Unreserved

It’s a sacred gift to tell the stories that we carry – that’s one of the lessons Tanya Talaga shares with emerging writers. Rosanna speaks with the award-winning author and other creatives about how they lift each other up by creating safe spaces, supporting each other’s art and offering opportunity and mentorship to the next generation.

Reconnecting with language, family and culture is a journey without a map. It's one Melissa Powless Day has been walking through and sharing about in her poetry as she seeks reconnection and belonging. We also reflect on lessons and wisdom shared from Indigenous authors Rosanna has spoken with to help us move into the new year.

Who are the cookie people in your life? They bring light and calm in moments of chaos and darkness, and their gifts – whether they’re delicious treats, kind words, or time – hold lessons for us all. Rosanna digs into the season of giving and hears that some of the best gifts are those that come with lessons and stories. These gifts connect us to the past and give us hope for the year to come.

Beaver mimicry is helping scientists on Blackfoot territory keep water on the land and put an end to decades of drought. It’s one of many ways Indigenous people look to our beaver kin for lessons on restoring balance to ecosystems. Rosanna hears how traditional knowledge and stories about beaver make us more nurturing, generous and wise.

Forget the birthday candles, some celebrations call for dynamite! Salmon are returning to river systems all along the Pacific coast where they are the lifeblood of communities. Along the Klamath River, one salmon warrior fulfilled a lifelong dream to blow up one of the dams that had blocked salmon for decades. Rosanna hears how efforts around destruction and restoration are bringing the salmon home.

Siibii means river in Cree – a body of water with no fixed form. That description resonates with the pop singer/songwriter now known as Siibiii. Rosanna sits down for an intimate conversation to hear how Siibii’s questions around gender, sexuality and neurodiversity have helped them to heal and come into themself.

From Kookums on campus to artists with new names, Rosanna explores what it means to know your story, be grounded in yourself and share all the love (even if it takes a little rage to get you there).

The dress will never be worn by anyone but the names that adorn it. Hundreds of names of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls line a haute couture gown at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. That’s where Rosanna captured the stories of many designers at a special event.

An old cigar box full of memories helps Maidy Keir learn about her uncle Welby who died in World War II. Now some of these treasures are on display in the Netherlands in an exhibit honouring the Indigenous soldiers who helped liberate the country eighty years ago. Rosanna hears stories that honour our veterans and those who continue to serve today.

An old cigar box full of memories helps Maidy Keir learn about her uncle Welby who died in World War II. Now some of these treasures are on display in the Netherlands in an exhibit honouring the Indigenous soldiers who helped liberate the country eighty years ago. Rosanna hears stories that honour our veterans and those who continue to serve today.

Legendary Anishinaabe artist Norval Morrisseau is at the centre of what might be the biggest case of art fraud in the world. On the new podcast Forged, Siksika artist Adrian Stimson dives into the dark and layered story behind it. Rosanna gets the real scoop on what he learned about the fakes. Plus, Rosanna speaks with two filmmakers who are shifting the lens in their new adaptation to bring an authentic Inuit perspective to a strange piece of Canadian history.

Rock star Kevin Hearn of the Barenaked Ladies is doing rock star things — like buying paintings. And what better painting for an iconic Canadian rocker to buy than one by Norval Morrisseau, one of the most iconic Indigenous artists in Canada? But when Kevin’s Morrisseau painting is featured in an exhibit, it gets taken down because the head curator says it’s “questionable.” Kevin tries to get some answers but every answer leads to more questions. Host Adrian Stimson traces Kevin’s dogged quest to find out the truth about his painting — and learns how this one painting is the key to cracking a whole underworld open. Forged is a six-part series, from CBC in Canada and ABC Australia, host Adrian Stimson, an artist from the Siksika Nation, travels from Thunder Bay to the Northern Territory of Australia, to reveal what's believed to be the largest art crime fraud in the world. More episodes of Forged are available here: https://link.mgln.ai/ForgedxUnreserved

In Mi’kmaq Spirit Talker Shawn Leonard’s experience, ghosts and spirits aren’t actually all that scary. As a psychic medium he likes to show people how their loved ones who have passed still walk with them. On this spooky season edition of Unreserved, Rosanna speaks to Shawn and other lovers of the supernatural – from ghost hunters to scary story-tellers – about the lessons we learn from our connections to the spirit world.

‘All our relations’ is a saying often heard in the Indigenous community. Many from Turtle Island feel a responsibility to care for relations across the globe. As violence and uncertainty continue in Gaza, Rosanna speaks with Indigenous artists, activists and health care workers about the connection they feel with Palestinians, and how they’re driven to speak out, take action and make space for grief and healing.

From the silver screen to theatre stages and televisions across the world, Graham Greene was a trailblazing actor and legend. He brought nuance, humour and grit to many roles, paving a way for generations of Indigenous actors. Graham Greene died last month at age 73. Rosanna speaks to his friends, family and fans about his many roles in art and in life, and the legacy he leaves behind.

94 calls – but who’s answering? Jolene Ashini is – she is the first lawyer to emerge from her community and is determined to change the system from the inside. And Senator Pate is giving voice to 12 Indigenous women who have been silenced by the system. Rosanna speaks with two women responding to the 94 Calls to Action in the area of justice.

Tired of the “leather and feather roles” of Hollywood, Eva Thomas headed home to Canada where she saw investment in films made for, and by, Indigenous creators. Rosanna sits down with Indigenous filmmakers to talk about the abundance of Indigenous-led film being featured at festivals around the world.

Stephanie Sinclair thought it was a parenting win when she explained residential schools to her kindergartener. When it didn't go quite as planned, she looked to the greater community to explore ways of sharing culture and important family histories with future generations. Rosanna speaks with Stephanie and her sister Sara Sinclair as well as award-winning writer, katherena vermette, about what it takes to be a good ancestor.

In 2023, Brian Anderson was exonerated -- 50 years after he was convicted of a murder he did not commit. Rosanna sits down for the first of this season’s conversations with Brian and others involved in his case. We hear how the story of this miscarriage of justice is inspiring advocates to challenge and change a flawed legal system.

Anindilyakwa is one of approximately 800 dialects spoken by Indigenous people in Australia and it’s one of the ways singer-songwriter Emily Wurramara shares stories and inspirations from her territory and her people. Guest host, Don Amero, speaks with Emily Wurramara, Al Cardinal and Jasmine Collette at the Winnipeg Folk Festival about what it takes to be brave, speak truth and re-write the occasional rule.