This new month means we are inching closer to the end of 2021 and with that comes a desire to close chapters and tie loose ends. But we will continue to make it a priority to read and learn about the inspired work of the BIPOC community.
There is an immense amount of content out in the world that is shouting to get out into the hands of more people so we can learn about their stories. We are sharing just a few in this month’s post.
Reading
This memoir dives deep into the experience of being both Black and Indigenous in America. Shonda Buchanan shares her identity and inheritance in this narration. Buchanan was raised as a Black woman but was told of her multiracial heritage throughout her life.
She calls this book an “attempt to expand, reclaim, and celebrate narratives of the African American experiences as well as the American Indian experiences” that inform her sense of self.
The Midwest Book review calls this book “An inherently fascinating, deftly written, thoughtful and thought-provoking memoir of an extraordinary woman and her extraordinary family.”
Get your copy here.
Watching
We are inspired by this beautiful heart-wrenching film written and directed by Chloé Zhao. Songs My Brothers Taught Me showcases the harsh realities Native families face on the reservation. It follows the lives and relationship of two siblings living on Pine Ridge in South Dakota and it captures the emotions and the pains of their journey.
Watch the trailer here.
Listening
We recently stumbled across Coffee with my Ma and even though there are only a few episodes available, it’s a great listen.
Kahn-Tineta Horn, mother of actress Kaniehtiio Horn from the Mohawk territory tells stories from her past as a model in the 1960’s and a fierce Mohawk advocate. The stories showcase love and resilience with a good mix of humor.
The podcast brings you to a place where you feel like you’re sitting at the kitchen table listening to these unbelievable stories of love and resilience, with a good mixture of humor. Listen here.
Learning
We really appreciate the Native Roots Greener Futures course because it dives deeper into topics that allow us to make a positive change in our lives. It takes a new approach to exploring indigenous knowledge systems, and approaches the benefits of wild plants for health and medicinal purposes, while also looking at the negative effects of climate change on wild plants and Indigenous Peoples who rely on them. Extremely interesting and applicable to life today.
The course objectives are to:
- Learn Indigenous sciences to address climate change
- Contrast Indigenous ways of knowing and western knowledge systems
- Define CO2 and its effects on plants
- Explore how the colors of plants, fruits, and vegetables provide medicine and nutrition
- Learn how to become an activist scholar and change the world!
- Apply mindfulness for self-care and successful studies
You can find out more and register online here.