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Raylene Whitford has not followed a typical career path. The Edmonton-born Métis woman has trudged around the jungles of Ecuador, the concrete and glass of a five-star hotel in the Middle East, and the corridors of the London Stock Exchange. Oh yeah: she tried roughnecking for a while, too.
Now, Raylene is pursuing her doctorate back in Canada, while using her social enterprise Canative Energy to empower Indigenous communities impacted by extractive industries.
In this episode, Raylene credits cohost Jessica Vandenberghe and her role modeling with showing her what success can look like for an Indigenous woman.
She also says—among other things—that Canadians can learn a lot about living their lives in a good way by spending some non-disruptive quality time in the great outdoors.

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Co-host George Lee reconnects with a childhood friend from the Syilx, or Okanagan, territory. Arnie Baptiste teaches the Nsyilxcn language for the Penticton Indian Band at Outma Sqilx'w Cultural School. Also featured are cohost Jessica Vandenberghe, a cast of hundreds at an outdoor flea market, and a 10-week-old border collie whose name translates to Black or Dark Moon in English.

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In this revisted episode, an Indigenous engineer gives his take on creating a better Canada for all its nations and peoples. Jessica and George chat with Steven Vaivada about the roles and approaches of his company, Scout Engineering & Consulting Ltd. You'll also hear about an emerging vision for a utilities and infrastructure corridor that brings together all perspectives, interests and communities. Steven also discusses how abandoning stereotypes is hard but necessary.

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We're celebrating Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month with a rebroadcast of our October 7, 2021, episode.
In this episode Jessica and George chat with Lydia Toorenburgh, a two-spirit Métis student from the University of Victoria.
Lydia, who studies anthropology, discusses colonial attitudes and practices, inside and outside of academia, along with finding and refining identity through connections with your people, your language, and the land.
Anthropologic practices are rooted in colonialism, Lydia says—but they don't have to stay that way.

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Co-hosts Jessica Vandenberghe and George Lee reconnect to kick off National Indigenous History Month in Canada and catch up on things they've read and seen, apologies they've heard, and plans they've made for their podcast.

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Anyone who thought the Order of Canada would tame Art Bergmann was wrong. Deeply wrong.
The singer-songwriter is as biting and anti-establishment as ever, demonstrated by his latest album, Late Stage Dementia Empire, and his unflinching opinions on his country's failings.
Jessica and George talk with the veteran of Canada's music scene about residential schools, music, allyship, colonialism, and more.
And there's lots of music to puncutate the conversation—who needs commas when you've got rock 'n' roll?

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Canadians need to work with Indigenous communities right now for real change, say two Edmontonians whose experience with Indigenous peoples spans decades and industries.
Malcolm Bruce is the CEO of Edmonton Global, the economic development organization for the capital city's metro region. Shawna Bruce is a self-employed communications consultant whose career took her to executive positions with the chemical giant Dow. Both have had leadership roles in the Canadian Armed Forces.
"This is a tragedy of so many levels. There's no light here. But if it's a catalyst for real change and reconciliation, then let's keep that conversation going," Shawna tells Jessica and George.
Malcolm adds: "We all need to be at the table to make this happen. We have to find bridges, we have to find ways to work together, and we have to find creative solutions we can all live with."

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It took arson for the Indian Agent to force the Lheidli T'enneh people from their village in 1913. But these days the First Nation and Prince George, B.C., are working together to truthfully share their stories—and, while they're at it, build enduring and respectful relationships.
Hosts Jessica and George discuss an award-winning conciliation success with Tracy Calogheros, from the perspective of her personal journey and that of the institution she leads, the Exploration Place Museum and Science Centre.
Tracy speaks of how museums in Canada can reinvent themselves, as they begin to shed the residue of colonization by partnering with First Nations communities.

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The actor Joe Dion Buffalo, from Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis, Alberta, talks about his time at residential school, his path to professional skateboarding, the perseverance of racism in Canada, and the youth charity he cofounded.
Joe also speaks candidly about the roles that addiction—and sobriety—have played in his story so far.
As the podcast drops, a documentary short about his life keeps picking up accolades. Called, appropriately enough, Joe Buffalo , the film recently earned the endorsement of perhaps the world's best-known skater, Tony Hawk, who signed on as an executive producer.  And the venerable magazineThe New Yorker has posted the short on its website.
Joe cowrote, appears in, and narrates the documentary, which has been screened at Cannes and Tribeca. At the Calgary Underground Film Festival, it earned the jury award and the audience award.

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Jessica and George talk about colonial attitudes and practices, inside and outside of academia, with a two-spirit, Cree-Métis student from the University of Victoria.
Lydia Toorenburgh, who studies anthropology, discusses finding and refining your identity through connections with your people, your language, and the land.
Anthropologic practices are rooted in colonialism, Lydia says—but they don't have to stay that way.

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[email protected]