Unreserved

Have you ever tried gardening by moonlight? Shirli Ewachuk says that thanks to the moon’s connection to water in the ground, the sky, soil and seasons work together to create the juiciest gardens. Shirli tells Rosanna how knowledge like moon planting was passed on by her mother and her aunties — knowledge she now passes on to others. Also on the show, we’ll hear how Gracyn Tanche hopes an upcoming...

As the place where the Assiniboine and Red rivers meet, The Forks marks an important trade route for Indigenous people that pre-dates colonization by thousands of years. This National Indigenous Peoples Day, Unreserved is live from The Forks on Treaty 1 territory! Rosanna captures some of the magic of this place as communities come together to celebrate and share stories of resilience and resurgen...

An almost forgotten dance is making a comeback on the powwow trail. This weekend the Great Lakes Woodland style dance is one of many styles you’ll find at the Wáhkóhtowin Powwow on Treaty One territory in Winnipeg. Rosanna hears from Anishinaabe dancer Ryerson Whetung about the hopping style that is set to a very fast double beat, as well as the floral work and otter turbans that bring this style’...

Did you know the Declaration of Independence contains a racial slur? When Rebecca Nagle learned that “merciless Indian savages” were a main grievance of America’s founders it changed her perspective on history. The Cherokee journalist tells Rosanna how her search for an Indigenous telling of America’s history created the backbone of a new podcast, First America. And, filmmaker Brad Munoa – a membe...

The story of Tshakapesh and his snaring of the sun is another way of explaining the annular eclipse – it’s one of the Innu stories passed down over thousands of years that is based on precise observations of the night sky. Rosanna speaks with astronomer, Laurie Rousseau-Nepton about the methodologies of her ancestors that showed the connections between climate, the earth, the stars, and us. Also o...

As early as the 1500s, the fiddle reached some of the most remote and northerly Indigenous communities on Turtle Island. Dave McLeod says that’s part of the reason country music has such deep roots in community. This week, Dave stops by to share his Indigenous country record collection and Rosanna speaks with classic country soul Zach Moostoos-Willier and Cree country diva Desiree Dorion about why...

Sharing Chickasaw culture through orchestral composition is Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate's heartwork. He wants his music to empower Indigenous people and create an opportunity for them to feel good about themselves, celebrating culture through epic and powerful symphonic scores. This week Rosanna speaks with composers and creators who are creating new spaces on orchestral stages across Turtle Isla...

For generations, Innu women gave birth in traditional tents surrounded by family. Thea Penashue tells Rosanna how she wanted her second child to be born in the same way her own mother was decades before. Also on the show – Christine TooToo’s birth plan went right out the window when her baby came a little early. And Melissa Brown has trained over 2,000 Indigenous doulas across Turtle Island over t...

Scientists started talking about clam gardens in the 90s – but nations along the west coast built and maintained these beaches for thousands of years before. Rosanna speaks with Skye Augustine about the clam garden restoration that is reconnecting community to this traditional way of harvesting. Also on the show – Timothy Smoke on what it takes to learn and pass on knowledge around minomin – or wi...

Have you ever tried to grow vegetables in the dead of winter? Ben Feagin Jr. had an invention for that. He hopes his greenhouse bubble will help provide Indigenous communities with access to fresh produce all year round. This week Rosanna hears from Indigenous entrepreneurs who are creating food security solutions for their communities.

In 2010, a researcher placed an ad in the Lakota Times that read, “Looking for information about mystery woman,” with a 19th century black and white photograph. In the centre of the image, a young Indigenous woman stood surrounded by six men in military uniform. The search for information identified the woman as Sophie Mousseau and led to one of her descendents, Daphne Richards-Cook. This week, Ro...

Every year Canada Reads chooses one book that everyone should read right now – and it’s a series of great debates that gets us there! In this live recording of Unreserved, Rosanna speaks with Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and Billy-Ray Belcourt about why Billy-Ray’s A Minor Chorus is THE book for our present time. The story follows a queer Cree man, an academic and writer, who returns to his home commun...

The sight of 191 wild horses pinned in mud is hard to picture and so Jake Skeets turned to poetry. As he learned more about the tragic scene, it became a metaphor for the current climate crisis and its impact on all walks and ways of life. Rosanna speaks with Jake Skeets and Louise Bernice Halfe Sky Dancer about the language of poetry and why its power is so needed today.

They searched for months until the snow came but could not find her. Now, as the weather warms and the ice melts, the community of Arviat renews its search for Kadin Savikataaq. In August 2024, the 20-year-old pilot and experienced hunter disappeared almost without a trace. RCMP say she most likely drowned, but Kadin’s family believes she was murdered and buried somewhere near their village. Guest...

“Boozhoo” means hello in Anishinaabemowin. For Adam Sturgeon, that simple greeting, written in a card he received from his Auntie when he was 10-years old, kickstarted a lifelong quest to reclaim his Anishinaabe identity. Adam speaks with Rosanna about his journey of reconnection and finding belonging and how it's driven him to learn more about his family history.

Istiyehe, Imoitapi and Sabe are just some of the names Indigenous nations across Turtle Island call Bigfoot or Sasquatch. But who is Sabe really? To some Indigenous people they’re regarded as a relative, others a spiritual guide. Rosanna hears how Sabe teaches us to reflect on our relationship with ourselves and the land to bring lessons of honesty.

What do you get when you blend traditional Mi’kmaq songs with Celtic fiddle music? Mi’kmaltic! Morgan Toney draws inspiration from his Elders, family and community and brings the fusion genre across the country. Now he’s on the road to the Junos. This week Rosanna speaks with three musicians on the way to the Junos about how their music led them to community, connection and ceremony. 

“We need to spend time on beautiful memories” says Inuk musician and humanitarian about her life growing up in the small fly-in community of Arviat, Nunavut. Susan speaks with guest host, Juanita Taylor about healing from childhood sexual abuse and how it inspires her work with Inuit youth through the Arctic Rose Foundation.

She spent 4 days camped out on the land the last time a litter of puppies were born. That’s the kind of commitment 15 year-old Sophia Johnston has toward her dog team. We hear how she is bringing back the almost-lost tradition of dog sled teams in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut with the help of elders and long-time mushers like Harry Towtongie and John McLeod.

In Haida Gwaii, Basketball is more than a game – and the Skidegate Saints reign supreme. Their team is a source of pride for players and fans alike. Front row tickets even pass down through family wills. Guest host, Falen Johnson hears how their games are a cornerstone of community and make space for intergenerational connections. 

Ojibwe-Métis playwright Ian Ross brought the stage to the rez and put the rez on the stage in his Governor award-winning play FareWel. He harnessed the power of storytelling through his many plays and fiercely encouraged Indigenous creatives to do the same by sharing their own stories. Rosanna hears from Ian’s friends, family and colleagues about how they’ll carry his memory and legacy into the fu...

Inuit activists call for an independent Greenland – that means freedom from Denmark and the United States. Amidst the latest threats by the US to acquire Greenland, Inuit are speaking out and calling for good relations as an independent player on the world stage. Rosanna hears from Inuit across the Arctic about the defense of culture, language and sovereignty. 

A winter count is history in pictures. But a 200 year-old notebook written in the Lakota language shows just how important the written word can also be. Around the globe communities are recognizing the invaluable role language plays in holding and sharing our people’s stories. Many languages are so at risk that the UN declared the International Decade of Indigenous Languages to raise awareness and...

It’s a sacred gift to tell the stories that we carry – that’s one of the lessons Tanya Talaga shares with emerging writers. Rosanna speaks with the award-winning author and other creatives about how they lift each other up by creating safe spaces, supporting each other’s art and offering opportunity and mentorship to the next generation.

Reconnecting with language, family and culture is a journey without a map. It's one Melissa Powless Day has been walking through and sharing about in her poetry as she seeks reconnection and belonging. We also reflect on lessons and wisdom shared from Indigenous authors Rosanna has spoken with to help us move into the new year.