INDIGENOUS ROLE

MODEL
C

Comparison Report Shawna Sandy

Two Voices
I chose to do my comparison report on two Ojibwa Authors, Wab Kinew and Richard
Wagamese because I believe that these two voices are both very important and
influential in our world today. Many people watch television and movies and find the
token indian that these media outlets portray in a very Hollywood-esque stereotype
with broken English, long braided hair, and as traditional medicine people living in tiipiis,
or as drunks and drug abusers.
For those of us Ojibwa readers, having an Ojibwa write about our culture and history is
inspiring. To tell a story of an indigenous character, in a setting that is not necessarily
historical is a very rare gem.
So how do these two very different authors compare?

About Wab
Wabanakwut Kinew was born December 31, 1981.
Originally from from Onigamig First Nation in Kenora, On. And
born to Tobasonakwut and Kathi Avery Kinew.
Wab is a hip-hop musician, public speaker, broadcaster,
university administrator, author, and political candidate.
Wab is married, with two children from a previous relationship.
Father was in a residential school.
He was an alcoholic and tended to use violence as a way to
confront differences.
Currently running as Manitobas NDP Candidate for Fort
Rouge. However, he has been plagued by lyrics and Tweets
that are misogynistic and homophobic.
Wab was charged with a DUI in 2003.

About Richard
Richard Wagamese was born in 1955.
Originally from Wabaseemoong First Nation near Minaki, On.
Columnist, Author, reporter, script writer, radio and television
broadcaster, documentary producer.
Married to Debra Powell, has an estranged son, Joshua.
Family was in residential schools.
Grew up in a nomadic, traditional Ojibwa lifestyle until the
effects of the Residential Schools caught up with their family
and his parents abandoned him and his siblings while they
drank 60 miles away. At which point CAS took them into
custody. Wagamese would not see his parents again for 21
years.
Wagamese became an alcoholic and drug user after his seven
years in foster care.
In March 2010, Wagamese was charged with three DUIs in a
two week span.

Similarities
Both Wagamese and Kinew are Ojibway, from reserves approximately 60 miles apart in
Northern Ontario.
Both had family who were in Residential schools and both faced intergenerational
trauma.
Both became angry and used alcohol and drugs.
Both were convicted of DUIs.

How did they unite their people?

Both men have united their people by the power of their voice. Through telling their
own stories, whether in newspaper articles, television broadcasts, or their memoirs.
They share the trials they faced and speak candidly about them. They give us the
teachings and the history of our people, they speak of intergenerational trauma
caused by residential schools in a way we can understand.

What caused division among their

people?
Assimilation
Residential Schools
Intergenerational Trauma

Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Reservations
Indian Act
Religion
Loss of Culture

How did they rise above obstacles

and secure success?
Kinew and Wagamese both faced the challenges of Intergenerational Trauma.
They both hit rock bottom, and faced the challenges of finding their way back up.
Continuously working on their personal issues and gaining momentum as Ojibwa role
models.
Both worked as broadcasters and writers to bring a voice to the residential school
survivors and victims.

What role did their indigenous

identity help secure personal and
professional success for their
peoples?
If both these men were not indigenous, their struggles would definitely not be the same.
They would not have the same challenges growing up, they would not have had the
opportunity to learn our culture in the ways that they did, they would not have this
platform to stand on. Had they not been indigenous, their fight would be for something
else.

Questions??
1. In Kinews role as an NDP Candidate, he is facing many allegations of being
misogynistic and homophobic. Why do you believe the opposition is focusing on
Kinews past Tweets and old lyrics?
2. A role model is defined as a person looked to by others as an example to be
imitated. Both Wagamese and Kinew have become role models in our culture today,
in your opinion do role models need to be saints to carry that title?
3.

I am a victim of Canadas residential school system. When I say victim, I mean something substantially
different than Survivor. I never attended a residential school, so I cannot say that I survived one. However,
my parents and my extended family members did. The pain they endured became my pain, and I became a
victim. Richard Wagamese (http://speakingmytruth.ca/downloads/AHFvol2/13_Wagamese.pdf)

Do you agree with Wagameses view of a Residential School Survivor versus Victims?