2023 Host Shoshona Kish speaks with Two-Spirit artist and performer Ilona Verley.  Hailing from the Nlaka’pamux Nation, Verley’s vibrant and boundary-pushing presence on the reality TV show “Canada’s Drag Race” garnered widespread attention. With a flair for combining Indigenous culture, pop culture, and stunning fashion, they challenge norms and embrace fluidity in both gender and creativity. Beyond the spotlight, Ilona is a passionate advocate for Two-Spirit visibility, mental health awareness, and Indigenous rights. Through their artistry and advocacy, Ilona Verley continues to reshape narratives, inspiring countless individuals to embrace their authentic selves and celebrate their unique journeys. You can follow along with Ilona Verley here: https://www.instagram.com/ilonaverley/

2023 Host Aysanabee speaks with Mi’gmaq entrepreneur Victoria LaBillois who owns Wejipeg Excavation Inc. and co-owns Wejuseg Construction Inc. She is from Listuguj, Quebec and has served both the First Nation and federal public service, working at the Band, regional, and national levels.  Victoria is currently serving as Vice-Chair of the National Indigenous Economic Development Board. Victoria holds a BA in political science and an MBA both from the University of New Brunswick. She holds a contractor’s license from Régie du bâtiment du Québec. From 2020 to 2022, Victoria represented the National Indigenous Economic Development Board in the development of Canada’s first National Indigenous Economic Strategy. She also served as co-chair for a national Steering Committee with the Canadian Construction Association. She serves as a mentor to Indigenous women at the Coady Institute in Nova Scotia as well as a coach and role model in several leadership and capacity development programs.  Helping to build skills around managing money, Victoria teaches financial literacy to Indigenous youth. Find out more about her work: https://www.wejuseg.com/

2023 Host Shoshona Kish speaks with Cindy Blackstock, a member of the Gitxsan First Nation, and the Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society.  She is also a professor at McGill University’s School of Social Work. She has over 30 years of experience working in child welfare and Indigenous children’s rights and has published on topics relating to reconciliation, Indigenous theory, First Nations child welfare, and human rights. A recipient of the SSHRC Gold Medal, Cindy worked with First Nations colleagues on a successful human rights challenge to Canada’s inequitable provision of child and family services and failure to implement Jordan’s Principle. This hard-fought litigation resulted in hundreds of thousands of services being provided to First Nations children, youth, and families. Cindy is frequently sighted in the company of the Caring Society’s reconciliation Ambearrister, Spirit Bear, engaging children in meaningful actions to implement the TRC Calls to Action. Find out more about her work: https://fncaringsociety.com/

2023 Host Aysanabee has a conversation with Alan Greyeyes, the Festival Director for the sākihiwē festival who has been providing artist and project management services in the music industry for nearly 20 years. He also volunteers with the Polaris Music Prize board of directors; the RBC Convention Centre board of directors; and the Indigenous committees at the National Music Centre and the Winnipeg Folk Festival. In 2023, Alan received the Making a Difference award from the Winnipeg Arts Council and in 2020 he earned the Arts Award of Distinction from the Manitoba Arts Council. Alan is a member of Peguis First Nation. Find out more about Alan's festival: https://www.sakihiwe.ca/

2023 Host Aysanabee speaks with Sandra Laronde, is a visionary artist, director, choreographer, and leader renowned for her transformative contributions to the world of Indigenous performing arts. A proud member of the Teme-Augama Anishinaabe (People of the Deep Water), her creative journey is deeply rooted in her heritage. As the founder and artistic director of Red Sky Performance, Laronde has propelled Indigenous storytelling to global stages through innovative productions that blend contemporary dance, music, theatre, and visual arts. Her commitment to arts and cultural resurgence has earned numerous awards, recognizing her as a leader in Indigenous artistic expression. Laronde’s profound ability to merge tradition with innovation continues to inspire and redefine the boundaries of Indigenous performance, fostering cultural understanding and empowerment on an international scale. Learn more about Sandra: https://www.redskyperformance.com/

2023 Host Shoshona Kish speaks to Jean Teillet about the legacy of the Riel family, her Indigenous rights work surrounding Indigenous identity fraud and the complications around Métis identity.  Teillet is an author, women’s rights advocate, and Indigenous rights lawyer. In October of 2022 she wrote a report on Indigenous Identity Fraud. She has appeared at the Supreme Court of Canada twelve times in Indigenous rights cases. Ms. Teillet’s popular history, The North-West is Our Mother: The Story of Louis Riel’s People, the Métis Nation was one of the Globe & Mail’s top 100 books of 2019 and won the Carol Shield’s and Manitoba Day awards. She is the author of Métis Law in Canada and has written for academic journals, the Globe & Mail, and Macleans. A frequent public speaker throughout Canada and internationally, Jean has been awarded the highest honour of her people, the Order of the Métis Nation. The Indigenous Bar Association has awarded Jean its highest honour, Indigenous Peoples Counsel. She has three honorary doctorates (University of Guelph, Windsor University, and Law Society of Ontario). In recognition of decades of work with midwives, Jean has been made an honorary lifetime member of the Association of Ontario Midwives. She is a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation and is the great-grandniece of Louis Riel. https://pstlaw.ca/jean-teillet/ https://twitter.com/jeanteillet

2023 Host Aysanabee speaks to former NHL player Jordin Tootoo about his community work and his experience as the first Inuk player to be drafted by the league. Over his 13-year career, he played for the Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, and Chicago Blackhawks, banking 161 points, including 65 goals, in 723 career games. A true leader both on and off the ice, Tootoo has since become a vocal mental health advocate dedicated to giving back to his communities. He speaks to the power of creating a culture of inspired inclusivity and explores what real teamwork looks like, both at home and work. You can pre-order Jordin's new book Mind Over Matter which comes out October 17th.

2023 Host Shoshona Kish speaks with Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson, an Indigenous Fire Specialist with the National Fire Management Division at Parks Canada. She is Métis from Treaty 8 territory, currently living in Treaty 6.  Her research explores Indigenous fire stewardship, Indigenous wildland firefighters, wildfire evacuations, and Indigenous research methodology. Amy also co-hosts the Good Fire podcast, which looks at Indigenous fire use around the world. She recently co-authored the book “First Nations Wildfire Evacuations: A Guide for Communities and External Agencies” with Tara K. McGee and “Blazing the Trail: Celebrating Indigenous Fire Stewardship” with Indigenous colleagues.  She is a board member for the International Association of Wildland Fire and a member of the International Research Advisory Panel for Natural Hazards Research Australia. Find more of her work: UBC Press | First Nations Wildfire Evacuations – A Guide for Communities and External Agencies, By Tara K. McGee, Amy Cardinal Christianson and First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership Good Fire Podcast-YourForest (yourforestpodcast.com)

2023 Host Aysanabee has a conversation with fellow musician Jeremy Dutcher about his commitment to Indigenous language revitalization through his art. Jeremy Dutcher is a Two-Spirit song carrier, composer, activist, ethnomusicologist, and member of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) in Eastern Canada. He gained international acclaim for his album Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, which earned him the 2018 Polaris Music Prize and Indigenous Music Album of the Year at the 2019 JUNO Awards. His musical style blends the songs of his community with neoclassical, jazz, and pop influences, and has led him to collaborate with such iconic artists as Buffy Sainte-Marie and Yo-Yo Ma. Dutcher’s work has taken him to the world’s great concert halls, NPR’s Tiny Desk, and the judges’ table of Canada’s Drag Race. Find out more about Jeremy: https://jeremydutcher.com/

2023 Host Shoshona Kish has a beautiful conversation with her mother, Banakonda Bell about the knowledge she holds as an elder. Banakonda Kennedy-Kish (Bell), Bear Clan, is a Traditional Practitioner and Elder-in-Residence at Laurier University’s Lyle S. Hallman Masters of Social Work program, in the Indigenous Field of Studies. She co-authored Case Critical: Social Services and Social Justice in Canada (2017, Between the Lines Publishers) and a chapter of Social Work Ethics: Progressive, Practical and Relational Approaches (2017, Oxford University Press). Banakonda has served Indigenous communities for over forty years.