We can find unity in our diversity ✊🏼 I am proud to partner IllumiNative and Mag 7 for the release of “We Are One,” a collaboration to show the richness, diversity, and beauty of Indian Country. Today on Indigenous Peoples' Day and every day we are here to say that We Are Still Here. Research has shown that the lack of representation of Native peoples in mainstream society creates a void that limits the understanding and knowledge that Americans have of Native communities. We are here to fight the invisibility that Natives face by amplifying contemporary, authentic Native voices, and supporting Native peoples tell their story. We as humans all live in this one world where we have to work and live together. Our goal is for Native peoples to be normalized in a current today and show accurate and positive representations of our people. About IllumiNative and Mag 7: IllumiNative is an initiative, created and led by Natives, to challenge the negative narrative that surrounds Native communities and ensure accurate and authentic portrayals of Native communities are present in pop culture and media. Mag 7 is a collective of seven MCs and songwriters from different tribes, who came together for hope and optimism. The members of Mag 7 are Drezus (Plains Cree tribe), Supaman (Crow tribe), PJ Vegas (Shoshone / Yaqui tribes), Kahara Hodges (Navajo tribe), Doc Native (Seminole tribe), Spencer Battiest (Seminole tribe), and Emcee One (Osage/Potawatomi tribes).

Artists: Alannah Young Leon, Larry Grant, Rose Point & Francine Burning Title: "Indigenous Connections to Land" Medium: 4:37 mn film The collective visual story presented here embodies intergenerational learning where students continue to embrace Indigenous protocols and Elders teachings to reconcile relationships with the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and with the unceded and occupied lands in which we work and study. This visual story demonstrates how we continue to Live the Indigenous Teachings in working with Elders and how Indigenous protocol principles are important in our education-just as they have always been. This storywork process helps us to ask the questions: Why is it important to know the history of places? What protocols were used in the film and in the context of "Idle No More" what can we learn from Indigenous connections to lands?

Happy Native American Heritage Month! The Water Wars continue! Many think that the movement at Standing Rock has come and gone, not knowing that was only a wake up call to what is happening around the world! Indigenous people continue to lead the fight against big corporations who only wish to profit at the expense of the people’s well being in the fight for clean water. In 2017 Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas pulled together some amazing Indigenous artist on a song and video titled “Stand Up” (For Standing Rock) which went on to win an MTV VMA award which veteran Native emcee Supaman was a part of. The fight continues in this hard hitting visual masterpiece where Supaman teams up with grammy nominated Maimouna Youssef from the Choctaw nation to inspire, educate, motivate, and encourage those still standing in the global fight to clean water. Mega talented emcee Supaman who is known for infusing Native culture and hip hop culture in his music, says “the video for Miracle featuing Maimouna Youssef is much more than a tribute to Water song. It holds so much more meaning and symbolism throughout, that the average viewer might miss. Right away you are presented with so many gems in the video. The women warriors dressed in the red elktooth dresses with war bonnets on (Shoshone dance, a victory dance) which are significant to Supaman’s people the Apsaalooke. The “red” gives tribute and awareness of the “Missing and murdered Indigenous women” which is an on going epidemic throughout the country. Supaman’s unapologetic verse flows over the self produced boom bap beat accompanied by the haunting violin sounds of Grammy award winning violinist Luisa Bastidas and paints a superb picture of family, unity, and prayer. Maimouna Youssef who was recently featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert with Black Thought and also featured on Sway in the Morning, delivers flawless harmonies on the hook and talks about “the spirit of the Ghost Dance......” a movement that was started in the 1800‘s by Paiute medicine man, Wovoka. This was a spiritual movement of dance promoting hope, unity, and peace amongst the people. In the video you see the beauty of this movement by the many different cultural dances uniting for the same cause and fighting oppression around the world. Maimouna displays her uncanny musical gifts of singing and rapping while taking us on an empowering unprecedented journey of resilience with her verse with lines like “we gave them liberty and they gave us slaughter, no land of the free, for my fore fathers”. All and all “Miracle” is a timely masterpiece which reminds us of and captures the resilient power and value of the Indigenous people. A voice that demands attention in this day and time. Directed and Edited by Jihan Hafiz Production Manager Salina Manson

Since its inception, Canada has been stealing Indigenous lands — by the barrel of a gun, by starvation tactics & by tearing children from their families. In our first video explainer, lawyer and professor Pam Palmater argues that symbolic gestures won’t amount to justice. It’s time for Land Back. Full transcript: https://breachmedia.ca/land_back