First Voices Radio

Dr. Paulette Steeves (Cree and Métis) is an Associate Professor in Sociology at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and a Canada Research Chair in Healing and Reconciliation. Dr. Steeves' research focus is on the Pleistocene history of the Western Hemisphere, reclaiming and rewriting Indigenous histories and healing and reconciliation, and she argues that Indigenous peoples were present in the Western Hemisphere as early as 100,000 years ago, and possibly much earlier. Her first book - which should be in every library - is "The Indigenous Paleolithic of the Americas," published in July 2021 by The University of Nebraska Press.

Dr. Steeves has said that rewriting and un-erasing Indigenous histories becomes a part of healing and reconciliation, transforming public consciousness, and confronting and challenging racism.

During this podcast, Tiokasin talks with Dr. Steeves about her current work on the "Canadian Residential School and Colonial Institutions Database, 1620 to the Present." This is a comprehensive database of Residential Schools, Indian Hospitals, and Indian Day Schools in Canada. There are now 950 sites in the database. Dr. Steeves says, "The numbers of missing and deceased children who were forced to attend residential schools in Canada may never be known. We must work to find the ones we can, to locate the hundreds of unmarked burials at residential schools, Indian day schools, and Indian hospitals, and to acknowledge the children, and honor their memories." Visit https://www.crscid.com/database for more information. If you notice a school or institution is missing, email the information to Dr. Steeves at paulette.steeves@algomau.ca and the information will be added to the database.

Production Credits:
Tiokasin Ghosthorse (Lakota), Host and Executive Producer
Liz Hill (Red Lake Ojibwe), Producer
Malcolm Burn, Studio Engineer, Radio Kingston, WKNY 1490 AM and 107.9 FM, Kingston, NY
Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Audio Editor

Music Selections:
1. Song Title: Tahi Roots Mix (First Voices Radio Theme Song)
Artist: Moana and the Moa Hunters
CD: Tahi (1993)
Label: Southside Records (Australia and New Zealand)
(00:00:44)

2. Song Title: Fallen Angel (feat. Peter Gabriel)
Artist: Robbie Robertson
CD: Robbie Robertson (1987)
Label: Geffen Records
(00:38:37)

3. Audio Selection: Begin Again (Short Film) (2020)
Artist: Nick Mulvey
Synopsis: To celebrate the limited edition vinyl release of "Begin Again," Nick Mulvey together with director Sam Mulvey brings us a short and poignant film reflecting on the meaning of "Begin Again" and how the musical project developed in one of the most unprecedented years in our lifetime.
Film available for viewing on YouTube: Search Nick Mulvey Begin Again
Listen to the song Begin Again: http://nickmulvey.lnk.to/BeginAgainID
(00:42:58)

Visit Akantu Institute, an institute that Tiokasin founded with a mission of contextualizing original wisdom for troubled times. Go to https://akantuinstitute.org/ to find out more and consider joining his Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/Ghosthorse.