608 - Why doesn't Degrassi tell stories about Indigenous kids?
Degrassi has a long tradition of telling stories about white people, drawing from our voices, our faces, and our struggles to bring real issues to TV. But where are the stories about Indigenous kids? Why don’t we see their lives, their challenges, and their triumphs reflected on screen?
In this episode, we’re unpacking Canada’s history with Indigenous storytelling and exploring why Degrassi might not have gotten it right. We’ll dive deep, looking at who’s behind the storytelling and asking tough questions about representation.
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions about violence, racism, sexism, and other traumatic topics, including the heartbreaking realities of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) in Canada.
Here’s a look at what’s coming up:
Who in the Degrassi cast identifies as Indigenous, and how can we tell their characters are too?
What has Degrassi’s approach to Indigenous representation looked like over the years?
Why was Nakuset Gould, who portrayed Grace, deemed “too controversial” to on social media?
I’ll share personal insights into how Canadian schools taught me (as a white student) about Indigenous issues—or, more importantly, what they left out.
Plus, we’ll discuss present-day examples of racism that Indigenous people continue to face in Canada.
We’ll also explore the ongoing online conversations among Degrassi fans about the lack of Indigenous storytelling in the series. And in Part Two, you’ll hear directly from Indigenous fans who are sharing their stories, their voices, and their perspectives on what true representation should look like.
If you love Degrassi, this podcast is for you.
