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masinahikan iskwêwak – Book Women Podcast

masinahikan iskwêwak – Book Women Podcast

By Masinahikan Iskwêwak

A podcast where three Métis aunties
figure out how to publish, edit, and write
Indigenous stories. This podcast is by and for Indigenous peoples who have an interest in editing, publishing, and writing Indigenous stories. The hope is to inspire Indigenous peoples to share their stories in whatever medium that they enjoy.

Yes, storytelling occurs in a variety of mediums like: podcasting (naturally), burlesque, books, comics, social media, articles, listicles, video, music, and everything in between.
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Currently playing episode

Season 3 Episode 4 - Graphic Novels

masinahikan iskwêwak – Book Women PodcastMar 23, 2021

00:00
01:12:02
Season 3 Episode 7 - ILSA Conference with Tenille Campbell
Jul 28, 202149:58
Season 3 Episode 6 Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline

Season 3 Episode 6 Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline

This month we read Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline. We chat about rougarous, traditional storytelling and what to do with sexy books on your bookshelves with kids in the house. 

Visit Cherie Dimaline's website here, and check out her other books through your local independent bookstore or library!

Our next recording will be on June 8th, live with Tenille Campbell at ILSA's virtual gathering. More information about how to join can be found here.


May 25, 202159:16
Season 3 Episode 5 - Poetry
Apr 27, 202101:02:45
Season 3 Episode 4 - Graphic Novels
Mar 23, 202101:12:02
Season 3 Episode 3 - Indigenous Children's Books

Season 3 Episode 3 - Indigenous Children's Books

This week we discuss three Indigenous children’s books. They are: What’s My Superpower? By Aviaq Johnston, The Walrus Who Escaped by Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley and Elisapee and Her Baby Seagull by Nancy Mike.

Links to Stuff Mentioned:

Sponsors We’d Like to Thank:

  • Indigenous Education Initiatives at the Werklund School of Education: https://werklund.ucalgary.ca/
  • Indigenous Literary Studies Associaton (ILSA)
  • Association of Canadian College and University Teachers of English (ACCUTE)
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
Feb 23, 202157:51
Season 3 Episode 2 - Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq

Season 3 Episode 2 - Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq

It's book club time! Put on some coffee and join our conversation about Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq. 

Content warning: Readers should know that Split Tooth is a work of staggering beauty and originality that also engages with extremely challenging subjects, including childhood sexual abuse. We have some mental health resources listed on our website.

Keep the conversation going! We want to hear what you think. Join us on Twitter - @book_women or @IndigenousLSA. Use the #BookWomen. Email us @BookWomenPodcast at gmail.com, or by leaving a comment on the book club announcement on our website, bookwomenpodcast.ca.

We still have some books and some beautiful Indigenous swag to give away, so don't be afraid to let us know what you think!

Feb 09, 202101:03:53
Season 3 Episode 1 - Introducing the Book Club

Season 3 Episode 1 - Introducing the Book Club

We're back! With a Book Club! We want YOU to participate so we can give you FREE stuff! Leave us a comment, tweet at us, email us, visit our website. But get your questions or comments in and we will discuss when we discuss our first book, Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq.

Huge thanks to our sponsors this season!

  • ILSA (Indigenous Literary Studies Association) and even bigger thanks to Keavy Martin
  • ACCUTE (Association of Canadian College and University Teachers of English)
  • SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council)

And this is all leading up to Congress, hosted by the University of Alberta (online) May 27 - June 4, 2021.

See you in Book Club! #BookWomen

Feb 02, 202121:34
Season 2 Episode 13 - Wrap Up!

Season 2 Episode 13 - Wrap Up!

The season is over! Catch up with your favorite Aunties as we reflect on how we are still surviving and thriving. We chat about our favorite episodes, what we missed and give a sneak peak for Season 3! Thanks to the Edmonton Arts Council for support in making season 2 happen.

Links to Stuff Mentioned:

Jan 26, 202158:25
Episode 12 - Dion Kaszas
Jan 21, 202158:25
Episode 11 - Richard Van Camp

Episode 11 - Richard Van Camp

Gather ‘round with us as we join friend of the podcast Richard Van Camp to tell stories about the worst sex talk ever, supernatural destinies and how we’re all coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic. This episode is chock-full of laughs and recommendations about our favourite reads, listens and sexy comics.

Tanya and Richard’s sexy comics recommendations:

Links to other stuff mentioned:

Jan 12, 202101:12:37
Season 2 Episode 10 - Kisha Supernant
Jan 05, 202151:18
Season 2 Episode 9 - Shane Chartrand
Dec 29, 202040:04
Season 2 Episode 8 - The Folk Lordz

Season 2 Episode 8 - The Folk Lordz

We take a break from whatever is happening to talk to the Folk Lordz - an improv/digital comedy duo from Edmonton. We chat about cultural protocols, what makes Indigenous storytelling and using real live (but dead) Octopus as puppets.

Links to Stuff Mentioned:

Dec 24, 202053:35
Season 2 Episode 7 - Wyatt Schiefelbein
Dec 21, 202040:43
Season 2 Episode 6 - Data Sovereignty

Season 2 Episode 6 - Data Sovereignty

Just the three of us chatting about Indigenous data sovereignty and what that actually means. Naturally this leads to conversation about Traditional Knowledge, the Open Access movement and salty divorce memoirs.

Links to stuff mentioned:

An overview of Open Access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=676JM1M_gFg&ab_channel=SHBOnline

Mukurtu: https://mukurtu.org/

Interview with Amanda Boyden: https://nationalpost.com/news/rape-infidelity-and-the-detonation-of-a-marriage-novelist-amanda-boydens-tumultuous-life-has-led-to-new-memoir

Amanda Boyden: I got the dog https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781944884833

Dec 02, 202052:05
Episode 5 - Josh Languedoc
Dec 01, 202054:13
Season 2 Episode 4 - Adrienne Larocque
Nov 17, 202051:46
Season 2 Episode 3 - Josh Morin
Nov 10, 202001:03:12
Season 2 Episode 2 - Skye Durocher
Nov 03, 202055:49
Season 2 Episode 1 - Catch-up!

Season 2 Episode 1 - Catch-up!

We're back! A lot has happened to us (and everyone else) in 2020. Catch up with us as we discuss what each of us has been up to; where we are all living and working right now, and all things going forward. Recorded on September 13, 2020 we discuss Dan Levy and the Indigenous Canada MOOC, books we've been reading, our pets and what we've been up to in COVID times.

Links to stuff mentioned:

Indigenous Canada MOOC: https://www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/index.html

Sheila Laroque's review of Billy-Ray Belcourt's book: https://rabble.ca/books/reviews/2020/09/history-my-brief-body-queer-love-and-life-prairies

Billy-Ray Belcourt A History of My Brief Body: https://billy-raybelcourt.com/a-history-of-my-brief-body

Sex Criminals Graphic Novel: https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/sex-criminals

Sunstone Graphic Novel: https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/sunstone

Ratched: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7423538/

The Haunting of Hill House: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6763664/

Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass and Gathering Moss: https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/books

Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection: https://inhabiteducation.com/2020/05/19/moonshot-the-indigenous-comics-collection/

This Place: 150 Years Retold: https://www.portageandmainpress.com/product/this-place/

Glow-Up: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9680524/

Fresh Off the Boat: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3551096/

Schitt's Creek: https://www.cbc.ca/schittscreek/

Oct 26, 202001:06:56
Episode 13: Métis Aunties Reflect

Episode 13: Métis Aunties Reflect

In our last episode for this season, we dive into our reflections of the project. Specifically, we discuss thoughts going forward, improvements, what we actually learned. We also discuss the importance of paying for work and acknowledge the information given to us from our amazing guests. 


Oct 02, 201951:36
Episode 12: Storytelling and Cultural Protocol with Joshua Littlechild

Episode 12: Storytelling and Cultural Protocol with Joshua Littlechild

Joshua Littlechild is a member of the Ermineskin Cree Nation at Maskwacis. His heritage is of Cree and Sioux ancestry. In this episode discuss Storytelling practices from different cultures and the Cultural Protocol that surrounds knowledge keeping and transferring.

Oct 02, 201901:16:11
Episode 11: Academic Publishing and Editing with Chris Andersen

Episode 11: Academic Publishing and Editing with Chris Andersen

This episode we sit down with Dr. Chris Andersen, the current Dean of the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta. We chat about publishing books and articles as an academic; what a career in the academy means for many first generation Indigenous scholars, and creative non-fiction publishing. 

Sep 25, 201950:47
Episode 10: Burlesque Storytelling with Brittany Johnson

Episode 10: Burlesque Storytelling with Brittany Johnson

Our conversation this week is with Brittany Johnson, a Métis Ph.d  student from the University of Alberta's department of English and Film Studies. She also performs burlesque under the stage name of Fanny LuPhine; and we talk about the ways that burlesque can be one way that stories are told. We also discuss endometriosis, poetry, creative writing, horror movies and country music.

Sep 18, 201901:06:19
Episode 9: Writing Poetry with Marilyn Dumont

Episode 9: Writing Poetry with Marilyn Dumont

This episode we got the chance to speak with Marilyn Dumont, a Cree/Métis poet from North Eastern Alberta. She has written many works, notably: A Really Good Brown Girl, The Pemmican Eaters, and That Tongued Belonging. Marilyn also teaches creative writing in Native Studies and English at the University of Alberta. We discuss the writing process, what it's like to have memories captured in writings, and a lot more!

Sep 09, 201944:49
Episode 8: Norma Dunning on Writing Annie Muktuk and Other Stories

Episode 8: Norma Dunning on Writing Annie Muktuk and Other Stories

Here is our conversation with award-winning author Norma Dunning about her book Annie Muktuk and Other Stories 

Please note that this was our first time using Skype for recording, so we hope that the quality of the conversation can help to make up for the quality of the audio.


Aug 21, 201956:37
Episode 7: Podcasting with Métis in SPACE SPAce space

Episode 7: Podcasting with Métis in SPACE SPAce space

An Interview with Chelsea Vowel and Molly Swain, hosts of Métis in Space to chat about storytelling in the podcasting medium. 

Aug 15, 201956:30
Episode 6: Predatory Publishing and Cultural Appropriation

Episode 6: Predatory Publishing and Cultural Appropriation

What is predatory publishing and what does it have to do with cultural appropriation? It's just us for this episode as we delve into this topic. 

Aug 09, 201944:43
Episode 5: Illustrating Picture Books with Gabrielle LaMontagne

Episode 5: Illustrating Picture Books with Gabrielle LaMontagne

An Interview with Gabrielle La Montagne; She shares with us her newest project: A Michif picture book about Lac Ste. Anne.

Aug 03, 201948:52
Episode 4: Relating to Research with Paul Gareau

Episode 4: Relating to Research with Paul Gareau

An interview with Paul Gareau about his experiences writing and editing in academia. 

Jul 17, 201953:25
Episode 3: Writing Memoirs with Tammy Ball

Episode 3: Writing Memoirs with Tammy Ball

An interview with Tammy Ball about the book she is currently writing which tells her story of growing up Métis in St. Ambroise, Manitoba. 

Jul 09, 201950:37
Episode 2: Making Zines with Ambrose

Episode 2: Making Zines with Ambrose

An Interview with Ambrose Cardinal about his project Nanâtawihiwên, a zine dedicated to Indigenous healing centred around the Medicine Wheel. 

Jul 01, 201955:58
Episode 1: Introducing the Book Women!

Episode 1: Introducing the Book Women!

An introduction to Tanya Ball, Kayla Lar-son and Sheila Laroque; who discuss their publication and writing experience and what this podcast will be about.

Jun 20, 201952:10