Today, I am honoured and very excited to introduce Small Change listeners to Shannon Thunderbird and Kate Dickson, change makers who are helping the people of Turtle Island understand and embrace pan-Indigenous history and culture.
Shannon Thunderbird Credit: Photo supplied by Shannon Thunderbird
Shannon Thunderbird is a Coast Ts’msyen First Nations Elder. Her Tribal affiliation is Lax Kw’alaams Band, Northern British Columbia, Royal House of Niis’gumiik. Shannon’s clan is Gispudwada (Orca).
Shannon is a celebrated international speaker and workshop facilitator, author, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and playwright.
Her focus is bringing Indigenous Peoples to the forefront of the Canadian national consciousness. Shannon is a wisdom keeper who believes strongly in the truth that she presents in a non-judgemental manner.
Shannon combines history, spirituality, the oral narrative and big drums in educational entertainment shows that she has presented to over 300,000 students across Canada, the United States, Europe and Japan.
Shannon is currently a member of the touring show, Walking Through The Fire; performs with a variety of orchestras including Winnipeg and Stratford; and performs with choirs at public and private events.
Shannon is a classically trained singer whose powerful vocals include plenty of humour to counter bullying, colonialist and oppressive situations. The word ‘dynamic’ is often attributed to the richness of the experience Shannon creates.
Kate Dickson Credit: Photo supplied by Kate Dickson
Kate Dickson is a Coast Ts’msyen First Nations Elder with Tribal affiliation to the Lax Kw’alaams Band, Northern British Columbia, Royal House of Niis’gumiik. Kate’s clan is Gispudwada (Orca).
Kate is a notable speaker, singer, writer, and a retired secondary school vice principal/teacher who taught, among other subjects, Indigenous Studies for many years. She was one of the first Indigenous educators to teach full semesters of pan-Indigenous history and brought accurate, unflinching truths to her students. She also included ceremonial aspects to show them the power of healing, courage and careful use of their words. Her courses were always in demand by students, a number of whom went on to further studies at the university level.
Since retiring in 2012, Kate continues her work in the elementary and middle schools; her truth-telling, hands-on artifacts, drums, songs and humour educates students in a focused, easy manner. As she often says: “It’s all about our young people and how we must help them make sense of their world through knowledge-based education. Every child matters.”
Kate currently performs with her sister, Shannon Thunderbird, in shows and seminars across Ontario, bringing music and big drums to a variety of audiences.
It’s wonderful to have two such dynamic sisters and Elders on Small Change today!
Today, Shannon and Kate discuss the basics of Native Studies 101: What can Indigenous People bring to Canada’s present and future.
They also discuss how students should begin their education into the Indigenous world from Kindergarten through to Grade 12.
Kate and Shannon explain why it’s important to understand Truth and Reconciliation and how to reconcile the past with what is happening today.
Important to that understanding is being cognisant of the purpose of Orange Shirt Day as well as the caretaker role of Indigenous Peoples and how Shannon and Kate reconcile Land Acknowledgements.
Kate and Shannon end our conversation with an important final message for colonizers.
Additional information:
The word “settler,” first coined in 1598 in a journal, meant residing in a place previously unpopulated. According to Shannon Thunderbird, the Indigenous Peoples who were living on Turtle Island obviously didn’t get the memo! And, she wonders how this meaning came to be manipulated when immigrants took populated land.
Check out the live shows, film and CD for Walking Through the Fire
Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action booklets can be purchased for $7.35 each including shipping costs and applicable taxes (GST or HST).
Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action Booklet Credit: Doreen Nicoll
Thanks to everyone who read today’s article and listened to my podcast. With your financial support, a little Nicoll can make a lot of change.
Music: Real Estate by UNIVERSFIELD is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. freemusicarchive.org.
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