Hummingbirds Rising Consulting

An opportunity to watch this excellent film tomorrow!

Happy New Year! Resting is an act of resistance. We will be limited in our responses until Jan. 11, 2021 and we are booking into April for new clients. Please check out our website to book an appointment.

Happy Heavenly Birthday Tina Much love to her family and all those who have shared their grief.

An urgent call for action and support from PAFNW

We have been eagerly waiting for this report to be released. Please make sure to take a deep read on this and listen to these good words being shared today.

A big part of Decolonization is about naming and place names. Australia Post has recently adopted an initiative that encourages and recognizes the use of traditional place names when addressing mail. The idea is that the mail or package passes through many hands in transit and recognizes WHOSE Land the package is travelling to. The Gomeroi woman who spearheaded the project, Rachel McPhail petitioned Australia Post for the changes just in the past few months. ... Australia Post updated it's addressing guidelines just this week to include instructions on how to properly use traditional place names in addressing. Part of a Decolonization process in Canada should include a similar development with Canada Post. https://www.abc.net.au//australia-post-agrees-to/12872484

This is a great watch list!

Check out Totem Design House and remember to support Indigenous arts

This day was created to honour the addtional sacrifices Indigenous Veterans made and because Indigenous Veterans were excluded from Rememberance Day Services for a long time. National Aboriginal Veterans Day, November 8

As you may remember just five and a half months ago twenty six year old Chantel Moore was brutally murdered by police officer in Edmundston NB. Chantel's mother Martha Martin has been grieving every moment since. All the while taking care of Chantel's little girl Gracie. November 14, 2020 Martha was informed of her son's passing. Now she has to lay her beloved twenty three year old son, Mike, to his final resting place. Let's come together and provide some financial support for Martha. Any donation would be graciously accepted. Your contribution will help cover the cost of travel expenses, accommodation and so much more.

Looking forward to this!

Tomorrow, Rhiannon Bennett will be providing opening remarks for this incredibly important and powerful conversation.

Happy Musqueam Day! Today Musqueam recognizes this day as a stat holiday in honour of the important Guerin Case. Everyday my ancestors and family have resisted colonization by fighting to stop the theft of our lands and to protect the eco-systems that we thrived in for 10,000 years. ... Please take some time today to do some learning on the Guerin Case. https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/guerin_case/ https://www.musqueam.bc.ca/our-story/who-we-are/ ~Rhiannon

This will be powerful. Set your pvrs!

Make sure to check this out!

You know how excited we get about books, right? Well this is awesome news - Two Indigenous authors, Michelle Good and Thomas King, are on the long list of nominations for the Giller Prize, which recognizes the best books in Canadian fiction. Have you read either of their books? ... Michelle Good's debut novel is titled Five Little Indians and Thomas King, the author of The Inconvenient Indian, has released a new novel called "Indians on Vacation". Have you read either of these titles? https://www.cbc.ca//michelle-good-thomas-king-giller-prize

Compliments that are actually micro-aggressions of racism.

Something to celebrate! An Indigenous Youth that Andrea has worked with has now become an ambassador for Indigenous youth (which wasn't a surprise) and is part of Reitman's Wear Your Support Campaign! $5 of each t-shirt sold will go to UNYA (Urban Native Youth Association).... If you can, please go to this website and purchase a t-shirt! If not the one worn by Arianna Lauren, then one of the other excellent shirts fundraising for one of the other amazing organizations. And then follow Arianna Lauren on IG https://www.instagram.com/quwutsunmade/ and buy her products, too! To buy a shirt - make sure you visit: https://www.reitmans.com/en/tops/diversity

Thanks to the talented folks at Talking Dog Communications, especially Samantha, we have some fab new website updates! Take a look at our newly updated service offerings, our list of workshops, and our consulting services. https://hummingbirdsrising.ca/

A great read on Cultural Appreciation vs Cultural Appropriation

The juicy story of how Blackberries took over. Spoiler alert it is a part of colonization If you are out for a walk this weekend, take a look around you and see how many plants and wildlife species you can name. Do you know which ones are indigenous, which ones are invasive, and which ones are non-indigenous?

Are you as excited as we are about the adaptation of Son of A Trickster coming up this Fall on CBC? You may remember that this book is one of our top picks for Indigenous reads by Indigenous Authors. Read the book, then get excited about this upcoming series!!... https://youtu.be/6IHLDWHxSLw

Canadian history everyone should know about. Sadly, the Canadian government continues to deploy militarized police to forcibly remove Indigenous people. Spend some time tonight learning and reflecting on this.

If you are around in Metro Vancouver today at 12:30, take a listen to our friend Amanda from Growing Chefs!

Museum of Anthropology has a powerful exhibit of Kent Monkman's work. Let us know what you think. Comment below if you have had a chance to go and see it.

Trigger warning: the image on this story could illicit trauma responses. The Museum of Anthropology is opening again, post-lockdown, and is hosting a Kent Mokman exhibit called Shame and Prejudice. Will you venture out to see it?

Oooo another book for us to add to our beautiful list of awesome books!

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond has some great remarks on systemic racism and the need for addressing it. We have done some work with Health Care Workers and we know that there is still a lot of work to be done and there are people who are ready and willing to get to work.

Happy Weekend! Did you know that Rhiannon and Andrea both love soccer? This is a fantastic interview with Terry Felix, North America's FIRST Indigenous Pro-Soccer Player - who played for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC starting in 1983. His son and grand-daughter (Rhiannons cousins) also coach and/or play. https://www.whitecapsfc.com//community-and-respect-terry-f

These types of positions at Institutions like the University of Victoria are a new (and critical) part of moving forward towards tangible Decolonization and Reconciliation. More of this please.

Racist behaviour in health care harms Indigenous people and continues to harm again and again, as more stories are shared about the lived experiences of Indigenous People trying to receive health care in Canada. Most non-Indigenous people would not be subjected to denial or delay of care, having bets made on levels of intoxication, or being sent home prematurely based on assumption of the type of injury (tip of the iceberg). Start to recognize the bias you may carry. That fl...eeting thought. That assumption you make. Call it out and undo the conditioning that you carry. https://www.cbc.ca//indigenous-patients-nurses-on-alleged-

Hey! We are really excited to be a sponsor for this upcoming event and conversation around Filipinxs/as/os presence in Canada. Join us this Wednesday at 5 pm - More details on the event page below.

Resistance and Resurgence: It's Indigenous Peoples Day - if you are not Indigenous, chances are you've not considered how the Indian Act affects you (hint: it generally doesn't) If you're Indigenous, The Indian Act continues to have a lasting impact on the lives of Indigenous People in Canada. ... By closely looking at the colonist structures that still affect the lives of Indigenous People in Canada, we can start to observe and recognize the privilege that non-Indigenous people in Canada continue to have today. https://www.cbc.ca//how-the-indian-act-continues-to-impact

Have you ever wondered what we actually do? Here's our business success statement: We help Non-Indigenous Canadians develop the skills, compassions and abilities to recognize and change systems and practices so they can play an active and meaningful part in Decolonization.... If this describes you, then let's chat!

If you werent able to log into Zoom, todays panel is also being streamed via Facebook Live.

Today at 4:00 pm Feminists Deliver is hosting a free online discussion around "Asian Heritage Month". Attendance is free, and it will be a rich discussion. Rhiannon Bennett and Andrea Hilder will be attending as active listeners. Will you be there?

This was created in the USA but other than differences in language, all of this can be applied in Canada as well. White Supremacy must be dismantled and the first step to dismantling it, is to name it. You can't tear apart this system if you aren't looking at it.

Indigenous wisdom and technology is (and always has been) sustainable. Fashion is an industry that has long been unsustainable and harmful to the environment. What happens when Vogue champions Indigenous fashion designers? ... Sustainable fashion is front and centre. Sustainability has always been built into Indigenous wisdom and technology. https://www-vogue-com.cdn.ampproject.org//indigenous-/amp

Lots to unpack for "Asian Heritage Month". Join Feminists Deliver for this panel discussion.

The Indian Act This week we bring you a book by Bob Joseph: 21 Things you may not know about the Indian Act. ... In addition to the resources we have shared over the past two weeks, this book is also a great entry-point into the distorted laws that still govern Indigenous people in Canada. Here are two interviews with the author, Bob Joseph https://www.cbc.ca//21-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-i

#decolonizeyourlanguage OK, be honest - how often have you used or shared the term 'Spirit Animal' and you're not Indigenous? The misappropriation of the term 'spirit animal' as a joke, a meme, or an otherwise meaningless comparison to an everyday object is a form of micro-agression against Indigenous people. ... Cultural appropriation is closely linked to the casual integration (theft) of sacred words and cultural practices of Indigenous people. It is NOT ok. Unless you're Indigenous, find a different way to describe the animal guide you feel connected with. And don't share those memes. https://www.spiralnature.com//spirit-animal-cultural-app/

What is the Indian Act? It is Canadian federal law from 1876 that governs all matters regarding to Indian status, bands and Indian reserves. The Indian Act is still law in Canada today. ... In a follow-up to last week's post about the Indian Act, and for many of you who may be #pandemicparenting, we are sharing a great teaching resource for exploring The Indian Act with your children and/or learners. And even if you're neither a parent, nor a teacher, this material and presentation are easy to follow, clear, and act as an illuminating entry point into Indigenous and colonist relations in Canada. https://www.cbc.ca//teaching-guide-the-indian-act-1.5290134

Important work was done on day 2 of Feminists Deliver - June 4, 2019. The message is just as true today as it was all those months ago.

TRIGGER WARNING (image) Inconvenient Skin was written by Shane Koyczan, a slam poet who grew up in Penticton, BC. The book features artwork by Indigenous artists, the front cover is Kent Monkmans The Scream. ... Shane has a very distinctive style of writing and performing that is powerful and unforgettable. The book is confronting, raw, and honest in exploring the pain and truth of how Indigenous People in Canada were (and still are) systematically oppressed. "To clean a wound you must expose it to the stinging air. That is where we are right now; witnesses to the blood and pain." You can see Shane performing this work on the YouTube Video link in the comments below.

Did you miss this on May 5th? Put it in your calendar for next year and make sure to wear red and put a red dress out \o/

Via Feminists Deliver May 5 is the National Day Of Awareness For Missing and Murdered Two-Spirit Peoples, Indigenous Women and Girls. It is an important day of reflection, grieving, and action. Please wear red to remember and raise awareness about our stolen sisters. Join us in watching these powerful messages from Indigenous women and allies in response to the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit Peoples presented in last year's Feminists Deliver Conference. Emceed by Rhiannon Bennett from Hummingbirds Rising Consulting, we thank Sharon McIvor, Lorelei Williams of Butterflies in Spirit, Sophie Merasty, Summer Rain Bentham of BWSS Battered Women's Support Services, Anita Lucchesi, and UBCIC Grand Chief Stewart Phillip.

Via Feminists Deliver Today is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Two-Spirit People, Indigenous Women and Girls. Please wear red today, to raise awareness about this pandemic, and to remember our stolen sisters. In our 2019 conference, Lorelei Williams of Butterflies in Spirit remembered: Belinda Williams... Tanya Holyk Wahbinmigisi "Pennie" Robertson Please watch the video: YouTube: https://t.co/4flNZI1iXP?amp=1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FeministsDeliver/videos/708483436359386/ See more

We need to keep families together. Colonization and missing and murdered Indigenous women has broken families. The children left behind by missing and murdered... Indigenous women are mostly in foster care and then when they age out they end up on the street. The violence against missing and murdered Indigenous women continues with their children who are also violated and made vulnerable. Please read this compelling report by Downtown Eastside Women's Centre on the Indigenous Women Survivors in the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver. http://dewc.ca/resources/redwomenrising

Keynote speaker Melina Laboucane-Massimo shared her personal and professional experience about being an Indigenous Cree woman from northern Alberta, Treaty 10 Territory. Melina drew strong parallels between environmental climate justice and gender justice and how these two movements intersect. Melina also honours her sister, Bella Marie Laboucan-McLean. Watch her talk: Violence against the Land Begets Violence against Women.