[Image: Through vibrant, intricate beadwork, First Nations artist Ruth Cuthand explores the historical connections between colonialism, race, disparity, and disease by depicting microscopic views of pathogens like tuberculosis. Historically, infectious disease and ensuing pandemics disproportionately impacted Indigenous communities as a result of colonialism and genocide. Similar health disparities continue today as a result of entrenched inequity and ongoing structural violence against Black, Indigenous and People of Color. Cuthand’s chosen medium further reflects this complex history: like many infectious diseases, glass beads were first introduced in the Western Hemisphere by European colonizers, who traded the inexpensive items for valuable furs and other goods, and like viruses, they fundamentally disrupted Indigenous ways of life].
In partnership with
This 4-episode docuseries follows the course of a 2019 TB outbreak in a small, northern First Nations community.
The series delivers:
- in-depth stories of TB survivors and front line workers;
- educational information on promising strategies for outbreak response;
- insights into what is needed to end TB in northern First Nations communities.
This podcast was developed in partnership with the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA) and the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH). Episodes are narrated by Rick Harp. If you have any questions or comments about the series, please reach out to the Series Producer, Shivoan Balakumar, at Shivoan.Balakumar@umanitoba.ca.
Episode 1 – The Face of the First Case
Our first episode takes us to the beginning – the story of how a young adult fell through the cracks of his health system to become the outbreak’s index case.
Please fill out this 2 minute Listener Feedback Form to leave us your thoughts on the podcast!
Find the transcript for this episode here.
Music: ‘RemsenTAL’ and ‘Our Only Uplift’ by Blue Dot Sessions, via Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC 4.0). Learn more at https://www.sessions.blue/.
Episode 2 – My Four-Year-Old Son
Episode two describes the complex TB journey of a young mother and her four year old son, before, during and after learning that he had contracted a rare form of the disease.
Please fill out this 2 minute Listener Feedback Form to leave us your thoughts on the podcast!
Find the transcript for this episode here.
Music: ‘RemsenTAL’ and ‘Our Only Uplift’ by Blue Dot Sessions, via Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC 4.0). Learn more at https://www.sessions.blue/.
Episode 3 – Get Away from Me
Our third episode looks deeper into the impact of stigma and the experiences of a motivated young woman whose world was up-ended by TB at multiple points throughout her life.
Please fill out this 2 minute Listener Feedback Form to leave us your thoughts on the podcast!
Find the transcript for this episode here.
Music: ‘Drone Thistle’ by Blue Dot Sessions, via Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC 4.0). Learn more at https://www.sessions.blue/.
Episode 4 – What it Takes
In the final episode of this series, TB program staff reflect on their lessons from the outbreak, including what worked well, and what is still needed for TB elimination.
Please fill out this 2 minute Listener Feedback Form to leave us your thoughts on the podcast!
Find the transcript for this episode here.
Music: Helmer Sprak’ by Blue Dot Sessions, via Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC 4.0). Learn more at https://www.sessions.blue/.
Want to listen to the first season of TB Talks? You can find it here.