✅ Evidence of my thinking through the 6 Talking Circle Questions

Talking Circle Discussion Questions:

1. What does “status” mean in Canada, and how does it shape identity and access to rights and resources?

“Status” is essentially the government recognizing you as a Indigenous person. This grants access to some befits, but it shapes the persons identify around being Indigenous

2. Why do you think some people falsely claim Indigenous identity? What are the consequences of this?

For the same reason some people fake having cancer, for fame. The consequence of this is that it steals the spotlight from an actual Indigenous person, and brings a shred of doubt to when someone says their indigenous.

3. How has your understanding of Indigeneity, identity, and authenticity evolved through this study?

probably the biggest thing that’s changed is the realization the the Indigenous population is STILL getting railroaded by the Canadian Government

4. What is the difference between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation? Where do we draw the line?

In my mind, the difference is when the object in question is ment to earned. For example: a Native American War Bonnet is sacred, you have to EARN it to wear it. Meanwhile, Kimono’s are the traditional dresses of Japan, but they don’t take it THAT seriously.

5. How do media and institutions (universities, arts organizations, government) contribute to the problem of false claims to Indigeneity?

Journalists will publish anything for a few seconds of clout, and we have a difficult time deciphering what’s bias and what’s not. So it’s really easy to foolishly believe a false claim about an indigenous artist being “eXpOsEd FoR LyInG aBoUt ThEiR hErItAgE!!1!!1”

6. What responsibility do we have when discussing these issues outside of class?

Being kind and respectful to the Indigenous peoples. Remember: “Nothing about us, without us”

✅ Examples of your work (Thought Bubble would be a good one!) Media and links to topics of interest!

Buffy Sainte-Marie and Cultural Appropriation: A Complicated Legacy

So, let’s talk about Buffy Sainte-Marie. For years, she was celebrated as a groundbreaking Indigenous artist, claiming to have been born on the Piapot Cree reserve in Canada. Turns out, she was actually born to white parents in Massachusetts. That revelation sent shockwaves through Indigenous communities, raising questions about identity, cultural appropriation, and the real harm caused by Pretendians.

What Is Cultural Appropriation?

Cultural appropriation happens when someone from a dominant culture (in this case, a white woman) takes elements from a minority culture (Indigenous traditions) in a way that is exploitative, stereotypical, or just plain disrespectful. It’s not about appreciation—it’s about taking something without earning it or understanding its significance.

The Sixties Scoop: A National Tragedy

Speaking of stolen identity, the Sixties Scoop was a large-scale, government-backed effort to take Indigenous children from their families and place them in non-Indigenous homes. Over 20,000 children were forcibly adopted, many sent abroad (even as far as New Zealand). More than half were placed in U.S. families. The impacts? Devastating. Many survivors struggle with self-esteem, identity confusion, and emotional trauma. Some even faced horrific abuse. To this day, class-action lawsuits in multiple provinces are still working to hold the government accountable.

Pretendians and Other Forms of Cultural Appropriation

A Pretendian is exactly what it sounds like—someone pretending to be Indigenous. While some do it for personal or financial gain, others might claim Indigenous identity to avoid facing their own privilege. It’s not just Sainte-Marie—there have been many high-profile cases.

Other examples of cultural appropriation include:

•Wearing a war bonnet without earning it

•Using traditional clothing as a Halloween costume

•White actors playing characters of a different race

•Sharing Indigenous stories without permission

The Indian Act and Status Cards: Government Control Over Indigenous Lives

The Indian Act, passed in 1876, is a law that still controls many aspects of Indigenous life. It originally:

•Forced Indigenous people onto reserves

•Banned religious ceremonies

•Required Indigenous children to attend residential schools

Today, the government hands out status cards to those it legally recognizes as Indigenous. These cards come with some benefits, like healthcare coverage, but also drawbacks—like the government keeping everyone with status in a massive database.

Why This Matters

Buffy Sainte-Marie’s case isn’t just about one person lying about their heritage—it’s about how Indigenous identity has been stolen, controlled, and exploited for centuries. Whether through government policies like the Sixties Scoop, or individuals falsely claiming Indigenous identity for personal gain, the harm is real. Recognizing and respecting Indigenous identity isn’t just about calling out Pretendians—it’s about listening to and supporting real Indigenous voices.

✅ Reflection on your learning and experience in our Talking Circle

I think it was good have everyone share their own ideas. We took turns commenting on each other and adding opinions to the conversation. I felt I was listening more because I was looking for a place to comment. When we were talking about Cultural Appropriation I made the point that a lot of people mix that up with Cultural Appreciation. I think I made people think a little bit about that when I made that comment. It grew the conversation a little bit. It was helpful to have other people’s ideas in there so I wasn’t just listening to one person talk the whole time. I find my mind wanders when that happens. I liked it but I prefer the note taking because it is solo.

Have you ever read an article a hundred times over and still have no idea what it says? Well, I have the solution.  (or should I say my teacher gave me a solution). Everyone should experiment with new note taking and brainstorming techniques. Fleeting Notes technique and the Post it App makes note taking and essay writing easier. I have been converted, essay writing isn’t so bad. Even though it is still a little tedious.  At least it isn’t AS tortuous.

Everyone should try the fleeting note technique when first reading articles because it will eventually lead to a giant web of ideas. I used this with the  No Canada article.  You simply read through the article and anything, and I mean ANYTHING, that pops out to you as interesting you write down in a short simple note that you can understand. For example, I find something interesting in an article, I highlite it and then make a note that is in simpler language that I can easily understand without thinking about it too hard.  For No Canada I found it was easier to understand the article because I only focused on one idea at a time and only the ones I found interesting. I started digging into the US anthem and what it really means because the article peaked my interest.  I found out that the unsung verse is actually super dooper racist because it celebrates the deaths of free slaves who were fighting on the British side during the war of 1812. Which brings me to another point,  this connects to the American founding father’s who were all slave owners and yet in the Declaration of Independence – All Men are Created Equal.  Except those men apparently.  This is an example of connecting one point to another which is the baby step to a Zettelkasten note. I think using Fleeting notes is really easy and can combined into Literature Notes which then can be connected to other notes forming a Zettelkasten.

If you haven’t tried the Post it App for Zettelkasten then you are missing out.  The app is essentially a digital idea board where you can post digital sticky notes. It helped me because I was able to make a visual web that gave me a better idea of what I was working with. I simply created an outline skeleton in one colour, filled detail in another colour and even more detail in a third colour. The Post it App is a really good idea to organize your ideas with images instead of just text. I recommend you all try it for your Zettelkasten.

All of these note taking styles boiled down to my final essay on train safety.  These techniques helped me think about my audience and role. This made it easier to  narrow down my topic and how to talk about it.  Train safety is an enormous topic. Narrowing it down really helped me in the long run. It made it a far easier chunk to chew.  I whizzed through the essay because, honestly, I was way more organized.

Fleeting Notes technique and the Post it App makes note taking and essay writing easier. Practice Fleeting Notes and Zettelkasten with the Post It App when writing to guarantee a No-Tear evening.