In this rich and expansive conversation, Kit Marie is joined by Dr. Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles, an Ojibwe geographer based in Victoria, British Columbia. Together, they explore identity, movement, Indigenous geographies, the meaning of place, and how our relationships with land — and sky — shape who we become.
Deondre shares how his Black, Swedish, and Ojibwe heritage, together with his moves across Minneapolis, Ohio, and now Canada, have influenced his sense of self. He discusses the migration history of Ojibwe peoples and explains how Western cartographic boundaries differ deeply from Indigenous understandings of territory, kinship, and relational land connections.
The conversation journeys through NativeLand.ca, the role of stars and constellations in Ojibwe governance, the creation story of Turtle Island, and the responsibilities humans carry as “the least important part of the ecosystem.” Kit Marie and Deondre also bond over the cold of Minnesota versus the wet cold of Victoria, Brexit, decolonisation, nationalism, and the Prime Directive in Star Trek, and discussions about music, memories, and joy — from viola to percussion to the household’s many tarantulas.
A thoughtful, gentle, humorous episode that blends Indigenous knowledge, personal geography, and cosmic belonging.
Weblinks for Listeners:
🔗 Dr. Deondre Smiles – personal website: https://deondresmiles.com/
🔗 Native Land Digital / Native-Land.ca: https://native-land.ca/
🔗 Anishinaabe Astronomy and Identity: https://ojibwe.net/anishinaabe-astronomy-and-identity/
🔗 Star Stories: Ojibwe Indigenous Star Map - An Artist's Rendition: https://www.zhaawanart.com/post/star-stories-part-9-ojibwe-star-map
🔗 Ojibwe People’s Dictionary: https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/
🔗 Star Trek's \"Prime Directive\": https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Prime_Directive
#CoffeeGeogPod #IndigenousGeographies #Ojibwe #DecolonisingGeography #HumanGeography #PlaceIdentity #TurtleIsland #NativeLand #GeographyEducation #IndigenousKnowledges #Cosmology #StarStories #CulturalGeography #environmentaljustice
Theme music: 'Sparks of Inspiration' by Silvermansound.com
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