b'PODCASTSand making a space for voices that have beenBoth Wheeler and Walker also speak towill focus on raising awareness about the marginalized since the invention of radiothe responsibility of telling stories that holdIndependent Assessment Process (IAP) and television. pain, laughter and resilience, sometimesarchive, over 34,000 residential school all at once. I try to end conversations onsurvivor testimonies set for destruction in You dont need a gatekeeper to greenlighta good note, says Wheeler. Ill check in2027 due to a 2015 Supreme Court ruling. your idea, says Wheeler. No one tells uswith the person afterwards and thank themIts the most comprehensive accounting what we can or cant say. We have uneditedagain. Thats how we honour the vulner- we have of abuse in residential schools, conversations about things that matterability theyve shared. she says. And most people have no idea its to us. going to be erased.Theres always an emotional toll, Walker Podcasting, both women say, has removedadds. I come from a big Cree family Wheeler has practical advice for those just many of the rigid boundaries imposedtheyre my motivation. And when I needstarting out. Be brave. Tell the stories you by traditional media. With a longer, freerto come back to myself, I sew. I knit. Iwant to tell. Share and uplift the voices of format, listeners can linger in a voice, abead. Its something I watched my grand- those who may not get a platform, she moment or a truth. In news, youre oftenmother and aunties do. It brings me backshares. Record your Elders. Their voices working with a minute and a half to getto centre. are so important to capture. the facts out, says Walker. With a podcast,The two women also recognize the long you can stay with a voice long enough forlineage they walk in. Wheeler cites herMy daughter will grow up knowing that people to really feel it. That space is whatmother-in-law, Bernelda Wheeler, asour stories matter, Walker concludes. helps break down stereotypes. It makes roomthe matriarch of Indigenous media,That our truths are worthy of being told for empathy. alongside leaders like Rosanna Deerchildwith care, with courage and with power. Wheeler adds that its also about intimacy.and Duncan McCue. I was once told by aIn a media landscape still catching up Audio can take listeners to places theyvewhite editor that I was ghettoizing myself byto Indigenous excellence, Walker and never been, and may not go to on theirfocusing on Indigenous stories, she says.Wheeler arent just telling storiestheyre own, she says. When its done well, youreBut I always said that if I dont care enoughbuilding space for others to listen, to at the kitchen table or eavesdropping at theto tell them, who will? learn and to feel something deeper. And pub. It connects you to learning withoutFor Walker, that lineage is now aif podcasting is part of what moves that even realizing youre learning. responsibility. Her next podcast seasonforward? All the better. THE ARCHIVE WE CANT AFFORD TO LOSEIn 2027, Canada will begin destroying thewere given under oath in exchange foracknowledged. We need to protect it, says largest archive of residential school survivorcompensation, but due to a 2015 SupremeWalker. Her next podcast season will dive testimony ever collected. Known as theCourt ruling, they are set to be erasedinto the legal, emotional and cultural impli-Independent Assessment Process (IAP)unless survivors explicitly request that theircations of this looming erasure.records, the archive includes over 34,000individual records be preserved. Connie detailed accounts of abuse submitted asWalker is sounding the alarm. Survivors can visit www.myrecordsmychoice.part of the Indian Residential SchoolsThis archive is part of our history. Itsca to learn more about preserving their Settlement Agreement. The testimoniesthe truth that so many fought to havepersonal testimony.The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship CentresTThhee O Onntario Ftario Federederaation of Ition of Indigenous Fndigenous Friendship Criendship CenentrtresesThe Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centresstrives to improve the quality of lifefor urban Indigenous strstrivives tes to impro improovve the qualite the quality of lify of lifefefor uror urban Iban Indigenous ndigenous strives to improve the quality of lifefor urban Indigenous people by providing innovative research, policy, training people by pry prooviding innoviding innovvaativtive re researesearch, policch, policyy, tr, training aining people bpeople by providing innovative research, policy, training and community development to 29 Friendship Centres 31and c ommunity devy developmenelopment tt to 29 Fo 29 Friendship Criendship Cenentrtres es and communitand community development to 29 Friendship Centres across Ontario.across Onacr oss Ontartarioio. .across Ontario.Join the movementJoin the moJoin the movvemenementtJoin the movementScan the QR code to can the QR code tode to o SScan the QR cScan the QR code to acess our careers pageacess our caracess our careers pageeers pageacess our careers pageor visit oforgareersor visit ofofororggarareerseersor visit or visit oforgareersOntario Native Womens Association23'