In July, the federal government passed legislation to recognize Sept. 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a federal statutory holiday. When the Alberta government decided not to make it a provincial statutory holiday, it sparked anger and conversation about the spirit of reconciliation. For those who want more information to participate in these discussions, CJSR's Indigenous community radio show and podcast Acimowin is a good place to start.
The CJSR program has been dedicated to uplifting Edmonton's Indigenous community since May. Host Shayna Giles is Métis and also contributes to CJSR 88.5FM's Gaywire. A crossover episode with Acimowin earlier this summer unpacked Indigenous identities alongside the Edmonton 2 Spirit Society.
Federal recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is one step towards honouring the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action. The actions propose reducing the amount of Indigenous children in social care, preserving culture and language, and more.
Acimowin is a complete series, so you can dedicate a sitting or two to Giles' collection of decolonized content. The show is brimming with information on Indigenous issues, culture, and history, including Red Dress Day, the Alberta Indigenous Games, and the St. Jean Baptiste Church fire.
The 11-episode series is available on Spotify and Deezer.
You can listen to podcast picks from Taproot on Listen Notes or Spotify.