Breaking barriers: Unreserved marks Indigenous Disability Awareness Month

In Canada there have been great strides made to improve conditions for people living with disabilities. In 2019, The Accessible Canada Act was passed, which prohibits discrimination based on disability. But when it comes to Indigenous people living with disabilities, it's much more complicated. 

This week on Unreserved, a look at disability through an Indigenous lens. 

November is the 6th annual Indigenous Disability Awareness Month. Launched by the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society — or BCANDS — the commemorative month brings awareness to the contributions of Indigenous people living with a disability in Canada. Neil Belanger is the executive director at BCANDS, he'll explain why it's important and what they have planned. 

Cherokee journalist Jen Deerinwater is a spoonie, a term which means she lives with disabilities that aren't visible. She says that Indigenous people with disabilities often face a double strike against them.

Mattmac is a blind Oji-Cree musician from Garden Hill First Nation, who doesn't let his disability get in the way of his love of producing music.

Cree and Scandinavian musician Christa Couture experienced a major loss, when at the age of 13 she had her leg amputated above the knee following a cancer diagnosis. After using a prosthetic leg for years, she shares the moment she decided to flaunt her disability. 

Jordan River Anderson would have turned 21 last month. He had a rare muscle disorder which kept him in hospital all his life, and he died when he was five having never even been to his home community Norway House Cree Nation. Child advocate Cindy Blackstock has fought tirelessly to keep Jordan's legacy alive with Jordan's Principle, a bill that guarantees First Nation children receive the health care they need, no matter where they live. 

American Sign Language is the most commonly used sign language, but did you know there are Indigenous sign languages? Blood Tribe of the Blackfoot Confederacy member Martin Heavy Head Jr. is not deaf, but grew up speaking Plains Indian Sign Language. He explains why different nations used sign language to communicate, and teach you how to sign the word buffalo. 

To acknowledge the barriers some face accessing our show, Unreserved is making this episode more accessible with a complete transcript.  

This week's playlist: 

Mattmac — Paradise 

Christa Couture — Lovely Like You