M’CHIGEENG—The antics of comedian Jonny Harris provided a delightful spoonful of sugar while delivering some sobering education on First Nation-settler interactions and history this past week as the long-awaited episode of ‘Still Standing’ took to the airwaves on CBC.
Mr. Harris described arriving at M’Chigeeng to discover a huge sign on the bluffs above the community, noting it was something he had only previously seen in Hollywood. “Who knew M’Chigeeng started with an ‘M’,” he quipped.
The eighth episode of the popular CBC comedy show was filled with familiar faces as the camera panned across the audience or focused on some of the people who were interviewed for the show.
Former M’Chigeeng First Nation Chief Linda Debassige provided some historical background on her First Nation while travelling with Mr. Harris. Her dedication amazed the television host, who discovered that Ogimaa kwe Debassige had even attended an important meeting via Zoom while lying in a hospital bed and delivering her baby. “What was the meeting about?” he asked. “Town water,” he was told. “No, let me guess, it broke,” Mr. Harris quipped.
Other key community members interviewed included fellow television show host Neil Debassige of ‘Fuel the Fire TV,’ Beverly Roy and Wayne Trudeau of Kenjgwewin Teg educational institute, artist/welder Kathryn Corbiere and Tiffany Debassige and Daisey Hayward of Rainbow Ringers.
Each segment of the show was filled with Mr. Harris’ trademark self-effacing humour as he learned more about the community he was visiting. Mr. Harris’ final poetic assessment of the community referenced the unfortunate issues of the past, but focused on the positive elements of the community and its hope for the future.
If you missed the show when it aired, you can still view the program by setting up a free account and logging onto CBC Gem at CBC.ca.
