As the Faculty of Arts Writer-in-Residence, Janet Marie Rogers brings together a blend of artistic genres in the works that she pursues. She tackles everything from spoken word performance, to mixed-media recorded poetry, to radio broadcasting, to documentary production, along with other mixed media. When we asked for a list of her favourite recent books, then, weren't surprised by the array of media titles she sent back to us.
True to her form, here are four Indigenous media recommendations from Janet Marie Rogers:
A Guide for Writing By and About Indigenous Peoples
Courtesy of Google Books
Medium: Book
Author: Gregory Younging
Publisher: Brush Education
Why you should check it out: From the developed wisdom and experienced editorial skills of Greg Younging, who offers a much researched and practiced collection of Indigenous specific styles and process for any publisher, editor, writer and reviewer of Indigenous literature. The contents of this guide, although invaluable in its accessibility and detailed referencing, should not be seen as the last word on Indigenous literary styles and should never be held up as permission for non-native authors to adopt native stories, but encourage non-native authors to shift away from centring their voices and practices where Indigenous content is concerned.
Courtesy of AGA
Medium: Exhibition
Gallery: Art Gallery of Alberta, December 1 - March 24, 2019
Curator: Francheca Hebert-Spence
Why you should check it out: The title of this exhibition and list of accomplished contemporary Indigenous artists is what drew me to see the show. Stretch marks are a result of rapid growth in one area of the body where the skin is challenged to accommodate and where scarring occurs as permanent evidence of this rapid growth. This concept fits perfectly with the rapid growth we've experienced throughout our territories in the Indigenous arts scene including dance, literature, media, music, etc. Six contemporary Indigenous artists are featured, five of whom are women. Their work is presented in a balanced narrative throughout the gallery with each piece having a relationship to the next and with space between to contemplate the individual messaging of each work.
Courtesy of Frontenac House
Medium: Book
Edited by: Rosanna Deerchild, Ariel Gordon, and Tanis MacDonald
Publisher: Frontenac House Press
Why you should check it out: This inclusive anthology offers stories, poetry, creative non-fiction and combined genre accounts of the moon cycle, the period, the female curse, the menstrual cycle. Some stories reflect the sacred event of the monthly cycle, as it is seen in the traditions of Indigenous practice, while others authors bid an unceremonious good-riddance as they enter the mature phase of their lives. All in all a great premise for a collection and a very informative and entertaining read.
Courtesy of Media Indigena
Medium: Podcast
Why you should check it out: This is a 100% audience funded weekly Indigenous current affairs podcast founded by the Editor-in-Chief Rick Harp. It often features two of the University of Alberta's brightest minds and articulate voices: Kim Tallbear, Associate Professor and CRC in Indigenous Peoples, Technoscience, and Environment; and Kenneth T Williams, Faculty of Arts Professor of Playwriting. To quote from the podcast website; "Regrettably, when it comes to mainstream coverage of events and issues involving Indigenous peoples, we all too often experience media at their worst. That's because, when push comes to shove, Canadian media will always revert to their default perspective: that of the needs, interests and aspirations of the larger non-Indigenous society.
About Janet Marie Rogers
Janet is a Mohawk/Tuscarora writer from Six Nations, and the U of A's 2018-19 Writer-in-Residence. She was born in Vancouver British Columbia, lived in Stoney Creek, Hamilton, Toronto Ontario and is currently of no fixed address as she is awarded residency after residency throughout 2018-2019. Janet works in the genres of poetry, spoken word performance poetry, video poetry and recorded poetry with music. She is also a radio broadcaster, documentary producer, media and sound artist.
The English and Film Studies Writer-in-Residence Program is a year-long residency, from September 1st to May 31st, which for the last forty years has brought acclaimed writers from across Canada to Edmonton. While here, the Writer-in-Residence has time to pursue the WiR's own writing projects, while keeping office hours two half-days a week for writing consultation with university staff and students, as well as the general public in and around Edmonton.English and Film Studies Writer-in-Residence Program is a year-long residency, from September 1st to May 31st, which for the last forty years has brought acclaimed writers from across Canada to Edmonton. While here, the Writer-in-Residence has time to pursue the WiR's own writing projects, while keeping office hours two half-days a week for writing consultation with university staff and students, as well as the general public in and around Edmonton.