Stories hold the incredible power to heal wounds, connect people, and bridge generations. This is an incredibly important time to be centering the brilliance of our communities through Indigenous storytelling across diverse mediums. The Indigenous Brilliance Podcast is an important project of the larger Indigenous Brilliance Collective, and features innovative and exciting episodes, highlighting the multi-disciplinary voices of Indigenous women, Two-Spirit, and Indigiqueer artists as we discuss cultural resurgence in Indigenous arts. 

Hosted by creatives jaye simpson and Karmella Benedito De Barros, the Indigenous Brilliance Podcast carves out space for the celebration and witnessing of this beautifully visionary community.

Tune into our first archival episode for some highlights from our Indigenous Brilliance LIVE READING at Massy Books (June 21st, 2019)! This event was hosted by the wonderful jaye simpson and Emily Dundas Oke, and features readings by Cassandra Blanchard, Mackenzie Ground, Evan Ducharme, and Savannah Erasmus. 

Thank you so much to CJSF Radio for recording and supporting the production of this archival material. We hope you enjoy it! 

Music by Edzi’u and cover art by Sylvey Sampson <3 

Transcription on https://roommagazine.com/podcast/

Episode 5: Archives from Massy Books (June 2019)

In this episode of the Indigenous Brilliance Podcast, we celebrate the long awaited Issue 44.3 Indigenous Brilliance going to print (IN FULL COLOUR)! 

In honour of this special occasion for the Indigenous Brilliance team, co-host Karmella Benedito De Barros shares space with author and storyteller Crystal Harrison Collin for some storytelling and conversation. Just a taste of the brilliance you can find in Issue 44.3. Get your copy today! 
https://roommagazine.com/shop/indigenous-brilliance/

Partial Transcription available on the Room Magazine Website 
https://roommagazine.com/podcast/

Episode 6: Room Magazine Issue 44.3 Indigenous Brilliance

In this episode of the Indigenous Brilliance podcast, jaye and Karmella share space with tattoo artists Jaz Whitford and Jaime Blankenship. 

Together in this episode, we discuss themes of Indigenous tattooing as a cultural and ceremonial practice of gifting and community care. Jaz and Jaime share their thoughts on accountability to community as Indigenous tattoo artists, spiritual and holistic boundaries. As well, we discuss self care as tattoo artists, decolonizing and honouring traditional tattoo as sacred medicine and much more! 

You can find Jaime on instagram @intheforest.tattoo and Jaz @jaz.w.art + @dirt.n.dust

Episode 7: Indigenous Tattooing with Jaz Whitford and Jaime Blankenship

In this episode of the Indigenous Brilliance podcast, jaye and Karmella chat about all things Halloween. This episode is full of tricks and treats, featuring discussions of our favourite scary movies and reading recommendations. Decolonizing pumpkins as a sovereign and sacred Indigenous plant, reading a spoopy short story by jaye simpson, you won't want to miss this festive episode.

Indigenous Brilliance Podcast Episode 8: Happy Halloween!

In our second episode, we have the greatest pleasure of speaking with Jag Nagra. Jag is a nationally known Canucks logo designer, emerging artist, documentary film lead, and a mom of two beautiful children.
We talk about her life journey as an emerging artist, her commitment to provide representation for queer south asian women, and what it means for queer couples to have children.

Jag Nagra: Vancouver's Emerging Artist

To start off the new year, we speak with Jaspal Sangha, also known as Grandma J. Jaspal is Alex Sangha's mom who we spoke with in Episode 1.  She talks about her journey of accepting her gay son and how she turned to her Sikhi faith for support. Tune in to learn how Jaspal's journey has led her to become a strong and fearless advocate for the queer community.

Jaspal Sangha - A Mother's Journey of Acceptance

Indigenous Brilliance is a collective based on the tradition, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh people. 

Made up of Patricia Massy, Jónína Kirton, Jessica Johns, jaye simpson, Emily Dundas Oke and Karmella Benedito De Barros, our collective holds the intention to celebrate and uplift the voices of Indigenous women, Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer's through our quarterly reading series, community workshops, social media engagement and Podcast series.

Stories hold the incredible power to heal wounds, connect people, and bridge generations. We believe that this is an incredibly important time to be centring Indigenous stories and to be shining the spotlight on the brilliance that exists in our communities. 

Tune in quarterly for a new episode and reading event at Massy Books!