ZONGWE
BINESIKWE
Sounding Thunderbird Woman
Social change through storytelling
ZONGWE BINESIKWE
Sounding Thunderbird Woman
Zongwe Binesikwe Crystal Hardy (they/she) is a Two-Spirit Anishinaabe storyteller from the Bear Clan. They are a member of Biinjitiwabik Zaaging Anishnabek living in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
They hope to help create social change, healing and understanding through storytelling. They use their voice as medicine through podcasting, creative non-fiction, solution focused journalism and art as ceremony.
Zongwe's stories are guided by Spirit and include their personal experiences healing through intergenerational trauma, childhood abuse and complex PTSD. Their mother is one of the missing Indigenous women in Canada and their brother was murdered in 2017.
Their PhD in nursing thesis at Queen’s University, “Storytelling as Medicine: Autoethnography of a Two-Spirit Anishinaabe Nurse Practitioner” explores a ceremonial self-reflective practice using expressive arts to promote resilience and address compassion fatigue in nurses.
Zongwe hosts a weekly community radio show called Zee's Place on CILU 102.7FM in Thunder Bay. They produce and host the Under the Same Stars Podcast.
Find their creative non-fiction published in Golden Brick Road’s “Lighting the North”and “She’s No Longer Silent” and in the upcoming release of The Great Canadian Woman’s “She moves Mountains".
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EVENTS
Upcoming Events
- Wed., Apr. 28Online Panel Discussion
- Tue., May 25Spoken Lives Online Event
- Wed., May 26Online Panel Discussion
PAST EVENTS
ART GALLERY OF MISSISSAUGA
PAINTING AS CEREMONY
NISHNAWBE ASKI NATION HEALTH SUMMIT 2019
THE UNCOMMON WOMAN CROSS COUNTRY TOUR
February 27, 2020
Art Gallery of Mississauga
Using painting as a spiritual practice to create sacred art. A spiritual creative approach that invites participants to shift the focus from project to process.
Watch the youtube recording here
November 21, 2019
Thunder Bay, ON
Keynote Address
"Cultural Humility: Essential Foundations When Working With Indigenous Patients"
October 2018
Thunder Bay, ON
Vancouver, BC
The Uncommon Woman is an inspirational global platform for women who have incredible stories of strength from struggle. Crystal shared her story of breaking the cycle of disadvantage in her family. Her mother, Ruby, is one of the missing Indigenous women in Canada.
STORYTELLING
ZEE'S PLACE RADIO SHOW
CILU 102.7FM LU Radio Thunder Bay
*Final Show: April 28, 2021 - Stayed tuned for something new soon*
Zee decolonizes the airwaves through music and storytelling, featuring Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists that support reconciliation.
Decolonization includes shifting the perceptions of Indigenous Peoples by non-Indigenous people and changing the way Indigenous people view themselves.
This happens through restoring the Indigenous world views, culture and traditional ways of knowing and being.
Zee's Place airs Wednesdays from 2-4pm EST on CILU 102.7FM in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Listen live and stream online!
CREATIVE NON-FICTION
Lighting The North: An Anthology of Feminism and Cultural Diversity from Across the Nation
Zongwe Binesikwe is a co-author in Golden Brick Road Publishing's Lighting the North. Canada thrives as a diverse country with a very unique culture. Lighting The North will help shed light on equality, freedom, and what it means to be a woman in Canada. The struggles and unrecognized achievements we face as women are just as present today as they were in the past. The women of the north share their secrets to their successes, the spirited stories of their failures, as well as incredible tips and insights for thriving in our multicultural country.
Order your copy from Golden Brick Road Publishing today! Apply discount code for 20% at checkout: CRYSTAL20
Get a SIGNED copy from Zongwe in the shop!
She's No Longer Silent:
Healing after Mental Health Trauma, Sexual Abuse, and Experiencing Injustice
Featured Poetry:
Daughters of Four Generations
Order your copy from Golden Brick Road Publishing today! Apply discount code for 20% at checkout: CRYSTAL20
Get a SIGNED copy from Zongwe in the shop!
JOURNALISM
HOW FIRST NATIONS ARE USING RADIO IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19
‘WE NEED THIS:’ GETTING COVID-19 VACCINE TO REMOTE AND URBAN INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS
ARTWORK
PAINTING AS CEREMONY
Storytelling through art is integral to Zongwe's healing, teaching and connection to community. Using painting as ceremony, they seek guidance from Spirit while processing and healing trauma.
Check out this past workshop hosted by The Art Gallery of Mississauga
SOCIAL CHANGE THROUGH ART
CREATE SPACE
Zongwe is a mentor with CreateSpace BIPOC Public Art Residency.
STEPS programs foster inclusive public art practices; build capacity of artists who are underrepresented in Canadian public art; and demonstrate the power of art to reimagine equitably designed cities.
CreateSpace BIPOC Public Art Residency is a national public art residency program designed to provide emerging Black, Indigenous and racialized artist with the skills, relationships and practical experience needed to create public artwork in their community.
Zongwe created this silent jingle dress art piece to draw attention to MMIWG while attending Definitely Superior Art Gallery's Derelicte 12. The traditional jingles were replaced with fabric printed cut outs of the generic face used by the MMIWG database for unidentified persons.
Photo by: Chondon Photography
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
In 2019, The Nest Studio hosted an evening of music & art featuring Canadian singer/songwriter/composer, Cat Jahnke, in support of
Canadian Mental Health Association.
While listening to Cat Jahnke’s song called, "Black Heart, Black Soul",
Zongwe explored their own struggles for freedom from darkness and created, Punky.
If you are struggling right now, please remember that you are so important to this world.
We need you! Here are some supports that can help:
Call or Text 1-855-554-4325 (HEAL)
Canada Suicide Prevention Service
Call 1-833-456-4566 or Text 45645
Call 1-800-668-6868 or Text 686868
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