Unreserved

Canada’s Arctic was the only place the series North of North could be shot – because there’s no other way to capture the humour, culture and modernity of the people there. The show gives us a glimpse of Inuit Nunangat through the fictional town of Ice Cove. Rosanna speaks with Stacy Aglok MacDonald, Alethea Arnaquq-Bariland and Anna Lambe about how they’re putting community at the centre of their storytelling.

In a compelling panel discussion, Falen Johnson sits down with Karyn Pugliese (CBC, APTN, Canadaland), January Rogers (2 Ro Media, Ojistoh Publishing), and Kairyn Potts and Scott Wabano (The Real Rank Podcast) to talk about the ever shifting landscape of podcasting. How do Indigenous creators stand out, develop audiences while maintaining an authentic voice? What does sovereignty look like in a digital and audio space?

In a vault below a museum in St. John’s sit the remains of a Beothuk woman named Demasduit. Rosanna travels to Newfoundland and Labrador to hear her story and how it informs the complicated history of North America’s oldest city. Demasduit was abducted in life and in death – her skull taken to Europe for study and then locked away for nearly 200 years. We explore a city known for its colourful houses and robust military and communications history, with the on-going story of Demasduit in mind.

The Kilaut, or Inuit drum, is bigger than many hand drums – but small enough to be wielded by its drum dancers. Rosanna heads to St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador to learn about a tradition that was almost lost due to colonial bans on cultural practices and expressions. She meets singers, drummers and dancers who are reclaiming and sharing this cherished Inuit tradition.

As wildfires devastate communities, it can be hard to see fire as a tool for good. Guided by Indigenous stewards, fire can also be a force for renewal. Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson is working to bring back cultural burning practices that colonization once outlawed. She says these fires are good for community and for the land – and can even help prevent wildfires. Rosanna speaks to fire researchers and a fire keeper about the role fire plays in Indigenous land stewardship, ceremony and culture.

Cree teachings tell us that difference is not a deficit – and autistic children are a gift. This week Rosanna sits down with Indigenous healthcare professionals who are celebrating our differences, whether it’s putting an Indigenous lens on autism research or broadening the circle to better support and care for our Two-Spirit kin. Through stories of strength, culture, and compassion, this episode highlights how celebrating identity improves health outcomes and builds thriving communities.

The Tuscarora are in a race against time to save the red wolves which once numbered in the thousands.

Only a handful remain due to highway fatalities. A solution was in the works until the Trump administration froze all federal funding, driving the red wolf closer to extinction. Rosanna speaks with conservationists fighting to save and support wolves on Tuscarora territory and across Turtle Island.

Canada's first Inuk professional classical singer quit her beloved job as a teacher to pursue music fulltime. Now she's raking in the awards — including Indigenous Artist of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards. Rosanna hits the red carpet with Deantha Edmunds and the other Indigenous nominees to celebrate their success and hear what drives their passion for music and story.

When Theland Kicknosway was seven years old he had a dream of hoop dancing in the rainbow. A few years later that dream became a reality when he discovered LED hoops. This week Rosanna hears from hoop dancers who are keeping the tradition alive and helping it evolve for future generations.

Every week a group of elders gather at a Friendship Centre in St. John’s. They first came here several decades ago looking for connection – and they continue to find it, while also offering cultural supports to all who visit. This week Rosanna hears from people with a long relationship with friendship centres who describe the evolution of a cultural movement and how its foundation is inspiring new generations and iterations of these community hubs across Turtle Island.