Unreserved

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.

For David A. Robertson, anxiety and depression are some of the little monsters he's learning to live with. He sits down with Rosanna to share how his latest book All the Little Monsters: How I Learned to Live with Anxiety has been helping him to heal, build community and break the silence around mental health struggles.

Andrea Landry says she's Anishinaabe, not Canadian, and that's why she won't be voting in the Canadian election. Today Rosanna sits down with three activists and political advocates who are using their voices to push for change. For some it means voting and holding candidates to account. For others, there is more power in focusing their energy on family and community.

The Great Bear Rainforest is the only place you'll find the Spirit Bear – a courageous protector of that land. Rosanna hears from a “Spirit Bear Whisperer” on how the rare species is using its tough love to change the hearts and minds of those who visit the territory. Join us for stories and lessons from our bear relatives in the latest edition of our occasional series, Sacred Seven.

Spring is here and the warmer weather welcomes us out to the land to learn and pass along traditions from tanning hides in Whitehorse to harvesting maple sap in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in Ontario. Guest host Falen Johnson hears from communities all across Turtle Island, who are getting their first glimpse at a changing season and preparing for the lessons that come with it.

A recording of her mother's ECG heartbeat leads Kym Gouchie's song “Heartbeat” off her Juno nominated children's album. It's a nod to her Secwépemc ancestors. This week Rosanna speaks with three Juno nominees who credit their success to a history of music and storytelling passed down through their families.

From berry fasts to the Flower Dance, Indigenous communities are returning to ceremony and teachings that honour a menstruator's Moon Time. Rosanna hears from three women who are changing the conversation around menstruation from what is often talked about as “dirty” or “shameful” to something sacred. It is a time of rejuvenation, selfcare and celebration.

Along the northern coast of Labrador there are holes in the ice where Inuit could once travel freely and access the things they need to survive. A warming planet means sea ice is disappearing and Inuit are grappling with dramatic impacts on their way of life. Rosanna speaks with elders and researchers on the significance of ice in the North and how Inuit are adapting and building resiliency in the face of a climate crisis.

Whether it's inside a mall in downtown Winnipeg or on a farm beneath Toronto's hydro lines, Indigenous helpers are creating safe community spaces that offer care, knowledge and connection. Rosanna speaks to three of these helpers who are transforming these unexpected places.

Indigenous wellness experts are changing the way we think about health and beauty, challenging us to look beyond ourselves and ditch the shame. Try adding a cup of nettle tea to your day, dedicating a workout to a family member or playing a game with an elder. Rosanna speaks with three women approaching wellness in new ways, guided by Indigenous knowledge.

Have you ever heard of ammolite? It's a rare gemstone made of fossilized ammonite shells that can be found in Canada's Rockies. The stone is processed by lapidary artists like Bert Tallman, who cut, shape, sand and shine it up to be set in silver or gold jewellery. Rosanna speaks with jewellery makers who are creating wearable art inspired by culture, history and their traditional territories.

Mahsi' choo means “thank you” in the Gwich'in language. It's one of hundreds of Gwich'in words that are being brought into homes around the world through Molly of Denali. Rosanna speaks with creators who know the power of educational programming and are using it to share important teachings from an Indigenous perspective to the next generation.

A horse's movements can stimulate 300 of our own muscles at once, just by us sitting in a saddle. It's one of the reasons these animals make incredible physical therapists for those with mobility challenges – but their power encompasses the emotional and spiritual parts of our health as well. Rosanna hears from two women who have built their ranches around the understanding that horses are medicine, and they're using that healing power to help youth in their nations.

“Not Black enough to be Black, not red enough to be red,” Julian Taylor's music hasn't always leaned into all parts of the singer's Black and Mohawk identity. Rosanna sits down with Julian and his lifelong friend (and drummer) to talk about race, identity and the power of friendship as they make music out of it all.

A big pipe shoots constant fire and thick smoke into the sky above Aamjiwnaang First Nation in Ontario. As a child, Beze Grey thought clouds were made in their backyard because of those flares and smokestacks. A decade later and they're part of a group of youth taking the government to court over its failure to protect the environment around them. This week Rosanna speaks with climate warriors, including Beze Grey, who are leading the next generation of action, informed by tradition and Indigenous ways of knowing.

Canada's Arctic was the only place the new comedy series North of North could be shot – because there's no other way to capture the humour, culture and modernity of the people there. Rosanna speaks to four creators behind two new productions that put community at the centre of their storytelling. The documentary New Blood takes us into Blackfoot Territory and North of North gives us a glimpse of Inuit Nunangat through the fictional town of Ice Cove.

How will you be bringing Mino-Bimaadiziwin into 2025? Four friends of the show gather to share gifts of poetry, song and wisdom – all to get us thinking about what it means to be “living the good life.” Whether you celebrate the solstice or a new calendar year, join Rosanna for a time of reflection, resolution and rejuvenation.

In Cree they are called wawataywin. In Inuktitut, atsaniq and in the Dene language, the northern lights are called ya'ke ngas. But don't whistle at them, or you might attract unwanted attention out in the wilderness! Rosanna speaks with Indigenous people who are encouraging others to look at the Northern lights with a new perspective taking in lessons that have been passed down through generations.

In many Indigenous communities hockey is a BIG deal! It teaches teamwork, leadership, and brings together family and fans. This week Rosanna speaks with Indigenous hockey fanatics and learns that the game has also been a beacon of healing and hope.

The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair started writing letters to his granddaughter shortly after she was born. They are filled with lessons and love, and now they're being shared with a nation. This week Rosanna explores the legacy of a great Indigenous leader, guided by his granddaughter, Sarah Fontaine-Sinclair.

Áísínai'pi (where the pictures are) holds more than 200 petroglyphs and pictographs that tell the story of the Blackfoot in southern Alberta. They help tell a different story of a province known for its hikes, ski slopes and dinosaur bones. This week Rosanna heads to Alberta to explore popular tourist destinations through an Indigenous lens. From the Rockies to the Badlands, take the road less traveled with our Indigenous guides.

We live on the back of a great turtle, according to the stories of many nations. The turtle represents the teaching of truth, and is a healer of the land and waters. This week Rosanna speaks with turtle protectors and land defenders who are safeguarding our shell-dwelling friends, and passing on their stories and songs.

From Arizona to Alaska, the Indigenous vote is the sleeping giant. The U.S. presidential election is over for another term, and activists say the results could have been drastically different if more Native Americans showed up to vote. This week Rosanna sits down with three voter rights activists and organizers to talk about the power of the Indigenous vote and what it will take to harness it.

In one of Canada's oldest and largest cemeteries, clerks get multiple calls a day from people looking for loved ones. This week Rosanna takes us on a personal journey to Brookside Cemetery, in search of her grandfather Stanley McLeod. Along the way we learn how others are finding new and meaningful ways to honour our veterans and mark Remembrance Day.

Mazina Giizhik (the One Who Speaks of Pictures in the Sky) — also known as Murray Sinclair — made his journey to his ancestors yesterday. His death has Rosanna reflecting on a very special visit to his family home in September 2021, recorded in the lead up to the first ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Join us for a revealing, poignant and emotional conversation with Sinclair, Manitoba's first Indigenous judge, a former senator, lead commissioner for the TRC, and just "Mur." In this intimate interview, recorded in his backyard gazebo, they discuss reconciliation: how far we've come, how far we have left to go and who is responsible for taking the journey.For more Unreserved, find and follow wherever you get your podcasts, or here: https://lnk.to/UnreservedCBC

Ray and Glory St. Germain are the co-authors of a 50-year love story. This week Glory joins Rosanna for an intimate conversation about the legacy of Ray St. Germain, all of which was driven by his love of music and love of family. Ray St Germain started out as a country and rockabilly musician in the 50s, sharing the stage with the likes of Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers. At a time when many Metis people kept their identities quiet, Ray was loud and proud of being Metis -- and he wasn't afraid to sing about it!

Scary stories are meant to freak you out, but they also share important truths about our lives and our planet. Rosanna catches up with three Indigenous horror writers who are bringing new narratives to the genre, from films to poems.

The buffalo teaches us about respect, but those teachings come with a responsibility to support these animals and bring them back to their traditional lands. Rosanna travels to Blackfoot territory to meet people who are raising buffalo and buffalo consciousness – educating others on the ecological, biological and spiritual importance of this sacred creature. It's also a time of celebration as an agreement between nearly 70 Nations – the Buffalo Treaty – turns 10 years old.

Medical experiments, forced sterilization, incidents of racism that lead to patient deaths – these are just a few of the historic and ongoing harms against Indigenous people in hospitals across Canada. The Canadian Medical Association has acknowledged and apologized for it, but what comes next? Rosanna speaks with three leaders in the medical field about the way forward.

The fantasy genre often features magical worlds ruled by kings and conquerors with no mention of Indigenous people or of the harms of colonization. This week Rosanna speaks with Indigenous creators who are changing the narrative of fantasy from novels to comics and even board games.

The road to reconciliation is filled with bumps and turns along the way. This week, as Canada recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Rosanna speaks with three women who's journeys are helping to show us a way forward.

The sweat lodge had a lot in common with sweaty punk rock shows for Gabe Colhoff, the singer of 1876. This week Rosanna speaks with punks about the long history of Indigenous influence on the scene, from fashion to lyrics to pow wow.

It took a little creativity to find the Ojibway words for a sci-fi glossary fit for Star Wars, but concepts like "The Force" and "The Resistance" are familiar concepts to Indigenous people. It made Star Wars: A New Hope a rewarding challenge to dub into Anishinaabemowin. Rosanna speaks with the actors who brought the words to life, and the translators who are passing language to the next generation. Plus, we step into the triology and hear how Padme Amidala looks with a little Choctaw flare.

After 50 years on the endangered species list, the eagle is making a comeback in Canada's largest city. It's one of the things we're celebrating as we explore what the eagle can teach us about our health, our environment and our spirit. This week Rosanna takes us into our first episode of Sacred Seven – a new occasional series that explores the seven sacred teachings and introduces us to Indigenous Elders, knowledge keepers and community members who are putting those teachings into action.

Somebody had to refuse to get on the plane. For decades, Inuit women in northern Quebec had to travel south, far from family and community support, to give birth. But then one mother's act of defiance ultimately shifted maternal care in the north. In a bonus episode from our friends at The Current, Duncan McCue shares the history that led to the creation of the North's first midwifery clinic in 1986. His documentary, originally released last fall, is called Hands of a Midwife. For more stories to expand your worldview, find and follow The Current wherever you get your podcasts, or here: https://link.chtbl.com/7G8i7Ufm