Episode four directed and produced by Tracey Deer and written by Cynthia Knight is entitled Self-Helpless, intertextualizing  a little known movie of the same name about four mates who decide to follow a path to self improvement through the advice of self-help books. This time though we have our four Mohawk ladies all striving to improve their lives in some way, shape, or form.

We begin with Zoe ( Brittany LeBorgne) who has admitted her relationship  with Ohserase (Shawn Youngchief)  is only to improve her social standing in the community. However, even though this very sweet and suitable Mohawk man  is eagerly  trying to woo Zoe, he just doesn’t seem capable of scratching her adventuresome  itch. Instead of faking it, Zoe opts to adopt Anna’s three month rule in order to avoid having to engage in a sexual relationship with him.

We also learn that Zoe is still on the hunt for a new Master but unfortunately none of the characters listed online fit her tastes. Unable to focus or relax she opts to attend the community baby shower that Auntie Velma (Ashley Michaels) is hosting. Zoe learns Iostha’s (Allyson Pratt) sister’s house has burned down. Looking  for another opportunity to improve her standing in the community, and avert the possibility of being fired, Zoe offers to host a fundraiser. She sweetens the pot, promising to secure an appearance by Six Nations singer/songwriter Derek Miller in the hopes to raise enough funds for the family to place a substantial down payment on a new house.

Meanwhile Bailey (Jennifer Pudavick), has  settled, literally,  into her relationship with Watio (Jimmy Blais), but her motivation is simple: to leave the adventuresome twenties behind her. However, Bailey is learning that this is not so easy with an opinionated perfectionist like Watio. Instead of enjoying an afternoon playing in the outdoors or an adventure in the city, Bailey opts to stay in doing home renovations in order to spend quality time with her new man. Anna (Maika Hunter) points out that “you can’t leave who you are behind. You can’t give up who you are for a guy”. However, Bailey believes (at least for now) that this is necessary in order to be this new mature Bailey.

Meanwhile, Caitlin (Heather White) begins to feel the pains involved with all of her life changes and has a series of set backs over the course of this episode. We being with a small melt down with “Luscious Leon” (Alain Chanoine). Leon shares his own strategies, “to push through the troubles to reach your goals while remembering the positive gains you have already made”. These words become Caitlin’s personal mantra as she deals with the baby shower after having just secretly ended her own pregnancy with an abortion.

While at the shower, “I’m a Keeper” (NOT!) Butterhead (Meegwun Fairbrother) shows up and flirts with all of the single ladies. His behaviours prove too much for Caitlin to handle and she lashes out, publicly humiliating him and informing all who will listen that Butterhead still cuddles up with his mother at night. Overcome with emotions Caitlin then hides in the washroom drowning her sorrows with cakes and drink.

Next we turn to Anna, who is still upset with “Be still my beating heart Thunder” ( Kyle Nobess) for failing to defend her in Where are the feathers? Anna is invited by Lollipop ( Devery Jacobs) to attend  a protest in Montreal to support the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Still feeling she needs to prove her Mohawk-ness, Anna attends the protest organization meeting. It is here that we learn some details about the actual situation facing Indigenous women and girls in Canada today. We learn that statistically Aboriginal women and girls are tragically  the group most at risk for experiencing violence in Canada. Since Canadian parliament was prorogued in September 2013, the national inquiry into this situation came to a halt. The protest featured here in this episode aims to focus attention on implementing a new national inquiry into this tragedy.

While at the meeting, Anna becomes upset at the bitterness and anger she hears and is concerned that violence may very well be likely at the protest. Later when she too is at the baby shower, she shares her concerns with Caitlin, but Caitlin reminds her that while Mohawks believe in letting others live as they choose, they also believe in defending themselves.

Taking this advice to heart, Anna decides to attend the protest. Thunder too decides to attend in support of both the cause and in support of Anna. Finally, at long last Thunder declares his love for Anna (cue the goosebumps), and Anna reciprocates with her love for Thunder.  #TeamThana for the win.

Finally, it should be noted that this episode was dedicated in loving memory to Thom Parkinson, Second Assistant Director, Mohawk Girls. Mr. Parkinson  passed away suddenly at the age of 56 on August 6, 2015.

So what do you think is next? Will the new mature Bailey continue to show her face or will the old adventuresome Bailey re-emerge in the final two episodes of this season? Will Zoe come to appreciate Ohserase? Will Caitlin turn to Leon for moral support following her misstep into old habits? What is in store for #TeamThana? Let me know in the comments below.

This week we have two  major lessons for outsiders. The first comes in the form of the the title itself– Where are the feathers? This is particularly fitting at this time of year when we see cultural appropriation in the form of Hallowe’en costumes. Feathers represent a host of traits revolving around bravery, trust , and power, and are only  awarded to those who have bravely fought a significant battle. In short, feathers are hard earned and once earned, displayed proudly. So this begs the question: what acts of bravery are our fearless four up to?

Caitlin ( Heather White), is still on her heroic quest for personal growth, in order to overcome a lifetime of hurt perpetrated unwittingly by a loveless father. She is still making mostly positive life choices explaining to her personal trainer  and hottie “perfect gentleman” Leon (Alain Chanoine) that “there is no more booze, no more men” and Caitlin decides to  enroll in a business course. Leon is incredibly proud of her successes and a few more little sparks let fly.

However, Caitlin has a few little set backs: feeling like the seventh wheel among her friends, and slips a bit in the “flirting with men” department, but throughout she ultimately forges on with her path to self improvement.

Bailey ( Jennifer Pudavick) is clearly settling into her new romance with Watio (Jimmy Blais). But as fabulous boyfriend material goes, they are less than simpatico when it comes to Mohawk politics. Watio passionately sides with those who believe if you Marry Out Get Out whereas Bailey sides with those who wish to stay, join in, and raise their families in the Mohawk community. This mirrors the widely publicized debates regarding the intermarriage policies that are in place at the real Kahnawa:ke. At any rate, Bailey holds her tongue and later we learn that Watio invites Sose (Glen Gould) and Auntie Velma ( Ashley Michaels) for breakfast so he can meet her family. I guess we need to stay tuned to find out if Bailey can overcome this politically based obstacle or if this proves to much for her to tolerate within the context of an intimate relationship.

Next we turn to Anna (Maika Harper) and her ongoing struggle to fit in and learn about her Mohawk heritage. Whilst out walking with Thunder ( Kyle Nobess)  she meets Thunder’s younger brother Danny (played by Kyle Nobess’s  brother Jesse Nobess) and learns that he is worried about the social complications this relationship can mean for Thunder and their family.

The issue surrounding Anna’s Blood Quantum Number continues as a  major plot device when our girls and their partners gather for a games night. Watio feels it is necessary to to attack Anna’s Mohawkness, or rather her lack of Mohawkness, forcing Thunder to come to her defense.

Undaunted, Anna decides to take her pursuits further and she visits the Longhouse. It is here our second lesson, this time delivered by an Elder of Kahnawa:ke ( played by Billy Two Rivers) is learned. For Mohawks’ it is at the Longhouse that the people come to learn to “live in harmony with creation–all of Creation”. The Elder invites Anna to attend a Social the next evening so she can learn about her people. With Caitlin and Bailey by her side for moral support, Anna initially flounders, obsessing with note taking and picture taking rather than just listening and experiencing.

In the end, Anna in her typical guileless self enters and ultimately wins the ladies’ Smoke Dance but her happiness is short lived. The community members feel threatened and misunderstand Anna’s exuberance to learn. Thunder tries to explain the chasm that exists, but instead of easing her concerns, he lands squarely in Anna’s gun-sight.

Finally, we learn what is motivating Zoe ( Brittany LeBorgne) and this new found relationship with Ohserase (Shawn Youngchief).  Caitlin and Bailey confront Zoe and she admits that she is only dating Ohserase to improve her public persona. The girls agree she needs a “personality makeover” in order to avoid losing her position as legal counsel for the band. To advance her cause, she hosts a football party, but leaves to meet her master Dom (Kyle Switzer).

Episode 3 closes on an entertaining twist. We see Zoe turning up unannounced at the the school Dom has said he is principal at only to discover he is merely the custodian. Dom announces that he never wants to see “stalker Zoe” ever again.

So, what is in store for our ladies next? Will we see more sparks between Caitlin and Leon? Can Bailey convert Watio to her way of thinking regarding the Marry Out Get Out policies at Kahnawa:ke? Will Anna and Thunder put this latest tiff behind them as she continues to learn about Mohawk Culture? Now that Dom is out of the picture, will Zoe focus on building a healthy relationship with Ohserase? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

The second episode of season 3, entitled Pino Noir, opens with Bailey (Jennifer Pudavick) and Trumpet ( Kevin Loring) luxuriating in a hot tub, sipping wine, and planning exotic trips together in his yacht. This might lead the viewer to believe that the title is invoking Pinot Noir: the wine, sometimes referred to by sommeliers as “sex in a glass”. But, as this episode unfolds, it becomes clear that our ladies are dealing with healing, positive life choices, and building strong stable relationships in all facets of life, more akin to the medicines of the Black Pine or Lodgepole Pine.

We begin with Caitlin (Heather White) receiving some self-help books from her on again room-mate Zoe (Brittany LeBorgne). Caitlin has decided to adopt a new healthy lifestyle that includes positive food choices, exercise, and working on her self-confidence. She even chooses to enlist personal trainer Leon (Alain Chanoine) to help her with a fitness regimen. (Did we see some sparks flying between these two? Time will tell). Later in the episode Caitlin runs (literally) into her father (Lawrence Bayne) and Butterhead (Meegwun Fairbrother) and she finally takes steps to positively move forward, away from these two toxic men in her life. GO CAITLIN!

For her part in healthy choices, Anna (Maika Harper) opts to take Sose’s (Glen Gould) advice, and connect with her Mohawk culture. Being a student, she seeks out knowledge the way most students do, via Wikipedia. Anna decides to make a healing salve for Tulip (Jayli Wolf) in order to make peace following their bar brawl. She heads out into the woods on her medicine hike, gathering the plants she hopes will make the salve according to the recipe she found online.

We next see Anna covered in welts on Tulip’s doorstep presenting Tulip with her peace offering. Tulip promptly refuses the salve. Anna then turns to Thunder (Kyle Nobess) for consolation, who sweetly teases her, “Why would you go to the internet for Mohawk culture when you are living in the real thing? You don’t need to prove how Mohawk you are to me.” YES!! Team Thana LIVES!

This week Zoe returns to work following her vacation/hibernation and uses her selfie with Lollipop (Devery Jacobs) as proof that all is well following the wedding meltdown. Unfortunately, according to her mother, The Chief, played by Tantoo Cardinal, these efforts are too little too late. Band members have written letters declaring Zoe’s behaviour violated the moral code she has in place as the Band’s legal counsel. Her mother declares that Zoe has once again shamed the family with her selfish behaviour, making it clear that she believes Zoe is “the joke of the town” and needs to “suck it up and give her grand-kids”.

This all sends Zoe back to Dom (Kyle Switzer) who has decided that she needs to be punished (since he had a stressful day as “Principal” of the Bradford School – REALLY?!?!). Zoe gladly submits to his lashing. The question is, did Zoe finally realise that this lifestyle is not really for her? Later we see Zoe, ever the pragmatist, compiling a spreadsheet in order to find a suitable single Mohawk man. As it turns out Osherase is the winning candidate for boyfriend material and Zoe wastes no time in bringing him home to meet her family.

Lastly we return to Bailey. The girls all discover that Bailey is indeed having an affair with Trumpet and judge her for it. Meanwhile Watio (Jimmy Blais) makes it clear to all who will see that he is still interested in Bailey, despite their horrendous date last season. Bailey is again quick to judge Watio and we learn that although he is on welfare (for “political reasons”), he volunteers every day for the Kahnawa:ke youth centre. Following a disappointing date with Trumpet and a run in with his wife Lollipop, Bailey begins to question this adulterous relationship. Finally after another revealing conversation with Watio, Bailey dumps Trumpet. We close out the episode with our foursome discussing what comprises a healthy relationship and Bailey quickly goes to Watio, staking her claim.

So, has Zoe actually turned away from Dom and the BDSM lifestyle in favour of a more traditional, and presumably healthy relationship with Osherase? What is next for Anna as she explores Mohawk culture? Can Bailey make a go with a relationship involving Watio? Has Caitlin turned a new leaf with her new healthy attitude and lifestyle? (and were there sparks between Caitlin and Leon?) Let me know what you think in the comments below.