Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change

The 2010 documentary Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change shares observations by Inuit elders of the severe environmental changes they are witnessing in the place and space in which they live.

"Imagine how this feels: The land and weather are turning erratic and dangerous. Warmer, unpredictable winds are coming from strange directions. Severe floods threaten to wash away towns. And native animals, the food supply, aren't behaving as they used to, their bodies less capable in the changing climate (. . .). 

These are the drastic conditions Northern Canadians, whose lives depend from childhood on their knowledge of the most minute details of the Arctic land and skies, say they see all around them. These observations by Inuit elders are detailed in a groundbreaking new documentary, Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change, by acclaimed Nunavut filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk ( The Fast Runner, The Journals of Knud Rasmussen) and environmental scientist Ian Mauro." (The Globe and Mail)

Babakiueria: A satirical take on colonialization in Australia

An awesome satirical take on race relations in Australia from the late 1980s.

BabaKiueria revolves around a role-reversal, whereby it is Aboriginal Australians who have invaded and colonized the fictitious country of BabaKiueria, a land that has long been inhabited by white natives, the BabaKiuerians.

First Scientists Videos

First Scientists is a series of vignettes based on a documentary of the same title. The vignettes explore the links between traditional knowledge of Native Canadians and western science.

First Scientists website

Moving forward after understanding your privilege

“Beyond Whitness” provides a comprehensive list of several YouTube clips, TED talks and documentaries which focus on white privilege.   
http://www.beyondwhiteness.com/

Reel Injun

Reel Injun is a documentary that takes an entertaining and insightful look at the Hollywood Indian, exploring the portrayal of North American Natives through the history of cinema.

http://www.reelinjunthemovie.com/site/the-film/

8th Fire

8^th Fire is a documentary series on CBC that looked at the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people and the conflict, colonialism, and denial entrenched in history.

http://www.cbc.ca/8thfire/

Environmental Racism: Video Resources

Environmental racism is a topic that is rarely taken up in classrooms but is one of the most glaring examples of how Indigenous and racially oppressed land and bodies are racialized as insignificant. All of the following video clips can be used to introduce students to environmental racism, a global epidemic that is rooted in colonialism and artificial racial hierarchies. How do we, as a society, justify and ignore environmental racism? These powerful video clips can create critical understandings of how space and bodies are racialized (whose land and bodies matter) and lead to community action. Thanks to Sheelah M, Marcia M and Janice R for sharing these resources.

Some of the clips below will be shown at the March 2 STARS event (4 - 5:30 room 2060 in the College of Education, U of S). We hope you can join us!

Check out these powerful links:

What is Environmental Racism

The Story of Stuff

Blue Gold: World Water Wars

The Gardener: Three Levels of Racism (This is a metaphor for communities that do/do not have access to resources such as water and food)

Dene Chief addresses Mackenzie Pipeline issue

H2Oil

Downstream

Land of Oil and Water: Aboriginal Voices on Life in the Oil Sands

Islamophobia resources

Western society, especially the media, focuses on the cosmetic issues of the burqa and the hijab instead of real social, political and economical issues that are occurring in Middle Eastern countries. Muslim and Islamic people in our society are constantly vilified in the media. Here are a few useful links that you can use in your classroom.

Videos:
See Yemen Through My Eyes
http://www.ted.com/talks/nadia_al_sakkaf_see_yemen_through_my_eyes.html

Dylan Ratigan Discusses the problem with the media portrayal of Muslims
http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2012/01/31/isna-president-discusses-islamophobia-on-msnbc/

Scholar Edward Said discusses Orientalism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdE18HdfanI&feature=fvw

Documentary - Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a people
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdRc8c8jhU8

Noam Chomsky on Terrorism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8_8773TUmA

Maz Jobrani: A founding member of the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, Maz is an Iranian-American comedian touring with his solo comedy show Brown and Friendly.
http://www.ted.com/speakers/maz_jobrani.html

Resources:
http://www.democracynow.org/

Hamdan, A. (2009). Muslim women speak: A tapestry of lives and dreams. Toronto: Women’ Press.

Hasan, E. (2010, March/April). Blanket condemnations: Contested feminisms and the politics of the burqa. Briarpatch. 39(2), 16-19.

Joya, M. (2009). A woman among warlords: The extraordinary story of an Afghan who dared to raise her voice. New York: Scribner.

Mernissi, F. (2005). Conclusion: Women’s liberation in Muslim countries. In W.K. Kolmar’s Feminist Theory: A Reader. Boston: McGraw Hill.

Said, E. (1979). Orientalism. New York: Vintage Books.

Sensoy, O., & Marshall, E. (Winter 2009/2010). Save the Muslim girl. Rethinking Schools. (14-19).