Alana Sayers: You Are Not Alone

Explicit content warning

12/22/20 • 95 min

In this episode, Yotakahron chats on the phone with her friend Alana Sayers, who is from the Hupačasath (Nuu-Chah-Nulth) and Alexander (Cree, Treaty 6) First Nations. Alana grew up on the Hupačasath reserve and went to Haahuuyayak school. She is a PhD candidate in the Department of English at the University of Victoria. In her dissertation, she is creating a place-based Indigenous methodology to study Indigenous literature in both structure and content, what she calls ‘Nuu-Chah-Nulth literary transformations,’ to move beyond the limitations of the page. She is also a poet and meme maker. In this episode, they chat about Alana's research, some experiences of combatting racism in academia, and what it takes to carve out space.
We mentioned a contest for our theme song last month and wanted to announce the winner: Logie Bradley! We will be working together to ensure that this is incorporated into our future episodes. Thanks to everyone who applied!
You can find more information about Heartberry Podcast at their website: www.heartberrypodcast.com and be sure to check them out on Twitter at @heartberrypod and Instagram at @heartberrypodcast! If you want to email them, they can be reached at [email protected].
We would like to thank OIYPP for their continued support of our second season.
Original artwork: Shanna Peltier
Producer: Yotakahron Jonathan

Previous Episode

SOTR: Living A Good Life

CW: suicide
SOTR: Shanna is on the road interviewing her supervisor Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos who is Nehiyaw (Cree) and English, and is a member of Fisher River Cree Nation (Ochekwi-Sipi; Treaty 5). He grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Treaty 1), and currently resides in Toronto (Tkaronto)!
Dr. Ansloos’ research focuses on Indigenous health, social policy, and in particular suicide and suicide prevention. He also examines community-based and systems-level change processes needed to advance social and health equity within Canada, with a particular focus on Indigenous rights.
As the first professor we have interviewed, we are incredibly excited that he took the time to be on our podcast and provide his wisdom and reflections on his schooling journey! Shanna and Dr. Ansloos discuss various topics such as his graduate school experiences, his research interests, and his approach to mentoring/supervising students.
We would like to thank OIYPP for their continued support of our second season. This episode is also supported by IEN at OISE.
You can find more information about Heartberry Podcast at their website: www.heartberrypodcast.com and be sure to check them out on Twitter at @heartberrypod and Instagram at @heartberrypodcast! If you want to email them, they can be reached at [email protected]
Original artwork: Shanna Peltier
Producer: Yotakahron Jonathan

Next Episode

Dr. Donna May Kimmaliarjduk: Do What You Love

In this episode, Yotakahron has a conversation with the trail-blazing Dr. Donna May Kimmaliarjduk, the first Inuk cardiac surgeon in Canada and a cardiac surgery fellow at The Cleveland Clinic. They discuss Dr. K's journey throughout medicine, being an Indigenous woman in medicine, and lessons learned along the way. Yotakahron was asked to write this feature which highlighted and celebrated Dr. K during International Women's Day 2020. As we go through a shift with the Podcast, we were able to pull this episode from our records and edit it for you all to listen (almost a full year later). We hope you enjoy!
You can find more information about Heartberry Podcast at their website: www.heartberrypodcast.com and be sure to check them out on Twitter at @heartberrypod and Instagram at @heartberrypodcast! If you want to email them, they can be reached at [email protected]
Original artwork: Shanna Peltier
Producer: Yotakahron Jonathan
Mixing: Logie Bradley