May 3, 2022 Newsletter

The only news you'll need this week šŸŽÆ

Clearing a New Pathā„¢ and Clearing a New Path Podcastā„¢ are products of Radar Media, located in Dorchester, Ontario on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Neutral peoples who once used this land as their traditional beaver hunting grounds. Ā As a settler here Iā€™m committed to deepening understanding of Indigenous communities and reframing responsibilities to land and community. I am grateful to Mother Earth for the opportunity for love and connection and to the spirits of the Elders and the Medicine People who still walk the Earth.

MAY 3, 2022

I summarized things a little here and hinted about what comes next. I would love your input so please hit 'reply' or email me - [email protected]

And do you see Confederate flags in your rural neighbourhoods?

As always, you can support us here by becoming a member.

This week, we've got the highlights from our intimate conversation discussing barriers faced by four women-identifying and non-binary entrepreneurs in rural Canada. Each spoke of the discrimination they've faced and each offered solutions and suggestions for government organizations and folks providing resources to rural entrepreneurs. We've received tremendous feedback and support from those in attendance!

Catch up on previous episodes:

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NEWS

On my mind this week:

1. Red Dress Day and Radar Media commitment to Calls to Action

At our Town Hall, I announced that I will be committing a portion of my revenue to the fund to send Kastoslote Elijah to Hawai'i to university. She is an Indigenous teen, from Oneida Nation of the Thames who won a scholarship to the university for art and Indigenous languages. It is my response to the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report.May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people.In May 2019, a report from Canada was released on the National Inquiry for MMIWG ā€” it includes well over 200 recommendations and concluded that the disappearance of these girls and women is an ongoing genocide.

You can show your support by:

1. Wearing red;

2. Posting to social media and using the hashtags #nomorestolensisters, #MMIWG2S, #whywewerered and #3reddressday;

3. Supporting any events or workshops that your communities may be holding and being an ally to your Indigenous neighbours;

4. Hanging a red dress or shirt outside your door or establishment.

2. The Confederate flag is a symbol of hate"Whenever Amie Archibald-Varley sees a Confederate flag waving in the wind at a rural Hamilton home in her neighbourhood, she said she feels fear and confusion.'I have small children ... they're racialized as well ... it's concerning because it's like 'Are my kids going to face this type of hate? Are my kids going to be called the n-word or have to experience this type of fear?'' Archibald-Varley, who is Jamaican Canadian. (Source CBC Hamilton)How many of you have seen these flags in your own rural communities?

A home in Binbrook, a rural community in Hamilton, is flying a Confederate flag. The Canadian Anti-Hate Network says it is a hate symbol which celebrates the murder and slavery of Black people. (Source: Bobby Hristova/CBC)

3. WeBC report reiterates gaps in financial assistance for women-identifying entrepreneurs"Out of 291 survey respondents, 70 percent said they require funding to support their growth...Sixty-five percent of respondents didnā€™t apply for funding in 2021 because 39 percent of the group didnā€™t know their options and 31 percent expected rejection." Full article (Source BC Business)We keep getting evidence, but where are the solutions?

4. Refugees and foodpreneurship: Building connection with Flavours of Hope

ā€œPeople appreciated what I was offering them at the farmer markets, not just a meal, but a time to talk. I really loved it because people came up to me to talk about what they have seen in Mexico when they visited,ā€ she says. ā€œAll of that has helped me to integrate here, and now I feel that I am no longer a stranger.ā€ (Story and image source: New Canadian Media)

5. I came across this documentary today...

It's basically what I'd envisioned (but virtually) when thinking about the town hall idea, and I thought bringing together female mayors and band council chiefs might be just the spark to bring about change in rural Canada.This documentary is about mayors and band council chiefs coming together in Manitoba and it was filmed in 2018. It's called the Collaborative Leadership Initiative. More of this please!Worth the watch (Source: RealWorldMedia.tv and the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources)

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Please share the newsletter and the signup form! And if you know of a female entrepreneur in rural Canada that we should speak with, please connect: [email protected]