanddetroit @swbeetroit @313LEEP Migwech/Hiy-Hiy (Thank You) Remember to check out our website for updates and how to get in contact with us! https://www.asmudgeforyourthoughts.com/ [https://www.asmudgeforyourthoughts.com/?fbclid=IwAR3MrGjAsvVMA3b48UpwnaczkEi2ynmbAIEPupi8qMH3XIeAR4-3hqtuFDU]

Alex Starblanket & Mike Scott - Interview

-Alex Starblanket-  My name is Alex Starblanket CEO of 🌟STARBLANKET 🌟graphics.  I grew up in Ahtahkakoop reserve just an hour away from Prince Albert, SK. In 2017 I was diagnosed with kidney failure and during my fight I started STARBLANKET GRAPHICS as a way of healing and staying positive through my struggle. Starblanket is based on healing, having though pain or through trauma or struggles. The Starblanket is based on the " 7 teachings ", in our culture that is LOVE, TRUST, HUMILITY,  COURAGE, HOPE, PEACE, and RESPECT. The Starblanket symbolizes these meanings. They also show what struggles we been through and yet still fighting.   -Mike Scott-  Mike Scott presents a powerful power point presentation, "Finding the Warrior Within" which is based on the obstacles of his life. His story has been presented to over 550 communities in the past 6 years alone (2013-2020). Mike was in and out of the foster care system and never had a stable upbringing as a child. He has been through many obstacles in his short 31 years of life including incarceration at the age of 12, overdosing at the age of 17, becoming a single father at the age of 19 and tragically losing his mother at the age of 22.   Mike has broken the dysfunctional cycles that have plagued his family for years. He now travels and shares the incredibly powerful stories, as a way to show youth and adults alike that positive change is possible! Benefactors from his presentation show the reality of addiction and motivate people to open their own eyes to the cycles they face. Empowering young people to start becoming their own leaders and paving a positive way for future generations. Inspiring adults to want a brighter future for their youth and giving them the tools necessary to be able to relate and understand from their point of view so that they may work together to build a brighter future.   Mike's message is: "You can live a file full of depression if you want to, or you can change your position by changing yourself and learning to love who you were truly destined to be. Nothing is impossible and nothing is out of reach, only you can put a limit on what you need and deserve in this life. So be to yourself and have faith in a brighter day! Life is what you make of it."   Migwech/Hiy-Hiy (Thank You) Remember to check out our website for updates and how to get in contact with us! https://www.asmudgeforyourthoughts.com/

Monica Gilles-BringsYellow - Interview

Monica Gilles-BringsYellow is a self-taught Indigenous Artist based out of Missoula, Montana. She started painting, and inadvertently her art career, in the summer of 2019.   Currently Monica’s work primarily focuses on Native American people. She paints from historical images in hopes of offering a platform to discuss the resilience, importance, and impact Native people’s lives have had on present day society. She hopes her work creates a dialogue regarding Indigenous people that brings to light a history that is often unknown, concealed, or disregarded by broader American society.  Currently Monica’s preferred medium is what she refers to as 3-D collage. She incorporates acrylic paint, resin, markers, historical photos, and gold leaf to achieve the desired layered effect.  Examples of her artwork can be seen publicly in Missoula at the TSB on the corner of Broadway and Madison. She also currently has an exhibition at KALICO Art Center called “Origin Stories” which will be open until the end of April 2021.   When she is not painting, she works as a therapist in group homes for children. Pre-pandemic she also played roller derby. She currently lives in Missoula with her husband.     Migwech/Hiy-Hiy (Thank You) Remember to check out our website for updates and how to get in contact with us! https://www.asmudgeforyourthoughts.com/

Sarah Agaton Howes & John Isaiah Pepion Interview

John Pepion is a Plains Indian Graphic artist from the Piikani Band of the Blackfoot Confederacy. He is based out of the Blackfeet reservation in north-central Montana, where the Rocky Mountains meet the plains. John is best known for his ledger art, an art tradition that developed in Plains tribes as the buffalo hide, they traditionally used for painting became scarce, and they were forced to adapt to making artwork on the ledger paper from accounting books. He comes from a family of artists, and pictographic art has been in his family for hundreds of years. Sarah Agaton Howes is an Anishinaabe artist, designer, teacher, and community organizer from Fond du Lac Reservation in Minnesota. She is widely known for her cultural art classes connecting community through art.  She is the CEO and artist behind Heart Berry, an Inspired Natives Collaboration and Native lifestyle brand. John's website [https://johnisaiahpepion.com/] https://www.instagram.com/johnisaiahpepion/ [https://www.instagram.com/johnisaiahpepion/] Sarah's website (Heart Berry) [https://www.heartberry.com/] https://www.instagram.com/heartberry.co/ [https://www.instagram.com/heartberry.co/] Migwech/Hiy-Hiy (Thank You) Remember to check out our website for updates and how to get in contact with us! https://www.asmudgeforyourthoughts.com/ [https://www.asmudgeforyourthoughts.com/]