Since the situation in Attawapiskat has hit the main stream media, there have been many articles written about how the Canadian government is to blame for the situation, and how poorly the Chief and Council have managed their funds. All this rhetoric hasn’t solved the housing problem. Now I don’t need to go into the details of the politics here, I’m nor educated or qualified enough to do so. However,  I know one of the more feasible solutions comes from non other than Mike Holmes himself.

To quote: “Stop building junk on reserves. Solutions lie in the willingness to embrace ideas others may want to dismiss out of hand. Maybe we can make better choices about building materials that may initially be more expensive but last longer and won’t burn or be susceptible to mould. Maybe we can consider buildings not based on a wood frame, such as steel shipping containers converted into comfortable homes.”

“Let’s look at the building technology,” says Holmes, whose ideal First Nations home would be about 1,100 square feet and built with wood and other materials that won’t burn or be susceptible to mould. “I don’t care if you want a box. I don’t care if you want it off the ground. I don’t care if you want a foundation. It’s using all the products that make sense, nothing but mould-free, nothing but zero VOCs [volatile organic compounds]. This is not hard.”

I wanted to feature some of the shipping container concepts. These are very popular in Europe and for very good reason. Affordable, flexible and transportable.

Project Keetwonen, Amsterdam
Here, containers have been used to create 1,000 dorm units for Dutch students, making it the biggest container city in the world. It was launched by Tempo Housing in 2006. Not only does it look hip and provides all the amenities a student could ask for, it also has a rooftop used for rainwater drainage, heat dispersal and insulation of the units below. The award-winning project has received a lot of international attention and is so successful that its planned relocation after 5 years has been postponed until 2016.

Container City, London
Developers Urban Space Management used a flexible, component-based container construction system to build this city in the London Docklands in 2001. The demand was so high for these homes made from 80% recycled materials that by 2002 they had built a second city right next to it. Rather than following the 1 container = 1 unit concept, architect Nicholas Lacey and partners and engineer Buro Happold used component pieces to create adaptable living and work spaces.

One-Container House, USA
This 40-foot one-container model, called Modular Dwelling Unit (MDU) by New York-based design company LOT-EK is colorful, shows a clean design and was built with reused industrial materials. According to the company website, MDUs have been designed for “individuals moving around the globe.” That takes the question if one’s shipment has arrived to a whole new level!

There is even a Victoria, B.C. company, Zigloo that is now building container homes. Designer Keith Dewey built his own home out of eight end-of-life shipping containers. For an excellent Canadian perspective please read the 3-part article “Green and Affordable homes, out of the box” by Monte Paulsen for The Tyee. You can also click here to download a copy of the entire series in PDF.

Let me know your thoughts, I know I’m excited to know that there is an affordable housing solution.

When I woke up this morning, all I could think about was how chilly it was in my home. I hit the snooze button several times as I dreaded getting out of bed and having to take a shower in temperatures that hovered around 17C. The furnace doesn’t kick in until later.

As I stare at myself in the mirror I turned on the tap so that I can wet my toothbrush and begin brushing my teeth, I began an internal dialogue about Attawapiskat. No running water, no bathrooms, no heat, lack of housing! I ask myself, What can I do to help our people? I’m only a graphic designer, this problem is much bigger than me. Attawapiskat isn’t the only community that is suffering, but their plight is most dire.

I hop into the shower, ahh… warmth envelops me. I ask myself more questions, there isn’t much time for these families, winter is already upon them. How quickly can we mobilize a response? My heart begins to race, as I think of the grandmothers, grandfathers and the little ones huddled together in cramped quarters – freezing. A sense of urgency and anxiety sets in. Tears well up in my eyes as I pour shampoo on my head. Our people need help!!!

For the next ten minutes, I stand in the shower as more thoughts and ideas race through my mind. At what point did the Chief and Council finally decide to take action, and declare a state of emergency? Will that online petition really motivate the government into action? There is a lot of online chattering occurring on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. Charlie Angus — Member of Parliament, Timmins-James Bay wrote an article entitled “What if they declared an Emergency and no one came?” That piece gave the issue a huge boost in publicity, with over 17,000 Facebook shares and 40,000 Likes and counting.

How did our people get to this state? Thoughts of the book, Dances with Dependency by Calvin Helin creep into my mind. Some memorable quotes:

“Money has been liberally thrown at Indian problems with nominal impact”,

“How long are we prepared to leave the plight of Aboriginal children and youth in the unkind hands of the welfare trap? How many more families need to fall as casualties of a fatal “welfare syndrome” — one that is literally stealing the lives and hopes of our future generations? We have to shake off the apathy of what has become an all too comfortable “cloak of welfare” and act to fix the problems now.”

“The tears and broken hearts of thousands of mothers and grandmothers should be enough to convince anyone that we must take action now.”

We are too dependant on the Canadian government. They want us to fail, to disappear into history. The indian problem will finally be solved. Perhaps this is why those bureaucrats in Ottawa drag their feet at the expense of those suffering in the cold. These are deep questions that went way beyond the current housing problem in Attawapiskat.

I turn around and face the shower-head as water droplets tumble out, washing away the soap suds and tears.

As I look down at the drain near my feet. I begin to feel something else well up within me. A sense of determination? A sense of pride. This is yet another battle to be won. If we can mobilize a protest and set-up road blocks within a few days, why can’t we mobilize again? As awareness continues to grow, perhaps a fundraiser is in order? Although it’s a short-term solution every bit counts.

Let’s begin:

There are plenty of very successful aboriginal folks out there. We are talking about writers, reporters, lawyers, business men and women, the bloggers, artists and musicians. Heck, there are non-aboriginal folks that want to support us too!

Perhaps the quickest and most immediate way to help is to hold a few fundraising concerts in support of Attawapiskat.

We can then think about establishing a more long term solution, an organization that receives funding from industry and the private sectors who want to be apart of the solution to the housing problems that plague First Nation’s communities throughout Turtle Island. An Indigenous version of Habitat for Humanity or the Red Cross perhaps.

Heck, we can even produce a Television show based upon the same model as Extreme Home Makeover. Do we have an Indian type character comparable to Ty Pennington? Heck ya! Do we have First Nations’ people in the trades? Heck ya! Do we have the resources to produce a show like that? Heck ya!

You know that TV show with Mike Holmes? Perhaps, we can send in a request to his handlers about producing a few episodes where he goes north and helps some communities — To Make it Right!

I turn around, turn off the water, open the shower door and hop back out. Warm, clean and ready to take on the world. Do you have any possible solutions? Join the conversation.

N.B. as of this post, it’s been reported by APTN that the Red Cross is stepping in to assist those in the Attawapiskat crisis.

Aaron Huey a wonderful photojournalist who documented the life of the Lakota Indians on the Pine Ridge reservation. He was invited to speak at the TED conference this past year. I invite you to view his presentation. As we celebrate Christmas with family and enjoy all that has been given to us, let us not forget those who are in need.

Although Pine Ridge is the eighth-largest reservation in the United States, it is also the poorest. Unemployment on the reservation hovers between 80% and 90%, and 90% live below the federal poverty level. Adolescent suicide is four times the national average. Many of the families have no electricity, telephone, running water, or sewerage system. Many families use wood stoves to heat their homes. The population on Pine Ridge has among the shortest life expectancies of any group in the Western Hemisphere: approximately 47 years for males and 52 years for females. The infant mortality rate is five times the United States national average.

Want to help out. Visit Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation or visit the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

Aaron Huey is a photojournalist who freelances regularly for Harper’s, The New Yorker, the Smithsonian magazine, the New York Times, GEO and dozens of others. He is also a masthead photographer for National Geographic Traveler.

Huey is widely known for his 3,349 mile, solo walk across America (with his dog Cosmo). The 2002 journey lasted 154 days. There was no media coverage. They walked every step. Following the walk Huey took a 2 1/2 year hiatus from shooting photos to build an artist in residence program (Hueyhaus), from the ground up, on the Pecos River east of Santa Fe.

Aaron now uses Seattle, WA, where he sits on the board of directors for the photographic non-profit Blue Earth Alliance, as a home base inbetween assignments.

Its about time someone produced a film like this! I’m looking forward to watching this documentary that makes its premiere on the big screen this Friday February 19th, 2010 in Vancouver (Tinseltown) and Toronto (AMC Yonge & Dundas). Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond takes an entertaining and insightful look at the Hollywood Indian, exploring the portrayal of North American Natives through a century of cinema. Travelling through the heartland of America, Diamond looks at how the myth of “the Injun” has influenced the world’s understanding – and misunderstanding – of Natives.

With clips from hundreds of classic and recent films, and candid interviews with celebrated Native and non-Native directors, writers, actors and activists, including Clint Eastwood, Robbie Robertson, Sacheen Littlefeather, John Trudell and Russell Means, Reel Injun traces the evolution of cinema’s depiction of Native people from the silent film era to today, only to find the future of Native cinema in the unlikeliest of places – Canada’s North.

Reel Injun was produced by Ernest Webb, Catherine Bainbridge, Christina Fon and Linda Ludwick (Rezolution Pictures International) and Adam Symansky (NFB).
Websites: Rezolution Pictures | National Film Board

We just spent an awesome time at this year’s Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards show last night. Buffy St.Marie cleaned up with 4 CAMA awards. It was a night to remember, the Aboriginal talent in Canada is so diverse and young. It made me feel proud! My wife and I also attended the Diggin Roots after party. I met some good friends I haven’t seen in about a year–it’s good to reconnect. Again the music was phenomenal, the live performances from Wapistan (Lawrence Martin) rocked the house. Don Amero was another great act. We finally left at about 1:30am. We needed to get out early to prepare for the pow-wow today. Below are some grainy, somtimes out of focus photos taken from my iPhone. Enjoy. I’ll be back on tonight uploading more photos of the pow-wow here in Hamilton.

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It’s that time of year again! I’m making preparations to attend this year’s Canadian Aboriginal Festival, but this time it’s not in Toronto but in Steel town, my town! – Copps Coliseum – Hamilton, Ontario. I’m looking forward to see my friends and family there. Many whom I’ve not seen since last year. That’s the great thing about pow-wows. It brings people together from all nations.

But first thing’s first. My wife and I, will be attending the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards this Friday (tomorrow) at Hamilton Place Theatre. It will be a wonderful night,  showcasing some of the best Aboriginal music talent in world.

If you are headed to either event, drop by and say hello. I look forward to meeting you.

By Arvol Looking Horse

Story Published: Oct 16, 2009
Indian Country Today
www.indiancountrytoday.com

Chief Arvol Looking Horse leadin prayer at a gathering to protect the sacred site, Bear Butte in the northern Black Hills of South Dakota.

As Keeper of our Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle, I am concerned for the two deaths and illnesses of the many people who participated in a sweat lodge in Sedona, Ariz. that brought our sacred rite under fire in the news. I would like to clarify that this lodge, and many others, are not our ceremonial way of life because of the way they are being conducted. My prayers go out to the families and loved ones for their loss.

Our ceremonies are about life and healing. From the time this ancient ceremonial rite was given to our people, never has death been a part of our inikaga (life within) when conducted properly. Today, the rite is interpreted as a sweat lodge. It is much more than that. The term does not fit our real meaning of purification.

Inikaga is the oldest ceremony brought to us by Wakan Tanka (Great Spirit). Nineteen generations ago, the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota oyate (people) were given seven sacred rites of healing by a Spirit Woman, Pte San Win (White Buffalo Calf Woman). She brought these rites along with the sacred Canupa (pipe) to our people, when our ancestors were suffering from a difficult time. It was also brought for the future to help us for much more difficult times to come. They were brought to help us stay connected to who we are as a traditional cultural people.

The values of conduct are very strict in any of these ceremonies, because we work with spirit. The Creator, Wakan Tanka, told us that if we stay humble and sincere, we will keep that connection with the inyan oyate (the stone people), who we call the Grandfathers, to be able to heal ourselves and loved ones. We have a gift of prayer and healing and have to stay humble with our Unci Maka (Grandmother Earth) and with one another. The inikaga is used in all of the seven sacred rites to prepare and finish the ceremonies, along with the sacred eagle feather. The feather represents the sacred knowledge of our ancestors.

What has happened in the news with the makeshift sauna called the ‘sweat lodge’ is not our ceremonial way of life.

Our First Nations people have to earn the right to pour the mini wiconi (water of life) upon the inyan oyate in creating Inikaga by going on the vision quest for four years and four years to Sundance. Then you are put through a ceremony to be painted, to recognize that you have now earned the right to take care of someone’s life through purification. They should also be able to understand our sacred language, to be able to understand the messages from the Grandfathers, because they are ancient, they are our spirit ancestors. They walk and teach the values of our culture in being humble, wise, caring and compassionate.

What has happened in the news with the makeshift sauna called the “sweat lodge” is not our ceremonial way of life.

 When you do ceremony, you can not have money on your mind. We deal with the pure sincere energy to create healing that comes from everyone in that circle of ceremony. The heart and mind must be connected. When you involve money, it changes the energy of healing. The person wants to get what they paid for. The Spirit Grandfathers will not be there. Our way of life is now being exploited. You do more damage than good. No mention of monetary energy should exist in healing, not even with a can of love donations. When that energy exists, they will not even come. Only after the ceremony, between the person that is being healed and the intercessor who has helped connect with the Great Spirit, can the energy of money be given out of appreciation. That exchange of energy is from the heart; it is private and does not involve the Grandfathers. Whatever gift of appreciation the person who received help can now give is acceptable. They can give the intercessor whatever they feel their healing is worth.

In our prophecy, the White Buffalo Calf Woman told us she would return and stand upon the earth when we are having a hard time. In 1994, this began to happen with the birth of the white buffalo. Not only their nation, but many animal nations began to show their sacred color, which is white. She predicted that at this time there would be many changes upon Grandmother Earth. There would be things that we never experienced or heard of before: Climate changes, earth changes, diseases, disrespect for life and they would be shocking. There would  also be many false prophets.

My Grandmother who passed the bundle to me said I would be the last Keeper if the oyate do not straighten up. The assaults upon Grandmother Earth are horrendous, the assaults toward one another was not in our culture, the assaults against our people have been termed as genocide, and now we are experiencing spiritual genocide.

Because of the problems that began to arise with our rebirth and being able to do our ceremonies in the open since the Freedom of Religion Act of 1978, our elders began talking to me about the abuses they have seen in our ceremonial way of life, which was once very strict.

It is forbidden to film or photograph any of our ceremonies.

After many years of witnessing their warnings, we held a meeting to address the lack of protocol in our ceremonies. After reaching an agreement to address the misconduct of our ceremonies and to remind of the proper protocols, a statement was made in March 2003. Every effort was made to ensure our way of life of who we are as traditional cultural people, because these ways are for our future and all life upon  Grandmother Earth (Mitakuye Oyasin, all my relations), so that they may have good health. Because these atrocities are being mocked and practiced all over the world, we even made a film called “Spirits for Sale.”

The non-Native people have a right to seek help from our First Nation intercessors for good health and well-being. It is up to that intercessor. That is a privilege for all people that we gift for being able to have good health and understand that their protocol is to have respect and appreciate what we have to share. The First Nations intercessor has to earn that right to our ceremonial way of life in the ways I have explained.

At this time, I would like to ask all nations upon Grandmother Earth to please respect our sacred ceremonial way of life and stop the exploitation of our Tunka Oyate (Spiritual Grandfathers).

In a Sacred Hoop of Life, where there is no ending and no beginning, namahu yo (hear my words).

Chief Arvol Looking Horse is the 19th generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle.

Hi everyone,

I’ve added a new section to my site. Entitled “Showcase”. It features the many talented and diverse Aboriginals artists from around the world. This will be a monthly piece that will promote the likes of photographers, illustrators, painters and designers. For the inaugural edition, I am pleased to present the very talented:

Nadya Kwandibens

Photographer/Designer

Nadya Kwandibens is of Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) / French heritage from the Northwest Angle #37 First Nation in Ontario, Canada. She is a self-taught, dynamic photographer specializing in artistic natural light portraiture, fashion, promotional sessions, and event photography. Identifying mainly with her Ojibwe roots, she is also known as Makoons and is from the Loon Clan.

In 2000, Nadya began exploring photography and for several years, while working professionally in numerous forms of media including video production, and radio, has gathered the experiences necessary to easily connect one-on-one with people and groups. July of 2006 marked the beginning of her portraiture work; and since then, she has been travelling extensively, photographing people and events throughout Canada and the United States.

LINKS

Nadya:
http://nadyakwandibens.net
http://twitter.com/_nadya
http://myspace.com/_nadya
http://facebook.com/pages/Nadya-Kwandibens/6425849794

Red Works:
http://redworks.ca
http://twitter.com/RedWorksStudio
http://myspace.com/_redworks
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1518804575

Concrete Indians:
http://concreteindians.ning.com
http://twitter.com/ConcreteIndians
http://facebook.com/profile.php?id=1646554646
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20491132843

You have got to check out this amazing artist. Louie Gong at www.eighthgeneration.com.

Louie Gong is a Native American of mixed heritage (Nooksack, Chinese, French, Scottish) who was raised by his grandparents, father, step-mom, and extended family both in Ruskin, B.C. and in the Nooksack tribal community. He is totally overwhelmed by recent media recognition (MSNBC and Blur Digital) of his activism on behalf of people who walk in multiple worlds.