Unsettled: Journeys in Truth and Conciliation
Unsettled: Journeys in Truth and Conciliation builds upon the 94 calls to action of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, from the perspectives of Indigenous cohost Jessica Vandenberghe, settler cohost George Lee, and their Indigenous and settler guests. We start from the belief that conciliation in Canada is an ongoing project, individually and collectively, as the country moves beyond colonial thinking to build a nation of nations—one free of racist, pro-assimiliation policies, and one that honours treaties and other commitments to Indigenous peoples. Want to keep the conversation going? Donate here: https://ko-fi.com/unsettledjourneys
Unsettled: Journeys in Truth and Conciliation
S4 E2: The Fentanyl Crisis—A Kainai Woman's Survival Guide for Families and Communities, feat. Ramona Big Head
Renowned Blackfoot educator Ramona Big Head talks about overdoses and other tragedies, the ripple effect of residential school abuses through generations and families, and hope.
Recent deaths in her community and family "knocked me off my feet," she tells cohosts Jessica Vandenberghe and George Lee. "I think I'm still processing the magnitude of these losses. And it's still happening."
Among her tools for healing are prayer, ceremony, physical exercise, humour, empathy, and spending time with her grandchildren.
"I'm such an optimist," Ramona says. "I honestly believe that this generation of kids. . .they could be the first generation of our people that absolutely, 100 per cent stay away from drugs or alcohol. Why? Because they see immediately, you take that drug, you die."
Warning: suicide, sexual abuse, and substance abuse are discussed in this episode.
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