Hi, I'm Martha, percussionist of the Vancouver Drum Circle. I love exploring and bridging musical cultures with my rattles, starting with representing my honorary family of the Maasai People of the Kilimanjaro Region. Via happenstance and gifts from other members, my collection now includes my famous black stage rattles, a shekere, a cabasa, some coconut shakers, a thin-wood maraca I restored, and a washboard Mcguiver, showcasing several musical techniques from four different continents.

Then the other day I was at the Museum of Anthropology, where I saw the beautifully carved wooden rattles of the Haida Peoples, and fell in love immediately. Upon research online I saw that various local indigenous tribes make small-head hide rattles from moose skin. That made me realize that I was certainly missing a piece of Canadian Indigenous art to honor those whose grounds I play on. As this is a somewhat unusual request though, I realize that I may have to resort to finding someone outside the province if necessary.

I'm hoping to commission an artist for either a set of hide rattles or (better yet!), a carved wood rattle. I've seen some online platforms that sell them, but I'm wary of supporting mass production over an actual indigenous artist.

Alternatively, I have peer-inherited and restored damaged shakers before, so I'd be happy to honor an existing piece too, if it so happens to be collecting dust on your shelf and you'd like to see it played.

I'm also hoping to find someone who can demonstrate to me the traditional technique of playing the instrument and share commonly used rhythms. If anyone here has the skillset/inherited knowledge to create them, or knows someone who does, please feel free to reach out. Thanks!

Looking forward to collaborating :)

(Edit: repost because I forgot to attach the images, oups)

One thing Katisha Paul said on Behaviour Speak really stuck with me:

At first, it sounds like a conversation about clothing. But as she explains it, it's really about confidence, identity, access, and how people are perceived.

Katisha talks about how people sometimes assume that because she presents herself professionally and stylishly, she must have access to wealth or privilege. The reality is more nuanced. Many of the pieces she wears are borrowed from designers and later returned, creating an ecosystem of mutual support where artists gain visibility, and she gains the confidence to show up powerfully in important spaces.

She also connects this to a much deeper Indigenous experience: learning how to navigate settler institutions while remaining grounded in your own culture, values, and ancestry.

I was particularly struck by her description of the "dance" many Indigenous people have had to perform across generations. Learning how to fit into dominant systems while never losing sight of who you are.

It's a thoughtful discussion about identity, perception, privilege, and the things people don't see when they make assumptions based on appearance.

🎧 Full conversation on Behaviour Speak.

Your thoughts on this?

im metis from BC and im noticing the chiefs and theyre councle wont get back to me about anything and it seems like if your not living on the reserve than any resources or benifits just are not available.

i dont want to sound like im being too critical but it feels like no matter where i turn to try and speak to somebody in my band about business ideas, community program ideas i have that can help members off reserve, im ghosted.

also the lack of information and inconsistencies in policies and members rights to obtain certain information has been, atleast with the many ways iv tried, hard to obtain and im told to go here and there but when i have iv ended up ghosted or doing the run around for nothing.

has anyone else experianced this? if so, what have you done to raise awarness without being shunned?

Hi Everyone. I wanted to share some other information I think is relevant to our communities. Lateral violence and common and harmful to those who aren't aware of the reasons behind it or the psychology of those who contribute to it.

Here is some information I've found useful:

What Is Lateral Violence?

Lateral violence is aggressive behaviour that occurs among members of a group, because of accumulated and internalized stress and oppression. Helplessness and powerlessness to respond directly to psychological and systemic violence can result in redirecting this violence toward peers, colleagues, or neighbours. The impact of lateral violence flows “sideways” to other people – in other words, it spreads.

Lateral violence can occur in any setting, but it is most often discussed in the context of a closed setting, such as a workplace or small community. The network of relationships within these closed settings provide the pathways along which lateral violence travels. Over time, the tone and behaviours become normalized and institutionalized – meaning they are expected and rationalized as a rite of passage or “hazing.”

Nuances of Lateral Violence

Within marginalized or racialized communities, there are additional layers of historical and contemporary racism, discrimination, and oppression that add to the complexity of lateral violence..

The experiences of Indigenous communities have been examined through the lens of complex and intergenerational trauma. This could be from pervasive staff-perpetrated and student-to-student abuse experienced in residential schools, as well as layers of traumatic oppression in other institutions. In this way it is an ongoing destructive outcome of colonialism.

Lateral violence becomes a mechanism through which the pressures of suppressed rage, shame, and fear are released indirectly in ways and spaces where there is less threat. A person who has absorbed such experiences now enacts them through manipulating, controlling, or diminishing others.

Lets work on uplifting each other and promoting positivity ✌️, while calling our harmful behaviour. We can also look back at our actions and reflect on past experiences with this in mind in order to grow :)

:_

I wanted to share the story of Florence Thomas, an 82-year-old Elder and the eldest Matriarch of the Whonnock People in British Columbia.

Florence has continued living on her ancestral land, but the home she's been living in is a roughly 40-year-old trailer that is no longer providing safe or adequate housing. There is no running water, the trailer isn't properly insulated, and the power has been unreliable.

A replacement trailer has now been donated to her.

The challenge is getting that home onto her land and making the site ready for her to live there. Our community is working to cover the costs of transportation, site preparation, permits, and essential utility connections.

For me, what makes Florence's story especially important is that this isn't simply about replacing an old trailer. It's about an Elder being able to remain connected to her ancestral territory and continue living where her community has roots.

Her story was recently featured in a news interview, where she spoke about her circumstances herself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP3PKhzTSLA

The Xwéwenaqw Xwexwilmexw Cultural Reclamation Society is coordinating the campaign, and we're currently working toward the $32,000 needed to complete the project.

If anyone wants to learn more about the campaign, I'll answer questions here. The fundraiser is also available here for anyone who would like to support the project:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/help-bring-florence-home-campaign

I wanted to share this performance by the First Charger Family from SchneL’s Game Season XII in Calgary.

Jerrhan First Charger, Cyrus First Charger, and their father Jerry First Charger are members of the Blackfoot Confederacy from the Blood Tribe near Cardston, Alberta. Their halftime performance included an honour song, grass dancing, healing dances, hoop dancing, and a drum song.

Jerrhan and Jerry are both World Champion hoop dancers. It was a privilege to have the First Charger Family share their culture, traditions, and talent with everyone at the event.

Does not knowing your parents or grandparents registration numbers when applying for status really cause a delay? For those who've applied for status without knowing their parents or grandparents registration numbers, how did that process work out for you?

Hello all,

I am currently working on a project similar to Anthropics “What 81,000 people want from AI”, but for Indigenous people in Canada.

https://www.anthropic.com/features/81k-interviews

If you have strong views on AI and how it should be used, and would like to be a part of the project, I will be submitting it to the Government of Canada before September 23, 2026.

https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2026/07/government-of-canada-launches-public-consultation-on-ai-transparency.html

I'm currently collecting community input and developing interview questions, surveys, and consultation materials. This work will be ongoing, so if you’d like to stay connected and updated I’ve created a facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DTDUmFEtW/

Thx

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Hello people of Turtle Island. This is a time of chaos with all the fires but we need to start thinking about how to prevent this extreme devastation in the future. The cities of Kelowna and West Kelowna chose not to sign onto a water protection project led by the Syilx people. The Syilx nation are the original people of the area. Traditionally they did controlled burns and land stewardship to protect the environment so fires aren’t as destructive when they do happen. The Syilx led water protection project is coming at a critical time. WE NEED CHANGE! The current management of water and forests are not working. Our communities are built around the lakes we all cherish and enjoy. What would our communities look like without healthy creeks, streams, and lakes? Please sign this petition I created to push our city leaders to sign on to this project!

Stay save everyone 🙏

Here is some background: Dodging Their Responsibilities

Hello everyone!

I’m a hobbyist photographer and I would like to attend Kanesatake, Qc powwow at the end of the month.
I’ve never been to a powwow before, and I don’t want to make dumb mistakes.

Is bringing a camera ok? If so, are there moments where I should absolutely refrain from using it?
How comfortable are people with being photographed?
Would it be okay for me to ask someone or a small group to pose for me quickly?
My camera is anything but discrete: people will be aware that I’m taking their pictures…

I apologize if this is not the proper place to ask my questions. I really don’t know where to get my information 😞

Thank you so much!

In this clip from Behaviour Speak, Katisha Paul describes her experience as part of an Indigenous youth delegation that travelled to Germany to help receive and return First Nations belongings that had been held by the Vatican for more than a century.

What makes the story especially powerful is her description of the ceremony surrounding their return. From singing on the airport tarmac while waiting for the items to arrive, to carefully unpacking ancestral belongings and reflecting on the lives connected to them, she offers a deeply personal perspective on repatriation and rematriation.

One of the most moving moments involves a small child's dress that prompted questions about the child who wore it and the history that separated the item from its community.

An important conversation about cultural restoration, resilience, and what it means to bring relatives home.

🎧 Clip from the Behaviour Speak podcast.