In the winter of 2017/2018, Canada saw a lot of heartbreaking and frustrating verdicts in trials where Indigenous youth had been murdered. These events along with Northern Canada’s suicide crisis, Indigenous communities without potable water and my own day-to-day frustrations of the average Canadian’s lack of knowledge or truthful history lit a fire in me. I needed to turn this frustration and sadness into movement and I realised I could start with educating people on the basics of Canada’s dark history

I feel a key message is to realise we weren’t given the full story or even a small portion of truth in school. There is so much to learn about Indigenous history that is painful but there is also so much out there in our collective history as Indigenous people that is and should be celebrated. We are a diverse and culturally rich people and I feel Canadians are really missing out in learning our stories.

Learn! Learn about the true history of the land you build your lives upon. Learn about those who thrived before, learn about who calls the land you live your life on their ancestral home. Research and learn on your own, Google questions, be informed and try not to place huge emotional and mental loads on Indigenous people to “teach you” how to be a better ally.

As much as I say the zines are for others, they are equally huge therapy for me. I get lost in putting them together and I have the chance to really think over how I feel about these issues. When they’re done and I’m holding a finished copy in my hands I feel a huge release, it’s ready to come alive and speak to the masses.