The Niigaaniin Podcast

Food security has a different meaning to everyone. In this week's episode, Sonya Cloutier joins Kerri and Jessica to talk about several food security initiatives that are happening right now in the RHW. In addition, Sonya shares some helpful ways we contribute to our food security on a personal and community level.   To stay up to date, follow & like our social media pages! https://www.fa...

Do you ever wonder why you or a loved one can't overcome an addiction? In this week's episode, Aaniish Naa Manager - Dorothy Coad joins us to talk about the stages of addiction and the pathways to recovery in the Niigaaniin Services Endaayaan Endazhi-takookiiyaan program.  This episode is part 2. Listen to the previous episode - Part 1 if you haven't already! Email aaniishnaa@niigaa...

Do you ever wonder why you or a loved one can't overcome an addiction? In this week's episode, Aaniish Naa Manager - Dorothy Coad joins us to talk about the stages of addiction and the pathways to recovery in the Niigaaniin Services Endaayaan Endazhi-takookiiyaan program.  This is part 1 of this episode. Part 2 will be released next week!  Email aaniishnaa@niigaaniin.com if you want to t...

What if we told the story of colonization from an indigenous perspective? From the perspective of the land? How would that influence how we co-exist with nature? The truth is, Turtle Island has been taken, extracted, and used for the benefit of money rather than the way indigenous people used to co-exist with mother earth before colonization. Join Dr. Tim MacNeill and Kerri Commanda in this episod...

"When you think about our language, it's alive; it's always moving, it's descriptive, it's old.  When we talk in the language, we don't have to draw pictures, and we don't have to write things down because when you're telling stories in the language, you can see it in your mind. That's how real it is." - Don Petahtegoose. It is a time in Anishinaab...

Jessica and Kerri debate the pros and cons of revitalizing Indigenous culture and nationhood versus decolonizing our communities, governance, and those around us. Do you know the difference?  To stay up to date, follow & like our social media pages! https://www.facebook.com/niigaaniin/ https://www.instagram.com/niigaaniin/ https://www.niigaaniin.com/ https://www.enjimaawinjidiyaang.com/ https:...

From the Indigenous urge to put the mattress on the living room floor, all the way up to the most famous Indigenous comedians in the nation, Jessica and Kerri talk about just how funny Indigenous people are. Humour is an Anishinaabe specialty, and it's a dish best served fresh. Don't worry, we keep it PG-13 for this episode.  To stay up to date, follow & like our social media pages!...

In this episode, we welcome special guest Quinn Meawasige, a language speaker and member of Serpent River First Nation, or as it's traditionally known, Genaabajing. Kerri and Quinn talk about how the names of certain places came to be, and some place names you never knew had Indigenous origins. Do you know what your community is called in the Indigenous language of it's traditional peopl...

Everyone deserves to live a good life. This is the underlying belief of Mino Bimaadizidaa. Funny stories, life lessons and heart wrenching moments have all be part of the journey, both for facilitators and community members alike. Dorothy and Kerri join Jessica to reflect on their experiences bringing this program to life, and supporting its growth over the past few years. Mino Bimaadizidaa is a s...

Jessica, Kerri and Chris catch up as the leaves change colours, and the earth prepares for rest in our North Shore region. They chat about what activities they take part in, both traditional Anishinaabe events, and non-traditional. Hunting, fall harvest, halloween, movies and NaNoWriMo are all in the mix here.   To stay up to date, follow & like our social media pages! https://www.facebook.com...

This episode is recorded only in  Anishinaabemowin.  This week, Jessica and Robyn welcome Albert Owl, a teacher and fluent Anishinaabemowin speaker from Sagamok Anishnawbek. We talk about Tasenwan, and what this day means to all of us. Tasenwan is also known as "All Souls day" or "Feast of the Dead". On November 1st, we celebrate our loved ones who have passed. “Ga-mikwenmaanan...

Gimaa (Chief)  Brent Bissaillion of Serpent River First Nation joins us as a special guest! Hosted by Jessica and Kerri, Gimaa shares his story, and some philosophy with us.  We talk about what it means to be 2SLGBTQQIA and Anishinaabe in the modern world, leading his community through a Pandemic during the first year of  his term, and moving back to the rez' after leaving for higher educatio...

On September 30th, we reflect on Canada's  National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. In honour of Indian Residential School survivors, and those who never made it home . Robyn discusses her experiences attending a residential day school in Wiikwemikoong with Jessica, as they both reflect on how Residential Schools have impacted our communities, our people, and our famili...

September 9th of each year, we celebrate the signing of the Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin (Treaty). This year, we gather to rekindle our council fire. Signed in 1850, spanning 21 First Nations, and hundreds of kilometres, our treaty is older than Canada itself. Jessica, Kerri and Chris discuss what the treaty means to them, and what it should mean to you. After all, we are all treaty people.   ...

Jessica and Karissa welcome Robyn Recollet of Sagamok Anishnawbek to this episode, where we talk about growing up Anishinaabe in Ontario. We chat about how we raise our Anishinaabe abinoojiiyik (Indigenous kids), and how they fit into the fabric of our communities. We discuss the stories of Indian residential schools in our lives and families.     To stay up to date, follow & like our social m...

Jessica Shonias (formerly Benson) of Rama First Nation and Karissa Zack of Garden River First Nation chat about what it’s been like working from home, providing essential services virtually, and doing it all with littles running around. We chat about how Niigaaniin is walking the talk by making Anishinaabemowin a priority for us, and why our language is so important.      To stay up to date, follo...