Friday Fiction: Tansi, Aanii, Ainngai, Tawnshi, Sekoh, Kwé Kwé! by Alex Snider

Eden Robinson

That is, hello in Cree, Anishinaabek (Ojibwa), Inukitut (Inuit), Michif (Métis), Kanien'gehaga (Mohawk), and Haudenosaunee (Iroquois)! You learn something new everyday! Or maybe six new things everyday! Or maybe you knew all those already in which case, did you know that when I do wind-mill stretches with my arms, my upper lip twitches? See, you do learn something new everyday!

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Day One: Aboriginal History Month

Rebecca Belmore, Anishinabekwe
White Thread, 2008

Technically it's just after midnight here in Toronto but it's still June 1st out on the Eastern edge of Turtle Island so: Happy First Day of Aboriginal History Month!

To kick'er off might I suggest watching Reel Injun, a fantastic documentary on the representation of Indigenous people in Hollywood. Or watch Atanarjuat: the Fast Runner, an amazing film about an Inuit legend about old rivalries disrupting a small nomadic community (the scene at the end where he is running naked through the tundra is so incredible; worth the whole movie right there and the whole movie is pretty damn good as it is). Both are available in full at the links! Wow, what a great start, right?!

Unfortunately there isn't a *legal* way of finding Smoke Signals online but it's also a really kick-ass movie (and, this coming from someone who doesn't even like movies) based on a few Sherman Alexie short stories (he also wrote the screenplay) and starring Gary Farmermy and my (imaginary) boyfriend Adam Beach. You should go and rent it from your friendly neighbourhood video store before they disappear forever like Betamax and strawberry milk.

The voice over is weird, right?