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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Featured, Mohawk Girls

Mohawk Girls: That’s just the way it is

This week on Mohawk Girls, reality is not all it is cracked up to be for our fab four. Caitlin (Heather White) realizes all of her past relationships have been dysfunctional, Bailey (Jenny Pudavick) feels Watio (Jimmy Blais) is forcing her to compromise her wedding dreams, Zoe (Brittany LeBorgne) feels she needs to dumb down her election platform in order to be elected, and Anna (Maika Harper) may not be ready to fit in at Kahnawa:ke after all. And that, folks is just the way it is. Sometimes life is not how we envision it to be.

This week, Caitlin and Luscious Leon (Dwain Murphy) went on their first dates and Leon was not sparing any romantic detail. Fancy restaurant, champagne, presents and he COOKS too—where do I sign up? Leon is definitely out to woo and Caitlin—having only dated Mohawk men like Butterhead (Meegwun Fairbrother)—is completely off balance as Leon treats her like the princess she deserves to be. Bailey and Anna seem happy for her. However, Zoe lashes out, worried Caitlin’s reputation will suffer and—dare I suggest—her own reputation by association? Despite these little hurdles, Caitlin continues on her path of self-improvement and starts her own home business with Leon’s support.

Meanwhile, Bailey and Watio are planning their wedding. Now we all know relationships are all about compromise, but given these two and their differences, are these compromises going to prove too much? Watio wants a simple wedding with a barbeque so they can include everyone, but Bailey has always dreamed of the huge fairy tale celebration. Auntie Velma (Ashley Michaels) steps in to pay for Bailey’s dream, but that causes some consternation. Watio’s pride is hurt. Eventually, he relents and Bailey gets the perfect wedding gown. After all, as Bailey’s dad Sose (Glen Gould) says: “Happy wife, happy life!” But how long can that type of happiness last?

Since Anna dropped out of school, she has found a job waitressing at the local bar. This provides an opportunity to make new friends at Kahnawa:ke, and a perfect place to start hunting for a replacement for Thunder (Kyle Nobess). But who should appear as her new BFF? Butterhead. I definitely smell trouble ahead for Anna now that she is taking advice from Butterhead; not to mention, how is Caitlin going to react to this news?

And finally, Zoe  has refined her election platform for Chief but the girls find it too highbrow for Kahnawa:ke. Determined, Zoe heads out into the community to get  some input. Left feeling defeated, Ohserase (Shawn Youngchief) rallies around her, and I think I even saw a brief glimmer of a spark. But Zoe is still taunted by her sex addictions. Can she pull off this election without stumbling back into her old naughty “good girl” habits?

As a side note, in what I like to call “our cultural lesson of the night,” this episode touched on what is commonly referred to as “white guilt.”  Ironically, it occurs in the Caitlin/Leon storyline as Caitlin suspects Leon’s kindness comes from some need to “save the Indian.” This type of over reaction or compensation is common in mainstream society. When those of the settler populations come to learn of past horrors perpetrated on Indigenous populations they oftentimes overstep and try to take over in a need to quell their guilt. In tonight’s episode, it becomes clear Leon is not at all committing this but rather is just trying to demonstrate to Caitlin how much he cares.

What do you think is going to happen next? What is going on with Butterhead and Anna? Let me know in the comments below!

Mohawk Girls can be seen Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET on APTN.

If you are looking for more Mohawk Girls content, you can slide on over to their website and pick up some tips from “Butterhead’s Guide to the Galaxy,” along with other quizzes, pictures and news.

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Industry News

Link: Dave Broadfoot, Royal Canadian Air Farce comedian, dead at 90

From CBC News:

Link: Dave Broadfoot, Royal Canadian Air Farce comedian, dead at 90
Canadian comedian and former Royal Canadian Air Farce actor Dave Broadfoot has died at age 90, his family confirmed to CBC News.

Born in Vancouver on Dec. 5, 1925, Broadfoot was an early member of the long-running comedy show on CBC. Starting in 1973, he appeared on radio and television versions of the show for 15 years. Continue reading. 

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Bachelorette Canada, Featured

Jasmine picks her final two on The Bachelorette Canada

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After weeks on the emotional Bachelorette Canada roller coaster, Jasmine made a big step toward her final choice of bachelor when she made her two-man pick out of the three-man race.

Unfortunately, Mike was too slow and methodical in professing his love for Jasmine, and he departed heartbroken after she awarded Mikhel and Kevin the two roses available. Watching the episode, her decision wasn’t all that surprising, no matter how tough Kevin’s mom, Jill, was in her questioning. And it just proves how much of an emotional connection Jasmine and Kevin have if she chose to keep him rather than run screaming in the other direction.

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And though I’m sad Mike and his abs were eliminated from the competition, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s chosen as the next Bachelor Canada. Not only is he good-looking, but his father—someone Mike respects immensely—would probably be behind it. He didn’t mince words when he told his son to loosen up and let fate take control once in awhile.

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Mikhel, meanwhile, could have the inside track to Jasmine’s heart. He’s shown incredible emotional growth every week, culminating with a stellar hometown date where he laid his heart out there, professing love for Jasmine and being super-sensitive about it. The kicker—and I’m betting what sold Jasmine on Mikhel—was that motorcycle. It showed he can be dangerous, and we know Jasmine likes a little danger in her life. A fun family dinner with Mikhel’s family was the capper on a perfect date.

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Kevin, who has been a contender for Jasmine’s heart since Day 1, continued to win her over by admitting he loved her, talking about his lack of confidence and giving her his last military medal. And though Jill proved to be a tough customer, Jasmine refused to back down and—I thought—stood up to Jill rather well.

Next week is Part 1 of the season finale, followed by the Men Tell All special and Jasmine’s final pick revealed on Nov. 22. Who do you think she’ll choose?

Who will Jasmine choose in the finale?

  • Mikhel (63%, 778 Votes)
  • Kevin (37%, 465 Votes)

Total Voters: 1,243

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Part 1 of The Bachelorette Canada finale airs next Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on W Network.

Images courtesy of Corus.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Wild Archaeology — Heiltsuk Nuyems

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First, I apologize for a lost week as I was attending a conference in New England. But I am ready to jump back in with a summary of Jenifer and Jacob’s adventures on Wild Archaeology as we explored the central coast of British Columbia.

The thrust of this episode focused on the Kelp Highway Hypothesis, which builds on the Pacific Coast Migration Model. This theory is based on the abundance of food contained within the kelp forests, including shellfish, marine mammals, seabirds and seaweed. By tracking these forests along the Pacific Rim, located along the coastal perimeters of Beringia (which we explored in Episodes 1 and 2), it would suggest a migratory route for populations in this region. Jenifer gets to explore with the sea otters that are indicative of a kelp forest.

Jacob goes diving again to explore the various kinds of kelp that populate a kelp forest and gets a first-hand look at the other creatures that populate this underwater ecosystem.

Then we moved inland to check out the remains of an old and remote Heiltsuk potlatch house once used by the communities that lived in this region at the time when potlatch was outlawed by the Canadian government. Like the one seen in this episode, these potlatch houses were located in an area that could be accessed quickly but still hidden deep within the coastal forests.

Finally, we visited Namu, an abandoned salmon cannery town that also housed one of the largest archaeological sites in existence. Microblades that carbon date back to 8250 BCE have been found in this region of coastal B.C. We also find some stone carvings deep in the inner tributaries in these territories.

A really picturesque episode exploring the B.C. coast. Can’t wait to see where we visit next week!

Wild Archaeology airs Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. ET on APTN.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Mohawk Ironworkers talks about health

Mohawk health has always been tied to the land. This week on Mohawk Ironworkers we explored health, home and heritage and what these mean to ironworkers. Additionally, how do the three H’s influence lives once you retire from ironworking?

Hayden Hemlock, a retired Mohawk ironworker from a long line of ironworkers, discussed the importance of family and community. “No matter how far you travel from home to work you always return to that home base.”  Even with his time spent growing up in New York while his father worked as an ironworker, home was still Kahnawa:ke. In the business of ironworking, there are many Mohawks, and their camaraderie is the envy of others who work in the trade. But even with this close-knit working community, home beckoned from afar.

Hayden suffered a fall while working, and his injuries have prevented him from returning to ironworking. Despite his injuries, he refused surgery and turned instead to traditional medicines in order to assist with his body’s healing process. Raised with his grandparent’s influence, Hayden developed a deep connection to the land, fostering a deep respect for, and responsibility to, protecting it. Now, instead of walking iron he spends his time building houses in his community of Kahnawa:ke.

Kaniehtakeron Martin is also an ironworker; he has taken a different approach and runs 20 miles every week to maintain his fitness.   When he first started the job, Kaniehtakeron fell into the trap of work hard, play hard, and repeat. Recognizing this lifestyle was unhealthy, he began eating and exercising regularly. “Gegs” now runs marathons in his spare time to take care of his body and to withstand the rigors of his chosen occupation.

This was one the stronger episodes in Mohawk Ironworkers. We got a real sense of the these two men, and how ironworking has affected them on and off the job. Kudos to executive producer Michelle Smith.

Mohawk Ironworkers airs Tuesdays at 7 p.m. ET on APTN.

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