New autism research at Brandon University will explore Indigenous approaches


New autism research at Brandon University will explore Indigenous approaches

BU NEWS — February 25, 2022


BRANDON – A new research study at Brandon University will explore Indigenous approaches to autism in education. Dr. Patty Douglas, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education, is the academic lead on the project, working in partnership with Leah LaPlante, Vice President of the Manitoba Métis Federation Southwest, and with Gail Cullen, Executive Director of the Brandon Friendship Centre. The research will bring Indigenous autistic people and those who love and care about them together as part of an upcoming video-based collaboration. 

“We need to better understand Indigenous approaches to autism and how these approaches can improve school outcomes, well-being and belonging for Indigenous students, families and communities,” Douglas said. 

Following Douglas’ earlier research and digital storytelling work on autism, LaPlante suggested a need for a similar initiative in southern Manitoba because supports for Métis families with autistic members are limited.

“Opening up about lived experiences that have been hard to deal with and telling your story with the help of Elders is an important part of this study. We are hoping this study will give us the documentation we need to improve autism supports and add a cultural perspective. It is crucial that the well-being of Indigenous people is woven into education and health care systems going forward,” LaPlante said. 

Interviews with Indigenous people with autism and family and other kin, teachers, community leaders and supporters are currently being held ahead of an online digital storytelling workshop to begin March 12, 2022. The workshop will bring together these groups to support participants to create their own videos telling their stories—with the school system, life experiences, strengths and struggles. 

Overall, the project will be guided by the teachings and presence of Elders, knowledge-keepers and Indigenous storytellers and artists, and the team from Douglas’ Re•Storying Autism in Education project. 

“Interviews and videos from the project will serve as important sites of knowledge and a roadmap for change honoring Indigenous worldviews of difference,” she said.

She added that Indigenous perspectives that understand children, including autistic children, as unique and as gifts, are largely absent from mainstream understandings of autism. 

“As well as being crucial to the flourishing of autistic youth, these perspectives expand knowledge and enlarge understandings of autism more generally by centering the perspectives of Indigenous autistic people, family and community leaders,” she said.

This video project is part of a larger focus on decolonizing autism for the Re•Storying Autism project. Last May, Māori family members whose youth are takiwātanga (a word that translates to ‘living in their/our own space and time’ and is used to describe people who have autism), along with other international participants, created digital videos reflecting their own experiences.

“Māori have been subjected to oppression and stereotypical assumptions for a very long time. Similarly, the autistic community experiences the same stigma due to lack of awareness, education and understanding. Māori diagnosed with Autism spectrum are particularly disadvantaged due to the dearth of research and literature that reports on the Māori perspective of Autism spectrum. The Re•Storying Autism project allowed Māori to tell their story in their own unique way,” said Dorothy Taare Smith, one of the facilitators of the Aotearoa workshop.


Although the ways in which history unfolded differ in each country, Aotearoa and Turtle Island (New Zealand and Canada), the impact that colonialism has had on Indigenous people with autism in both countries has parallels. Indigenous students are more likely to be labeled with behaviour disorders, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder or schizophrenia rather than autism, and are more often streamed into special education classrooms or subjected to school discipline and exclusion rather than offered cultural support in the classroom.  

“We are looking to see if we will find similar results in Southern Manitoba, and to expand educational practice to include cultural understandings of difference going forward,” Douglas said.


Success is built at Brandon University. Our growing, progressive campus welcomes a diverse and inclusive community that combines proud tradition with shared ambition. Through our excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship, we educate students to make a meaningful difference as engaged citizens and leaders. Join us at BrandonU.ca


CONTACT US:


Dr. Patty Douglas

Associate Professor,
Disability Studies & Inclusive Education

204.727.7486
DouglasP@BrandonU.ca

Grant Hamilton

Director, Marketing and Communications

204.571.8542
HamiltonG@BrandonU.ca

To receive any BU publication in an alternate format: Communications@BrandonU.ca

Reminders of Him: A Book Review 

Reminders of Him: A Book Review 

By: Mallory Johnson

Reminders of Him is an emotional adult fiction book by the famous author Colleen Hoover. It is her latest release, and it came out on January 18th, 2022. There is some romance, but I would not call it a romance novel because there are other, more serious aspects to the story. Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT, also, trigger warnings for death, accidental murder, impaired driving, a car accident, alcohol and drug use, pregnancy, incarceration, grief, mental illness, swearing, sexual content, neglectful parenting/child abuse, suicide attempt and suicidal thoughts, blood and injury detail, abandonment, and kidnapping. The story follows a young woman named Kenna, who has just been released from prison after serving five years for the accidental death of her boyfriend, Scotty. She is on a journey to find her five-year-old daughter, who she gave birth to while in prison. She does not expect to connect with a familiar face in a hometown bar. 

I had high expectations for this book because it was hyped up a lot, and so was the author. It exceeded all my expectations! I went into the story not knowing much about the plot/tropes, which I enjoyed because it was a lot of fun figuring it out and predicting where the story was going. An aspect of the level that I loved (and did not expect) was the commentary on how women are treated in the criminal justice system and how hard it is to adjust to regular life after being released from prison. Kenna discusses how hard it is to find a job with her criminal record and fears running into people that know her in her small town. Reminders of Him is a story about forgiveness, reputation, familial and romantic love, and loss. These are complicated topics to discuss and write about, but Colleen aces it. The story is very emotional as we see Kenna grieving for Scotty and trying to pick her life back up.


I loved that she coped through writing letters to Scotty; I especially loved how they caused a significant turning point near the end of the story. Colleen Hoover has a reputation on TikTok for writing heartbreaking stories, and this book is no exception: I was sobbing reading the last fifty pages! I LOVED the ending - it was beautiful and wrapped the story up in a very satisfying way. After I finished reading, I set the book down and realized that the pigeons on the cover tied into the account! One of my favorite parts of the story is that a character (not named because of significant spoilers) made Kenna a playlist filled with happy songs because sad songs reminded her too much of Scotty - and how the playlist is listed. On the last page! A quote that I love is, “People say you fall in love, but fall is such a sad world when you think about it. Falls are never good. You fall on the ground. You fall behind. You fall to your death. Whoever was the first person to say they fell in love must have already fallen out of it. Otherwise, they’d have called it something much better.” I also loved when the title came into play near the end of the book. 

Overall, I LOVED this book so much. I loved the characters and found them easy to sit and read because of their short chapters. I give it a strong 10/10 and highly recommend it! I am so excited to read more of Colleen Hoover’s work! This is easily already one of my favorites reads so far (and this was only book number seven of the year!)

Bobbies’ Bistro opens in the Knowles-Douglas building

Bobbies’ Bistro opens in the Knowles-Douglas building

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC

Photo Credits: brandonu.ca

Throughout the end of 2019 until this year students would walk by the empty coffee shop. Now, a new bistro has replaced Forbidden Flavours in the Knowles-Douglas building.  Students can expect to see hot coffee, pastries, hot fresh sandwiches and food as being many of the menu options that Bobbies' Bistro will offer. Bobbies Bistro was brought to students by BUSU and it has student-run management. BU Food Services will be providing the fresh house-made meals. 

The menu includes flatbreads, paninis, breakfast sandwiches, and build-your-own options, with an emphasis on getting you delicious, hot food quickly. Students may dine at the Bistro however all pandemic precautions remain in place. Masks must be worn at all times unless actively eating or drinking, furthermore the bistro is open only to fully-vaccinated individuals for any dine-in service. To start, hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, until April.

There is No ‘Normal’ as We knew it

There is No ‘Normal’ as We knew it

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

A discussion that is becoming quite common lately is talk of going back to normal or creating a new normal or making the world normal again. It may be a cynical point or somewhat pessimistic to state that there is no such thing as going back to normal because that normal no longer exists. 

More than a year ago, the world as we knew it changed. A virus was sweeping across the world. People just saw it as another virus, like the flu or H1N1. Something that made people sick but was rarely if ever even deadly. COVID-19 was just another virus to us. It came into our country and began to seriously harm people infected. In an attempt to curb the most deadly aspect of the virus, our prime minister and provincial premiers imitated quarantine. We were locked down. 

Schools were closed down and teachers, professors and students rushed to create a stable online distance learning to continue classes. Many retail businesses and restaurants closed down, only open to delivery. Some restaurants and other businesses closed permanently. People couldn't go to the park, the winter and summer fairs were cancelled. We thought it would be over soon, maybe a month, maybe six months. We didn't expect it to last more than a year. That was when our normal was completely altered. 

Another winter and summer fair cancelled. Some restaurants opened back up to the public. Some parks reopened. Though with some major restrictions. Schools have improved the online learning system, though many still struggle with the different types of learning. The Quill also had to adjust to this new world state. We would publish a print copy of each issue of the newspaper and distribute them throughout Brandon University campus bit that changed with campus lockdown. It was also a question of safety for the students who distributed. We moved to a completely online platform and it may stay that way for the time being. It would be good to go back to print issues as well as continuing the online aspect of the student newspaper. However the campus lockdown would need to be lifted and students back to being at the school for the distribution to make sense. It could be that the Quill has a new normal as well. It has it's good and bad points but it's a matter of keeping people as safe as possible.

The world has changed. We have changed in the way we have approached certain situations. Some places have decided to completely change how they do things because of the working from home aspect of the pandemic quarantine. The economy has also greatly suffered during the pandemic due to businesses closing, people being laid off due to restrictions, and increase in students fees at universities. It has been something that has made things even more difficult. It has made going back to some sort of normal more difficult because everything has changed so much. That normal is gone forever. Now we just need to readjust our lives and figure out how we turn this chaotic time into something better, heal from it and create a new normal. 

Campus Bookstore

Campus Bookstore

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

At Brandon University, the campus bookstore is open to in-person shopping for your textbooks. Only a limited number of people are allowed in. Masks and hand-sanitising are required for entry of course. There are a number of employees there to help you find the textbooks you need. Just be sure you have the course number with you so that the books can be found more easily. 

Various school related supplies, and Brandon University brand clothing are available to be bought. 

There is still the option for online shopping of textbooks and certain supplies. You can just enter your course number on the website bkstr.com/brandonustore/home and find the textbooks that way. The order, once in can be picked up in person at the store or other arrangements can be made.

Just be sure to ask for help at the bookstore should you need it. The employees are very kind and helpful. 

Difficulty for Journalism During COVID-19 Restrictions

Difficulty for Journalism During COVID-19 Restrictions

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

Journalism has always been an interesting subject to be a part of. Even joining the Quill at the university, I had difficulty figuring out what was reportable and readable, but it has become even more difficult to follow now. The pandemic has made events and in-person interviews impossible and while digital media has given us an option to continue reporting, it is not easy. 

Human beings are rather sociable people and isolation during this pandemic makes that difficult to find ways to be sociable even in the technology-based era we are in. The Miriam-Webster dictionary defines sociable as:

1. Liking to be with and talk to other people. 

2. Involving or allowing friendly and pleasant social relations.

With that definition in mind, we also need to look at the definition of journalism. 

  1. a: the collection and editing of news for presentation through the media

b: the public press

c: an academic study concerned with the collection and editing of news or the management of a news medium

  1. a: writing designed for publication in a newspaper or magazine

b: writing characterized by a direct presentation of facts or description of events without an attempt at interpretation

c: writing designed to appeal to current popular taste or public interest

With the definitions of sociable and journalism being used, it shows how both can be used together to create pieces that are of public interest but right now the only thing that is of public interest to a large number of the public is the current COVID-19 pandemic. It seems to supersede everything else. 

Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

(Press Release)

Winnipeg, MB, Wednesday, January 5 – Being diagnosed with dementia raises uncertainty, fears and unknowns. This January, during Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, the Alzheimer Society wants to remind families that there is a place to turn after diagnosis. The Society is your First Link® to a community of support, knowledge and people who care.

 

“Making a connection to the Alzheimer Society can make a world of difference for families. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, or caring for a family member late in the progression of the disease, we are here for you, every step of the way,” says Erin Crawford, Program Director, Alzheimer Society of Manitoba. “Reach out to us, you’ll find yourself linked up with caring friends and professionals in a place where you belong.”

 

The Society is your first link to support, whether you have dementia yourself, or if a family member or friend is affected. The goal of the First Link® program is to make sure that families have the right support and information, from the time of an initial diagnosis and throughout the progression of the disease.

During Awareness Month, people living with dementia will share how support from the Society has helped them cope. For example, when Luc Lemoine was diagnosed with Pick's disease (one of the many types of dementia), he was shocked and afraid; he had no idea what the future would bring. His outlook changed when he started going to a support group for people with dementia at the Alzheimer Society. He was surprised to find happy group members joking around with each other as they talked about how life can still be fulfilling and enjoyable after a diagnosis.

 

With more than 23,000 Manitobans and half a million Canadians living with dementia today, the Alzheimer Society is continuing to enhance its support for people living with dementia to meet their needs early on, and throughout, their journey. “Connect with us to build your community of support. It feels more important now than ever before,” says Crawford.

Follow the Alzheimer Society throughout the month of January to see Luc’s video and to learn why he considers his support group to be a “magic” community of support and knowledge. For this and other stories, visit alzheimer.mb.ca/communitychangeseverything. 

Timeless: A Tribute to Betty White

Timeless: A Tribute to Betty White

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman. 

On the very last day of 2021, the world lost one of its icons, a treasure kept for many decades. Betty White tragically passed away in December 31rst 2021. To make it even more tragic, she died mere weeks from celebrating her 100th birthday. 

Betty White was part of Television history as it happened. Her career began first in radio in 1939. She was also the first women to produce and star in a sitcom life with Elizabeth which ran from 1953 until 1955. It was cancelled after a short, partly because of biases that existed at the time, and the fact that Betty was ahead of her time and an ally to all. She had hired an African American tap dancer to guest star on the show. When there were demands for the show to be cancelled, Betty responded by giving the man more time in front of the camera and told everyone “Deal with it.” After the unfortunate cancellation of her first sitcom, her career did not slow down at all. 

She continued to star in various comedy shows and game shows. She found her first huge role as Sue Ann Nivens on the Mary Tyler Moore Show. A role she held from 1973 until 1977. Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls from 1985 until 1992. She became the oldest person to host Saturday Night Live at the age of 88. Elka Ostrovky on Hot in Cleveland from 2010, until 2015.

Betty White has been part of television for eight decades. She has earned a Guinness World Record for "Longest TV career by an entertainer (female)" in 2014 and in 2018 for her lengthy work in television. She has received eight Emmy Awards in various categories, three American Comedy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Grammy Award. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was a 1995 Television Hall of Fame inductee, and was an honorary mayor of Hollywood in 1955 as well. 

Betty was a huge supporter of animal welfare, who had always wanted to be a park ranger but do to gender inequality in her younger years, it was not allowed. She also opposed racial injustice, exemplified by her decision to hire Arthur Duncan for her show in her early career on television. A decision that many agreed with, simply because Arthur Duncan is black. Betty White always believed in equal opportunity. Sixty-three years after that decision, he reunited with Betty and thanked her. Betty also supports LGBT+ rights and advocates for education on HIV/AIDS. 

Whilst she had been married three times, her third marriage was on of true love. In 1963, Betty married Allen Ludden, host of Password. They never had children of their own, but Allen had three children from a previous marriage, where he was widowed. Allen Ludden died in 1981 from stomach cancer. She never remarried after that. White never remarried. When asked the reason for this in an interview with Larry King, Betty responded by saying "Once you've had the best, who needs the rest?". When asked by James Lipton on Inside The Actor's Studio that should Heaven exist, what would she like God to say to her when she walked through the Pearly gates, White replied "Come on in Betty. Here's Allen.

Betty White had spent the last two years in near isolation. It is said that she died of natural causes and went while she slept. Her long time agent reported that the last word she spoke before her eternal sleep was ‘Allen.’ 

Betty White has always been a hero of mine and I will miss her deeply. Thank you, Betty. Thank you for being a friend. 

Eco-Friendly Tips for the Holidays

Eco-Friendly Tips for the Holidays

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of the Quill

Photo Credits: Google Images

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year. It is a time of celebrating and spending time with your loved ones. Last holiday season we were not able to gather and celebrate with our loved ones due to the ongoing pandemic. This year will hopefully be different since most Manitobans have been vaccinated. Therefore, we all deserve an amazing Holiday season this year. Unfortunately, Holiday season can also be a time of waste. The good news is that recycling at Holiday season is easy. You can do many things to reduce your impact and still get a lot of joy out of the holidays. Below are some of my tips and tricks for reducing your impact.


Gift Buying

Giving gifts to people you care about is a fun tradition. Unfortunately, the truth is many of us already have everything we need, and if we don’t, we generally go out and buy it. So, when it comes to the Holiday season, the options can be limited. Some families have decided that it is no longer necessary to buy gifts or only buy them for children. This is a great step to take. However, if you can’t bring yourself to give up gifts entirely, here are some great options to reduce waste this Holiday season.


  1. Give Kris Kringle or Secret Santa a go at home. This is where everyone selects a name from a hat and buys a gift for that one person rather than buying a gift for everyone. It means you can focus your efforts and your funds on one person, they get a better-quality gift. Which reduces the chance of them getting a gift they didn’t want.


  1. Why not ask your family what they really want or need? It might just save the item from being discarded after the Holiday season.


  1. Look for gifts that have a low or positive impact. Eco-Friendly gifts like metal straws or plastic-free alternatives can make great presents.


  1. Choose an experience for a gift. Maybe you could even share the experience with them and make a lasting memory.


  1. Make something out of materials that you already have.


Gift Wrapping

We all like shiny things, but did you know what makes gift wrapping, glitter, and tinsel shiny is actually a layer of plastic and metal? This attractive layering makes it pretty much impossible to recycle. One of the best ways to reduce waste during the Holiday season is to choose more eco-friendly alternatives. You can make a real difference just by making some small changes.

Here are our tips for gift wrapping.

  1. Re-use bits of wrapping paper you have lying around from last year. Why not make a patchwork masterpiece out of all the small unusable pieces of wrapping paper.


  1. Avoid shiny and metallic wrapping paper. As mentioned above, this type of wrapping paper is made from a plastic film and has to go to landfill.


  1. If you want to dress it up, use raffia, string, and paper bows. Traditional ribbons and bows are too hard to recycle and go to landfill.


  1. Buy recycled wrapping paper that can be recycled again.


  1. Have you tried fabric wrapping? It’s a lovely idea and can look beautiful. Just be careful not to buy new fabrics for this as textile waste is a bit of an issue. Maybe use some fabric you have around the house, or why not wrap your presents in a tea towel or something that can become part of the present.


  1. Use gift tags made from recycled paper and reuse them as much as you can.


  1. Why not go naked and forget the wrapping paper this year. You can have some fun with it, like hiding the gift in the house somewhere for them to find.

In summary, do your best to reuse what you have from last year, stick to paper, cardboard, and string or get inventive and use other materials around your home or garden. Buy recycled or better still go naked and don’t wrap the present at all!


Packaging

Recycling during the Holiday season includes many different types of materials. Whether it’s the product packaging or the delivery box the item arrived in, it’s important to recycle all of your packaging this Holiday season.  You can reuse your delivery packaging. Fold it up, and keep it stored somewhere. This is especially useful if you plan to send presents to loved ones or sell things online. For the packaging that cannot be reused, here are our recycling tips. 

  1. Cardboard can be recycled in your curbside recycling bin.


  1. Polystyrene packaging will need to be taken to a specialist recycler. To my understanding there are not available in Brandon and will most likely end up in our landfill.


  1. Rigid molded plastic packaging can be recycled in your curbside recycling bin.


  1. Packing peanuts can be recycled at a few locations or may be biodegradable. The best option is to reuse them, then recycle them; otherwise, dispose of them. Check our article for more info.


  1. Plastic bags or other soft plastics like soft plastic packaging can be recycled at your local Co op plastic bag drop off location or at any Brandon thrift store that accept plastic bags.

If you are unsure about how to recycle other materials that I have not mentioned please check out Simply Recycle. Here’s a list of common items that you’ll find around the holidays, and what you should do with them. Taken from Simply Recycle. https://simplyrecycle.ca/holiday-recycling-tips/ 

  • Aluminum foil, Pie Plates and Trays: Garbage.

  • Bows and Ribbon: Reuse if possible, otherwise garbage.

  • Blister packaging: These are hard to open containers you’ll find consumer products in. These are accepted in your blue bin.

  • Cardboard: Recycle in your blue bin. Flatten boxes to save space for other recyclables.

  • Cellophane: Garbage.

  • Holiday season trees and Wreaths (real): Most municipalities run a Holiday season tree recycling program for residents. Contact your municipality for details.

  • Holiday season trees and Wreaths (artificial): Reuse or donate.

  • Decorations: Reuse or donate.

  • Foam packaging (Styrofoam): Garbage.

  • Gift bags (mesh): Reuse

  • Gift bags (cloth): Reuse or donate to a second-hand store.

  • Gift bags (paper): Recycle in your blue bin or reuse.

  • Gift boxes: Recycle in your blue bin or reuse.

  • Gift tags (paper): Recycle in your blue bin.

  • Greeting cards: Recycle in your blue bin.

  • Lights: Reuse or donate.

  • Plastic cards (i.e. Gift cards): Garbage.

  • Plastic cutlery and Plates: Garbage.

  • Tinsel: Garbage.

  • Wrapping paper (from a tree): This is also known as craft paper. Recycle this in your blue bin.

  • Wrapping paper (with dyes, glitter or foil): Reuse if possible, otherwise garbage.

Depression: A Hidden Problem Uncovered

Depression: A Hidden Problem Uncovered

By Zach Roozendaal

 

Well hello everyone. I took a big hiatus, and I’m sure many of you are wondering why I haven’t done any writing in a while. I’m back now, and there’s a few reasons I haven’t been writing much, and the biggest one is why I’m writing this article in the first place. It’s a very late start for me to be writing articles this far into the academic year, as most of my fellow journalists start writing in September or October. But better late than never, though never late is better, and I apologize for the lack of activity.

 

            Before I get into this, for anyone who may feel sensitive towards the subject of depression, trauma or suicide, those things will be mention in this article, so you may not feel comfortable with reading the rest of this article, however there are resources for anyone with mental illness to access that I will mention towards the end of the article that I will leave in bold.

 

            Depression is a mental illness that many people of all different ages suffer from, just like most illnesses. Unfortunately, the signs of it aren’t necessarily as recognizable as other illnesses. Influenza is an illness that many people can recognize and physically see the effect it’s taking on a person. Sweating, chills, nausea, fever, vomiting and runny noses are all signs of that, but depression is far different. There’s no vaccine or shot you can take to prevent it, there’s no cure that necessarily fixes it.

 

            Depression eats away at a person, and robs them of joy from things they may have liked doing at one point. It makes them insecure, and feel like they’re insignificant. It also robs them of their motivation to do even the simplest of things, like shower, cook a meal and go outside. It also causes them to feel more exhausted and less attentive. Depression should not ever be viewed as laziness. A person can want to do things but lack the motivation and have problems overcoming the dozens of mental roadblocks that keep them from doing what they want. It’s important to note that there is a difference between wanting to do something and having the motivation to do it. An example of this is me wanting to write an article and feeling like it’s impossible to do, and that the short walk downstairs to the shower is like walking from one end of Toronto to the other.

 

            In case it hasn’t been obvious by now, I’m writing this article because I’m passionate about this subject and feel it’s extremely important to share this information with you, but also because I like 1 in 5 Canadians suffer from depression. The statistics I’ll be using are mostly from the Health Canada page on the Canadian Government’s website. The link to the page is here if you’re interested in reading it more in depth or looking at related articles.

 

            https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/healthy-living/your-health/diseases/mental-health-depression.html

 

            One of the most important things to remember is that depression is an illness, and not just someone who is sad or emotionally weak. Depression is the clinical term used to describe prolonged periods of at least 2 months or more where an individual’s personality has become more negative and where they feel less motivated and also a feeling of hopelessness or worthlessness. If you believe you may be suffering from depression, inform your doctor of it. Even if they’re just a general practitioner, they can give you a referral to someone who is a psychiatric specialist that can help you figure out if you do have it.

 

            Symptoms of depression vary from person to person, and can also be more intense in some cases, especially if there are other issues or illnesses a person may have. These symptoms can also present themselves physically in some cases but can unfortunately be shrugged off by others as laziness or weakness. The symptoms include:

 

• A change in diet or sleep patterns.

• Lack of motivation.

• Seemingly constant fatigue.

• Thoughts of suicide.

• Easily agitated or upset.

• Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness.

• Difficulty focussing.

• Poor hygiene.

• Difficulty leaving certain places, like home or bedroom.

• Having little or no energy.

• Loss of enjoyment in activities that were once enjoyable.

• Crying for seemingly no reason or feeling extreme sadness for no reason.

• Difficulty making decisions.

• Detachment from life and those around you.

• Headaches or upset stomachs that occur frequently.

• Negative thoughts or behaviour.

 

Depression unfortunately isn’t as harmless to one’s physical health as some may think. Depression has been linked to diseases like diabetes or heart disease, and can also lead some to treat their symptoms with substances, such as alcohol or narcotics to temporarily numb the pain, and get them motivated. Obviously, narcotics and alcohol and other addictions can lead to a variety of other problems, especially health related ones. Depression isn’t something that is easily overcome by everyone, it’s not like being sad, it’s far deeper and more complicated than that. A common misconception I’ve heard is that people with depression are using it as an excuse to feel sorry for themselves. That’s not at all the case with most people, and ridiculing them for a lack of motivation can make the problem worse and isolate them further.

 

Something I’ve also heard people around me say before is that “Well everyone has problems, you’re not the only one so quit making excuses because I feel really sad too and have deep problems but I’m doing lots and am accomplishing more.”

 

There are a few problems with saying things like that to someone who has depression. While yes, it is true that everyone has problems, depression isn’t just being really sad, and saying that it’s an excuse just because you know others with depression who are doing lots despite that. Most of those individuals are likely on antidepressants, and have been able to deal with their depression through that. Not everyone has that luxury. Telling someone everyone has problems is basically the same of saying “Suck it up and quit whining and being weak.” I don’t need to tell you that saying that doesn’t help, it actually just invalidates that person’s struggle and comes across as you trivializing their depression.

 

I plan on making a part 2 to this, but knowing I’ve got enough here for the editor to pass out from exhaustion from reading, I’ll leave it here. There are lots of articles I wished to do, and didn’t get to do, and will likely post on a Facebook page that I’m creating that I’m going to call TLA, or The Lost Articles for short.

 

As for the resources you can access, please contact the following:

 

24/7 Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 or go to this website to find the best crisis help within your area: https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/looking-for-local-resources-support/

 

You can also contact the Kids Help Phone 24 Hour Support Line for anyone between the ages of 5 to 29 to receive free and anonymous support. Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text 686868 or visit their website for help connecting through Facebook Messenger. https://kidshelpphone.ca/

 

For Indigenous and Metis people, there is also the Hope for Wellness Helpline. You can call 1-855-242-3310 (toll-free) or visit their online live support chat. https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/

 

That’s about it, and apologies to the editor for the lengthy last-minute submission. And now, I’ll leave you all with my final thought:

 

The scars that are invisible to others are often the ones far more painful than any cuts or bruises, but the best way to treat them is through help, love, care and kindness.

 

Take care my friends, and hopefully the other articles I’ve submitted make it through, otherwise, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and stay safe out there and please be careful and spread joy and love this holiday season.

 

Until next time, this is Zach Roozendaal, signing off.

Traditional Xmas Mexican Foods

Traditional Xmas Mexican Foods

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of the Quill

Christmas in my house has always been about two things – food and family. Like in many Mexican households, Christmas Eve is almost a bigger deal than actual Christmas day. On Christmas Eve, my whole family gets together to sing songs to celebrate, we open presents at midnight and most importantly, we eat a lot of food! From the moment we wake up until around 6pm, my parents and siblings are in the kitchen making goodies like tamales, empanadas, posole, menudo, bunuelos, ponche, and so much more!


Here are some of my favorite Mexican Christmas foods to celebrate the big day.

Red Posole Recipe

This Red Posole is a comforting Mexican stew filled with shredded pork and hominy in a warm red chile broth. It’s easy to make and full of authentic Mexican flavor!

Ingredients

For the sauce

  • 5 dried guajillo chiles, seeds removed

  • 3 dried ancho chiles, seeds removed

  • 2 arbol chiles, seeds removed if you want a mild spice level

  • 3 cups hot water

  • 1 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt

  • 3 teaspoons chili powder

  • 2 teaspoons cumin powder

  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic (about 2 cloves)

  • 1 small portion Abuelita Mexican chocolate (about 1/8 of tablet – 8 grams)

For pork

  • 2 1/2 pounds pork shoulder, cut into large 4-inch chunks

  • 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the stew

  • 4 cups chicken broth (or beef or vegetable broth)

  • 3 15-ounce cans white hominy, drained and rinsed (about 4 cups)

  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano

INSTRUCTIONS

Make the sauce

  • In a large bowl, combine the dried chiles and 3 cups of hot water. Cover the bowl with a large plate or aluminum foil, and let the chiles soak for about 5-10 minutes, until softened.

  • Transfer the softened chiles and the water they soaked in into a large blender. Add the salt, chili powder, cumin powder, minced garlic and Mexican chocolate. Blend until completely smooth.

Sear the pork

  • Season the pork with salt and black pepper. Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add in the cooking oil and then the pork. Sear on all sides until nicely browned.

  • Add the red chile sauce and scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to loosen all the brown bits.

Make the stew

  • Add the chicken broth and stir until the red chile sauce and broth are fully mixed. Bring the pot to a boil, reduce heat to a low simmer and cover. Cook for 2 to 3 hours, until the pork falls apart tenderly.

  • Shred the pork with a fork or spatula (it should fall apart very easily). Add the hominy and dried oregano. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Taste and season with more salt, if necessary.

  • Serve with toppings such as finely shredded cabbage, cilantro, lime juice, thinly sliced radishes, diced onions, dried oregano and red pepper flakes.


Champurrado

This Champurrado recipe is made with Mexican chocolate, masa harina, milk, water, cinnamon, and vanilla. Thick and creamy, this cozy drink is best enjoyed on a cold winter night during the holiday season.

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 cups milk

  • 2 ounces piloncillo, plus more to taste

  • 2 (3-ounce) discs Mexican chocolate (I used Abuelita brand)

  • 1 cinnamon stick

  • 1 1/2 cups warm water

  • 1/2 cup masa harina

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 1 pinch salt

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Add milk, piloncillo, Mexican chocolate, and cinnamon stick to a medium saucepan or pot. Heat over low-medium heat until the piloncillo and chocolate have completely dissolved. Stir frequently to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom of the saucepan.

  • Remove and discard the cinnamon stick, using a strainer if it has broken into pieces.

  • In a small bowl, add warm water and masa harina. Whisk together until the mixture is smooth.

  • Add the masa harina mixture, vanilla extract, and salt to the saucepan. Whisk to combine.

  • Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and continue to cook, whisking frequently, for 25-30 minutes until thick, creamy, velvety, and smooth. The champurrado should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

  • Serve and garnish with a touch of ground cinnamon or a cinnamon stick.

Don’t have piloncillo? You can use 2 tablespoons of dark brown sugar instead.

Mexican Ponche

Mexican Ponche is a warm and comforting fruit punch made with apples, pears, oranges and guavas and spiced with cinnamon, cloves, tamarind and hibiscus typically served at Christmas time.

INGREDIENTS

  • 16 cups water

  • 6 guavas, peeled and quartered

  • 3 large red apples, cut into chunks

  • 2 pears, cut into chunks

  • 1 orange, sliced

  • 1 pilloncillo cone (or 1 cup of dark brown sugar if you can't find piloncillo)

  • 6 whole cloves

  • 4 cinnamon sticks

  • 2 tablespoons dried hibiscus flowers

  • 1 dried tamarind pod, husked and seeded

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Place all ingredients in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil, lower heat, cover and simmer for at least 30 minutes.

  • Mix and make sure the piloncillo/sugar has completely dissolved. Serve hot in mugs with a splash of rum or brandy if desired. Make sure each cup has some fruit in it - it's the best part!

Mexican Bunuelos

Often served during the Christmas and New Years holidays, this Mexican Bunuelos recipe makes the perfect fried dough covered in cinnamon sugar!

INGREDIENTS

For the bunuelos

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 3/4 cup warm water

  • 4 tablespoons oil, plus 2 or more cups for frying

For the cinnamon sugar topping

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

For the bunuelos

  • Add all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Mix until combined.

  • Add warm water and 4 tablespoons oil. Mix with a spoon or your hands until the dough comes together.

  • Transfer the dough onto a clean working surface and knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.

  • Roll the dough into a ball, place it in a bowl, cover with a kitchen towel and let it rest for 30 minutes.

  • While the dough is resting, cover a large plate with paper towels, fill a large sauté pan with 1 to 2 inches of frying oil and make the cinnamon sugar topping. Set aside.

  • Divide the dough into 8 separate pieces and roll each piece into a ball. On a lightly floured surface, use a floured rolling pin to roll out each ball into an 8 to 10-inch circle. (I recommend laying the rolled-out dough onto a large kitchen towel in one single layer. Don't stack the rolled-out dough on top of each other or it may stick.)

  • Heat the frying oil to 350°F. Fry each dough circle for about 60 seconds, turning once, until golden brown on both sides. Transfer to prepared plate to drain any excess oil. Sprinkle heavily with cinnamon sugar topping.

For the cinnamon sugar topping

  • Combine granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl.

Christmas Traditions in Mexico

Christmas Traditions in Mexico

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of The Quill

Photo Credits: Google Images

Mexico is famous for a variety of different celebrations. Perhaps one of the most famous

and recognized around the world are its Day of the Dead celebrations. But as someone who

was born in Mexico can attest, we also have our own unique Christmas traditions.

Traditional Christmas celebrations in Mexico are a mixture of religious traditions and modern

festivities. The result is a truly enchanting and magical holiday season. The Mexican celebration

of Christmas begins each year on December 16th . Long before the standard Christmas Eve.

In this article I will discuss a variety of Christmas traditions that are celebrated in Mexico.

Las Posadas

The first thing you need to understand about Christmas traditions in Mexico is the

tradition of posadas. This translates to mean “inn” in English, and the celebration begins on

December 16th. Each night from the 16th until the 24th, children go from door to door singing

and asking if there’s an open room at the “inn.” This is meant to represent the story of Mary

and Joseph, but modern-day traditions feature a posada party at the end of each night.

Children will be given candy and Christmas oranges.

Nativity Scenes

If you thought the offerings at the Day of the Dead festivals were impressive, then just

wait until you the some of the more elaborate nativity scenes in Mexico. Because the culture is

still quite religious, the Christmas season is rooted in the Christian story of the birth of Baby

Jesus. Therefore, Christmas nativity scenes are important. However, you won’t find Baby Jesus

inside of the manger until the 24th.

Piñatas

Head to any posada party and you’ll undoubtedly find a piñata hanging from the

ceilings. These are popular additions to nearly every Mexican festivity, and the tradition carries

over into Christmas as well. At Christmas time, however, the piñatas have seven different spikes

around them to represent the seven deadly sins.

Ponche and Rompope

Ponche is pretty much the Mexican equivalent of the kind of mulled wine you’ll find at

European Christmas markets. The warm Christmas punch is made with fruit. And, Rompope is

the equivalent of egg nog. You’ll pretty much always find it spiced to perfection and full of

really strong rum. So, its creamy, filling, and quite alcoholic, usually.

Día de Los Reyes

Similar to Spain and other parts of Latin America, certain families in Mexico celebrate

the Three Kings Day, which falls on January 6th each year. While Santa still visits children on

Christmas Eve, it’s not uncommon for the Three Kings to pay a visit the evening before the

Three Kings Day and leave some candy or small gifts. Children will typically leave their shoes out

with their gift wishes and wait for the three kings to read them.

Rosca de Reyes

Because the Three Kings Day is one of the most popular Christmas traditions in Mexico,

you better bet that there’s a cake to accompany the festivities. On this special day, families

gather around to enjoy something called a Rosca de Reyes. The oval-shaped bread is covered in

fruits and, hidden inside, you’ll find a baby figurine. Whoever gets the small plastic baby in their

slice has to throw a tamale party on February 2nd.

Candelaria’s Day

February 2nd might be the day of the coveted tamale party. But it also marks the end of

the Mexican Christmas season. The day itself is called La Candelaria, or Candlemas, and it’s

marked by lots of crazy parties and festivities to end the wonderful holiday season.