September 28

SEASON TWO LAUNCHES TODAY! 🔥

September 28, 2022

Clearing a New Path™ and Clearing a New Path Podcast™ 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.  As a settler here I’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.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2022

I come to this work as a white woman of privilege; a vulnerable allyship student.I get things wrong often and I am open to, and welcome opportunities to be called in about the content in this newsletter, in order to create safe, brave spaces for all. The purpose is to unite people in rural Canada.I am grateful to walk along this journey in grace, love and empathy together.Simply hit 'reply' to contribute, suggest and

SEASON TWO LAUNCHES TODAY!

It seemed ever so aligned that Indigenous Elder

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Lodgekeeper, author and business woman, Cindy Crowe joined me. She is a band member of the Opwaaganisiniing (Red Rock Indian Band) located an hour east of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

She spoke about the impending municipal election in her community, about politics in general. Is our political system broken? Would a 'clan' system work better? She talked about responsibility to the land, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action and healing Indigenous communities and their people.

NEWS THIS WEEK

Hello Amazing Humans,

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Photo courtesy of CBC News)

Indigenous Elder Cindy Crowe and I talked about municipal elections. Here in Ontario, according to a CBC report, there is a growing trend in this election of acclamations, meaning Mayors or Reeves have no competition so they don't even have to run a campaign or worry about votes. This means even fewer voices will be heard and more decisions could be made without your input.

It's the same story in rural Manitoba.(Global News article)"There are a number of reasons why people don’t run for political positions, like socioeconomic status, harassment from voters, or lack of time and resources.

It’s something former city councillor Paula Havixbeck knows all too well.'I was a single parent with little kids and I had people at public hearings pointing their finger swearing at me in front of my kids … and people outside my house,' Havixbeck said."

September 30th was previously recognized as Orange Shirt Day, in recognition of the harm the residential school system did to Indigenous children's sense of self-esteem and well being, and as an affirmation that everyone matters.Phyllis Webstad started the orange shirt tradition. She was just six years old when her grandmother bought her a shiny orange shirt to go to Mission or residential school. She was so proud to be wearing such a bright and fun shirt! When she arrived she was stripped and all of her clothes taken away. She never saw the orange shirt again. The orange shirt always reminded her that her feelings didn’t matter, that she and so many others didn't matter.

From 1831 to 1996 over 150,000 Indigenous children (ages 4-16) attended 139 residential boarding schools. Indian Agents had the authority to enter homes and take children away. Parents who hid their children could be arrested and imprisoned. Thousands of children's remains have been found in unmarked graves at a number of former residential school sites. The TRC reported this in 2015. It took until late May 2019 before the first remains were found in Kamloops.Former Canadian senator The Honourable Murray Sinclair, who chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission responded to the first discovery of remains in a tweet from CBC Indigenous. (Click on the image below)TRIGGER WARNING: The video below makes reference to the discovery of thousands of children’s remains at some of Canada’s residential schools. And to physical and sexual violence endured by children at those schools. This may trigger some of you.National Indian Residential School Crisis Line for former Residential School students:1-866-925-4419

FROM READERS

This week, two issues came up:

  • A lack of respect and understanding of the urgent need to support 2SLGBTQAI+ folks in rural communities - Cathy cited a particular issue in her own Ontario community, where a council member was disrespectful but she was more concerned with the online hatred in the aftermath, on local social media pages.

  • Labour shortages - An Atlantic Canada business owner, Shivani, is finding it hard to find folks to work at her facility. The facility is located in a smaller community, just outside of Halifax. It's a bit of a drive to get to the community and folks don't want to, or may not be able to, do that.

I am already setting these topics up. I've reached out to a member of the council where Cathy lives and I'll speak to folks familiar with the rural economy and what's happening right now. More importantly, what are some solutions?

HOW ABOUT AN OPEN SUNDAY CIRCLE?

I'm going to host an open Zoom circle on Sundays. Bring the topics you'd like to discuss with other rural folks across Canada. I will likely record it, but feel free to turn off your video as you wish, I will only be keeping the audio. The key here is RESPECTFUL conversations, with deep listening, care and understanding, holding space for others.

Sunday, October 2, 20221:30 p.m. NT1:00 p.m. AT12:00 p.m. ET 11:00 a.m. CT10:00 a.m. MT9:00 a.m. PTIf you cannot come, feel free to email me - hit reply - or record a voice memo on your smart phone and email it to me, about the issues you want to hear about and that are affecting you were you are. I will add them all to future episodes.Here's some issues to get you started:EducationClimateDevelopmentPoverty/HouselessnessImmigrationDay careHealth care2SLGBTQAI+, BIPOC, disability rights/advocacy/fundingTaxesBanks/LoansMore/less municipal controlLand stewardshipWomen in politicsWomen in the trades

SUPPORTERS

This newsletter and the Clearing a New Path™ podcast are supported by Xplore Business, formerly Xplornet Enterprise Solutions.