Aqua Nibii Waawakane Summary

On May 10th, the speaker, Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone, an indigenous singer, songwriter, storyteller, artist and activist, illuminated the aspects of the Indigenous community in the city of Toronto. She discussed the shortcomings that the Indigenous community had experienced throughout the history and development of Canada, specifically Toronto. Toronto has a long and intricate Indigenous history, in which most Torontonians are not cognisant of. Aqua referred to Toronto as Tkaronto, which was quite fascinating. When Aqua discussed the topic of residential schools, I did not react as much as I was exposed to this topic in other courses. However, I did not know that the last residential school was closed in 1996. Sadly, I realize that there are individuals from the First Nation that have
(Dorrell, 2009, p.28). I was extremely surprised it took so long for the closure and apology of an event so horrific. After numerous years, equal treatment towards the First Nation community is poor compared to any other group within Canada. Aqua indicated that First Nation communities experience marginalization and do not receive adequate housing spaces, access to healthcare, education, social systems, work opportunities and more. These inequalities do not support a liveable or sustainable Toronto as there is no infrastructure, support or environment which concentrate on the daily lives of First Nation people. If the environment is sustainable, it would provide them an opportunity to live in an increasingly sustainable environment. It would also be socially balanced and economically stable in various communities. As seen in the article, Urban Aboriginal Self-Determination in Toronto, the political and administrative environment enables Aboriginal people to be empowered (Heritz, 2013, p.47). This in return allows them to partake in important events and experiences that will affect their community positively (Heritz, 2013,