Muskrat Magazine

{{Italic title}}

{{Short description|Indigenous art and culture online magazine}}

{{Infobox magazine

| title = Muskrat Magazine

| logo =

| logo_size =

| image_file =

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| image_caption =

| editor = Rebeka Tabobondung (Wasauksing Ojibway)

| editor_title = Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

| previous_editor =

| staff_writer = Erica Commanda (Pikwakanagan Algonquin/Ojibway)

| photographer =

| category = literary magazine

| frequency =

| format = digital

| circulation =

| publisher =

| paid_circulation =

| unpaid_circulation =

| circulation_year =

| total_circulation =

| founder = Rebeka Tabobondung and David Shilling

| founded = 2010

| firstdate = {{Start date|2010|11|15}}

| finaldate =

| finalnumber =

| company =

| country = Canada

| based = Toronto, Ontario

| language = English, primarily

| website = {{URL|http://muskratmagazine.com/}}

| issn =

| oclc = 969665888

}}

Muskrat Magazine is an online Indigenous literary, art, and culture publication, published in Toronto. It includes profiles of Indigenous peoples engaged in the arts including literature, film, music, and visual and performing arts.

The publication's name was inspired by the central role of the muskrat in a creation story re-told by Anishnabe storyteller Basil H. Johnston (Wasauksing Ojibway) in his work Ojibway Heritage.{{Cite web|url=http://muskratmagazine.com/teachings-from-the-muskrat/|title=Teachings from the Muskrat|date=4 March 2013|work=Muskrat Magazine|access-date=12 May 2016}}

Muskrat Magazine was established by Rebeka Tabobondung{{Cite web |url=http://research.ocadu.ca/research-and-innovation/sidebar/panel-speaker-rebeka-tabobondung|title=Panel Speaker: Rebeka Tabobondung {{!}} OCAD University Research|work=OCAD University|access-date=12 May 2016}} (Wasauksing Ojibway) and David Shilling{{Cite web|url=http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=9801|title=Toronto Aboriginal Business Association 2012 Awards|work=Turtle Island|access-date=12 May 2016}} (Ojibway). The founding editor was author Cherie Dimaline (Métis).{{cite news|url=http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5666750-q-a-with-north-york-library-s-writer-in-residence-cherie-dimaline/|title=Q & A with North York library's writer-in-residence Cherie Dimaline|last=Kurek|first=Dominik|date=8 June 2015|work=North York Mirror|publisher=Metroland Media Group|access-date=14 May 2016}}

The online publication was launched in November 2010, with Tabobondung and Shilling working from their Beverley Street apartment in Toronto. Tabobondung has stated that one of the goals for Muskrat is to explore the history and culture of Canadian Indigenous people in urban cities, where more than 50 percent now live. She and Shilling are cofounders of Maaiingan Productions, a collective of Aboriginal writers and commercial artists who work for a range of corporate and nonprofit clients. Tabobondung and Shilling felt there was a need to start their own publication when one of Maaiingan's clients, the Toronto Native publication Spirit magazine folded in 2008.{{cite news|url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2011/11/06/toronto-artists-work-bridges-traditional-and-urban-first-nations-life/|title=Toronto artist's work bridges traditional and urban First Nations life|publication-date=6 November 2011|work=CityNews|publisher=Rogers Media|access-date=14 May 2016|location=Toronto}}