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On June 21, 2021, National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada, the town of Fort Macleod, located in southern Alberta, approached Joe with a challenging question. He was asked to speak about how one can move forward in light of reconciliation but particularly in view of the location of 215 unmarked graves at a former Kamloops Residential School that occurred a month before. Fort Macleod borders the largest reserve in Canada, Kainai First Nation, where Joe is from. Joe has served as Elder-in-Residence at Fort Macleod's F.P. Walshe school since 2018. Joe offered his response. An excerpt from what he shared is provided here. The quoted passage speaks to the history of how Indigenous stories have been received. It also speaks to the need for people not just to hear the stories but to really listen to them because that is when the learning happens.
Joe Eagle Tail Feathers, Canada's Indigenous Peoples Day Response (Fort Macleod, AB. June 21, 2021)
"Mainstream society never really believed the Natives when they tell their stories, tell their sides of situations and things that happened. … I’m always surprised how little mainstream society knows about us Natives, the people of this land. … I ask all people, the red people, the white people, the black people, and the yellow people, to have an open mind, to be respectful to one another, to learn from one another, and to listen to one another. ... If we can all do that - because we all have to live here. Nobody’s going anywhere. It’s best to be that way. That will only enrich our lives, expand our knowledge. We won’t be walking around with blinders on."
—Joe Eagle Tail Feathers, "National Indigenous Peoples Day 2021"
As Joe asks, let us move forward with an open mind and a respect for one another. Through the sharing of stories, let us find ways to enrich our lives and expand our knowledge regarding Indigenous experience.
Here are three ways we can listen, learn, and work together:
1. Host or attend an in-person Blackfoot Odyssey screening with us
1. Host or attend an in-person Blackfoot Odyssey screening with us
We would be honoured in serving a role in helping you blaze your own trail of indigenization wherever you may be!
Our presentation content and delivery will vary based on location, audience, event theme, and any special requests. What will remain consistent in every presentation is a film viewing accompanied by Joe and/or Chris, a follow-up consisting of a facilitated conversation, and a Q & A.
The following will offer you an idea as to what to expect in the facilitated conversation that will occur after a viewing.
After listening to a story from Joe’s Blackfoot Odyssey, we ask you to think about the following questions:
Where did the experience take you? This place can be both literal and figurative.
How did Joe's story have you reflecting on your own journey?
What idea or emotion did the story evoke in you?
Where can you learn about the odyssey of others – of other Indigenous Peoples?
All hosting and screenings are done in person because of the personal and private nature of the stories that were filmed.
2. Take our Desire to Indigenize Challenge
2. Take our Desire to Indigenize Challenge
Our Desire to Indigenize Challenge encourages you to consider the following questions for your Brightspace course:
How can you Indigenize D2L Brightspace?
How are you using Brightspace to Indigenize?
What can an indigenized Brightspace look like?
How are you being respectful and responsible with the Indigenous content you are using?
How does your idea show your desire to Indigenize?
If you have questions, are interested in sharing ideas, or are curious about our challenge, please reach out!
3. Reach out to us for more information
3. Reach out to us for more information
Are you interested in what we are doing? Do you have questions? Let us know. Let's have a conversation.
Guidance – A Guiding Hand & Guiding Lights
Guidance – A Guiding Hand & Guiding Lights
"Us we all need someone or somethin' to guide us" (Richard Wagamese, Keeper'n Me, 216)
In Joe's tipi video, he talks about the seven stars, Ih-ki-tsi-kam (Blackfoot for 'Seven'), explaining how the Blackfoot people conceptualize what is known as the Big Dipper as being a hand. Through our work, Joe is offering a guiding hand in a learner's Indigenous journey. Like how the stars are regarded as guiding lights, we hope learners will receive guidance from the seven videos featuring a Blackfoot Odyssey. Through the specific can one locate the universal. A Blackfoot Odyssey. An Indigenous Journey. Life. Our Place in the Universe.
A screenshot from Joe's tipi video.
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