Anishinaabe mother Rebeka Tabobondung’s intimate docuseries “Spirit of Birth” explores the resurgence in Indigenous birth practices across Turtle Island. It is now streaming on APTN Lumi.  In this episode, Rebeka shares the important role that Indigenous midwives played in First Nations communities before colonization; why Indigenous-led midwifery practices and training programs are so important; and how both Indigenous and non-Indigenous health providers are collaborating to incorporate traditional birth practices and create culturally safe spaces for our families.

Links and Resources:

https://aptnlumi.ca/details?assetId=13291501&assetType=621&intent=info&seriesId=1186706057359742-1

Rebeka Tabobondung's original "Spirit of Birth" short documentary

https://muskratmagazine.com/muskrat-presents-spirit-of-birth-a-short-doc-restoring-indigenous-birth-practices/

National Council of Indigenous Midwives

https://indigenousmidwifery.ca/

Association of Ontario Midwives

https://www.ontariomidwives.ca/indigenous-midwifery

Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto

https://www.sgmt.ca/

Tsi Nón:we Ionnakerátstha (Birthing Centre), Six Nations of the Grand River

https://www.snhs.ca/child-youth-health/birthing-centre/

K'Tigaaning Midwives, Nipissing First Nation

http://ktigaaningmidwives.com/

Eeyou Istchee Pimaatisiiwin Chiskutimaachawin (EIPC) Utinaausuwin (Midwifery) Training Program

https://www.creehealth.org/about-us/departments/pimuhteheu/midwifery-education-program

‘A sacred experience’: Indigenous midwives revive birthing traditions to deliver babies at home

https://midwiferymasters.mcmaster.ca/3651-2/

Kehewin Cree Nation brings traditional birthing back to community

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/kehewin-birthing-midwifery-program-1.7523188

Birth Alerts - First Nations Child and Family Caring Society

https://fncaringsociety.com/sites/default/files/2023-06/AAE_BirthAlerts_Final.pdf

Follow the Anishinabek Nation:

Jessica Tait, Sustainable Transportation Manager with Indigenous Clean Energy, helps First Nations and businesses plan for the upcoming transition to more electric vehicles on our roads. Canada's Electric Vehicle Availability Standard sets sales targets for new zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), and by 2035, 100% of new light duty vehicles sold in Canada will be ZEVs.  In our conversation, we talked about why working towards ZEV adoption and ZEV infrastructure is important for economic development and the wellbeing of First Nations, special considerations when installing ZEV chargers in First Nations, and how ZEV champions from our Anishinabek Nation communities have successfully adopted ZEV technology. Jessica will be at the upcoming Anishinabek Nation Economic Development Opportunities Forum (ANEDO) this October (2025) to share resources about ZEV vehicle options and ZEV charging infrastructure, and will also offer ZEV test drives in partnership with Plug'n Drive! 

Music:

Minou-Pimatiswen, by Nigel Irwin and Chippewa Travellers, and Washed Away, by Wolf Saga, Licenced by Nagamo publishing.

Plug’N Drive

Electric Vehicle Availability Standard

ICE Network

The Anishinabek Nation Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Program works to increase the general level of awareness and knowledge of community members about FASD, by offering unique culturally based programs and workshops, providing specialized training and resources to build capacity, and political advocacy to broaden the scope of FASD services for First Nations.

Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/j6igwi7aewpi4wik/S02E05_FASD_Awareness_Transcript_FINAL_2025-07-31.pdf

Links and Resources: 

Anishinabek Nation Health Secretariat

CanFASD - Canada FASD Research Network 

August 27, 2025: Bewiidookaagejig - Southwest Regional FASD Gathering, Chippewa of the Thames 

Nokomis Mary Elliott talks about our journey to healing from the impacts of colonialism and intergenerational trauma as Anishinaabe kwe-wuk, families, and communities. Nokomis Mary is Anishinaabe Kwe from Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. She shares her knowledge and wisdom about Anishinaabe traditions and spirituality to organizations across Ontario, including the Anishinabek Nation’s HIV Program. Nokomis Mary believes that we can regain our power and wellbeing as Anishinabek by reconnecting with our culture and ceremonies. 

Music:

Indian Day Schools in Canada

Canada’s reckoning with colonialism and education must include Indian Day Schools

Follow the Anishinabek Nation:

The Ontario Legislature recently passed Bill 5, the “Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act.”  Anishinabek Nation leadership has been strongly opposed to this legislation, as the provincial government intends to move quickly on creating “special economic zones” where mining, infrastructure and energy projects can bypass provincial and municipal laws, posing serious risks to the environment, species, and Indigenous cultural sites. First Nations were not consulted before the bill was drafted. In this episode, we’ll hear what our Anishinabek leadership had to say about Bill 5. How will Bill 5 impact First Nations?  How was this Bill fast-tracked through the Legislature? And what are our next steps going forward?

Dr. Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, Anishinabek Nation E-niiganwidood E’Dbendaagzijig (Citizenship Commissioner), explains how the Anishinabek Nation is asserting the inherent right to decide who our citizens are. The Anishinabek Nation created a Draft Declaration on E'Dbendaagzijig in 2025, and endorsed our own citizenship law, the E-Dbendaagzijig Naaknigewin in 2009. "E'Dbendaagzijig" is an Anishinaabemowin word that means "Those who belong.”

A longtime advocate for Indigenous women’s rights, Dr. Jeannette Corbiere Lavell shares her memories of the Indigenous youth movement in Toronto in the early 1970s, and her groundbreaking legal challenge of Section 12(1)(b) of the Indian Act, in a case that laid the foundation for changes to the Indian Act in 1985.

Dr. Jeannette Corbiere Lavell urges all Anishinabek citizens to learn more about the Declaration on E'Dbendaagzijig and E-Dbendaagzijig Naaknigewin, as they are important tools to help our Anishinabek First Nations develop their own citizenship laws and ensure that we "bring our members back into our family circle."

Music: 

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/dk64ipmvrjrfpntr/S2E2_Corbiere_Lavell_Transcript_FINAL_2025-05-28.pdf

Links and Resources:

E’Dbendaagzijig declaration drafted at gathering

Marsha Smoke, Anishinabek Nation Southeast Regional Chief, explains how the Anishinabek Nation is asserting the inherent right to decide who our citizens are. To move this forward, the Anishinabek Nation created a Draft Declaration on E'Dbendaagzijig in 2025, and our own citizenship law, the E-Dbendaagzijig Naaknigewin in 2009. "E'Dbendaagzijig" is an Anishinaabemowin word that means "Those who belong," or "Citizenship."

Since 1876, the Indian Act has been the primary federal law designed to exert power and control over First Nations in Canada. Despite many legal challenges and incremental changes to the Indian Act, the federal government still retains the power to determine who is registered as a "Status Indian," with access to certain rights and benefits, and how this status is passed down to future generations.  Under the Indian Act's "two-parent rule" or "second-generation cutoff", First Nations are at risk of having significantly fewer members in the years to come. 

An ongoing review of the Indian Act purports to seek solutions to make the Indian Act registration and band membership provisions more consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which Canada adopted in 2016.

Southeast Regional Chief Marsha Smoke urges all Anishinabek citizens to learn more about the Declaration on E'Dbendaagzijig and E-Dbendaagzijig Naaknigewin, as they are important tools to help our Anishinabek First Nations develop their own citizenship laws and ensure that we "bring our members back into our family circle."

This podcast is produced by the Communications Department at the Anishinabek Nation.

Music: “Brothers” by Wolf Saga and Chippewa Travellers. “Rememberance” by Wolf Saga/Chippewa Travellers/David R. Maracle. “Sisters” by Wolf Saga/Chippewa Travellers/David R. Maracle. “Night Stars” by Wolf Saga/Chippewa Travellers/David R. Maracle. All tracks provided by Nagamo Publishing. 

Transcript:  https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/5sb24fvc9cajdt36/S02E01_EDbendaagzijig_SRC_Smoke_Transcript_Final_2025-05-20.pdf

Links and Resources:

Anishinabek Nation E’Debendaagzijig (Those who belong)

https://anishinabek.ca/departments/governanceactivities/edbendaagzijig/

The Collaborative Process on the Second-Generation Cut-off and Section 10 Voting Thresholds

This podcast is produced by the Communications Department at the Anishinabek Nation.

Music: “Brothers” by Wolf Saga and Chippewa Travellers, “For Eddie” by Don Ross, licensed by Nagamo Publishing.

Click here to download the transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/yk8gvcm9seiggwde/Ep22_PAUL_Moose_Transcript_2025-04_07.pdf

Links and Resources:

https://mikmaqrights.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/MooseGuidelines.pdf

Tiam Mi’kmaq Ecological Knowledge: Moose in Unama’ki

Tiam This is Our Story

https://bemaadizijigganoonindwaa.podbean.com/e/mooz-symposium-part-1-traditional-mooz-harvesting-and-climate-change/

Mooz Symposium Part 2: Mooz research with Curtis Avery

Anishinabek families that are involved or at-risk of becoming involved in child protection matters can access support through the Anishinabek Nation Circle Process, a culturally-based, voluntary, child-centered, confidential circle, providing Anishinabek First Nation families with the support needed to create a plan that addresses child and youth well-being issues. This service is coordinated through Koganaawsawin, the central coordinating body of the Anishinabek Child, Youth, and Family Well-Being System.

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/27y8j5qugcixweab/Ep21_Circle_Process_Farr_Transcript_FINAL_2025-03-24.pdf

Links and Resources:

Koganaawsawin – Child Well-Being Working Group

https://www.koganaawsawin.ca/cwbwg

An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families

In 2024, Beausoleil First Nation opened their very own dialysis unit, named Anwaatin Nbi (Calming Waters).  Since Beausoleil is only accessible by ferry, having dialysis available in the community reduces travel and treatment time for each visit from up to eight hours, to just three hours.

Music: “Brothers” by Wolf Saga and Chippewa Travellers, and “A Very Warm Welcome” by Justin Delorme, licensed by Nagamo Publishing.

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/6yuh4q7ungatd7r5/Ep20_Kidney_Health_Beausoleil_2025-02-28.pdf

Links and Resources: