Weekly Round-Up, January 28 2022
January 28 2022
A lot has been happening lately across Turtle Island. We know it can be hard to keep up, so we’ve compiled a list of news, events, and big stories related to Indigeneity and the climate crisis.
OPPORTUNITIES:
Expert mechanism on the rights of indigenous peoples: Call for submissions
Deadline: January 31 2022
From the United Nations: A draft report will be introduced by the Expert Mechanism at its annual session, due to take place from 11 to 15 July 2022, after which it will be finalised and presented to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-first session in September 2022. The Expert Mechanism hereby requests contributions from Indigenous Peoples, States, National Human Rights Institutions, academics and other stakeholders for this report.
Indigenous Environmental Journalism Story Grants 2022
Deadline: February 7 2022
EJN is offering reporting grants to Indigenous journalists to support the production of in-depth stories that will call attention to climate justice, biodiversity, sustainable ecosystems, Indigenous leadership and other issues related to the rights and well-being of Indigenous peoples and communities.
Indigenous Women in Community Leadership (IWCL) 2022
Deadline: February 10 2022
The Indigenous Women in Community Leadership certificate program is delivered through the Circle of Abundance, Coady Institute at St. Francis Xavier University (Antigonish, NS) located in Mi’kmaki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq. The program commitment is from mid-May to early October 2022 with online components followed by an in-person, on-campus residency May 29-June 10.
NEWS:
First Nation sues Manitoba government, seeks to halt logging on traditional lands
January 25 2022
From CBC: A First Nation in western Manitoba has filed a lawsuit against the provincial government, claiming the province breached its constitutional duty to consult them about commercial logging operations in their traditional lands around Duck Mountain.
"The days of simply taking wealth from our mountain while our people cannot even get food for their families from our traditional lands are over," Pine Creek Chief Derek Nepinak said in a Tuesday release from the First Nation.
Three Northwest First Nations Call for Action to Stop Alaska from Intercepting Canada-Bound Salmon
January 26 2022
From CFNR: Three Northwest area First Nations are calling for Canada to step up and protect their constitutional rights to fish. Earlier this month, a report from SkeenaWild and the Watershed Watch Salmon Society revealed troubling information regarding Alaskan fisheries. That report found that more than 800,000 Canada-bound sockeye were harvested in Alaska last year alone. Now, the Gitxsan, Gitanyow, and Wet’suwet’en First Nations are calling for Canada to take action to stop this trend.
Indigenous community finds 93 possible burial sites near former Canada residential school
January 26 2022
From Washington Post: An Indigenous community in British Columbia has found 93 potential burial sites on the grounds of a former residential school, the latest such discovery in the past year from one of the darkest chapters of Canada’s history.
Pauktuutit women’s organization receives $125,000 for leadership project
January 27 2022
From Nunatsiaq News: The national organization representing Inuit women in Canada has received $125,000 from the federal Department of Women and Gender Equality. Rebecca Kudloo, president of Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, said the money will go towards the organization’s Empowering Inuit Women in Leadership project.
Canada and Ontario support the Garden River First Nation Survivors Project
January 27 2022
From Ontario: Garden River First Nation is undertaking work related to burial sites associated with Wawanosh Home for Girls. The community-led initiative, called the Survivors Project, will focus on research and knowledge gathering with Survivors, their families and Knowledge Keepers for commemoration and memorialization projects, and will document and video tape fieldwork investigations using global positioning technology.
'We are the power': Canada's Indigenous land defenders pledge to fight on.
January 24 2022
From Al Jazeera: The Wet'suwet'en matriarch and wing chief of the Unist'ot'en Dark House Clan left her home on the Witset First Nation more than a decade ago to return to her yintah, the land of her ancestors, in order to protect it from encroaching industry. On the land, she built a healing centre with her niece and sister, where Wet'suwet'en can return to their roots, connect with the land and drink the waters of the Wedzin Kwa, a sacred river so pure that people can drink directly from it. But now industry is moving in on the Wet'suwet'en territory in northern British Columbia (BC).
How These Indigenous Women Are Reclaiming Their Culture
January 28 2022
From Elle Magazine: Model Willow Allen, designer Victoria Kakuktinniq, throat singer and TikToker Shina Novalinga and actor Marika Sila have more in common than a large following. The Inuit tastemakers—all dedicated advocates for Indigenous peoples—are leveraging their platforms to help shape the Canada of tomorrow. In partnership with Canada Goose, the four women are highlighting the need for more Indigenous role models and the importance of breaking down barriers for future generations and challenging those in power to bring their reconciliation commitments to life.
Letter campaign aims to protect Indigenous rights, stop potential Ring of Fire development
January 28 2022
From Timmins Today: An Indigenous-led grassroots group has launched a letter-writing campaign calling on Canada and Ontario to restart the regional assessment process in the Ring of Fire area and allow Indigenous peoples to lead the process.
Friends of the Attawapiskat River have posted a letter online. People can fill out a few details on the website to send a letter to government representatives. Over 100 people have supported it so far, with the goal being 500 people
How a Record-Breaking Heat Wave Fueled Climate Anxiety
January 28 2022
From Scientific American: As a record-breaking heat wave roasted the Pacific Northwest last summer, anxiety rose with the temperatures. Surveys of residents in British Columbia—where the heat in some places soared above 120 degrees Fahrenheit—suggest the disaster caused a spike in negative mental health related to climate change. The results of the surveys, recently published in The Journal of Climate Change and Health, highlight growing concerns among mental health experts around the issue of “climate change anxiety”—a psychological response to the threats posed by climate change.
Environment minister announces $200 million for projects that cut carbon emissions
January 28 2022
From Financial Post: Environment minister Steven Guilbeault announced Thursday the federal government is launching a new $200-million fund that will offer grants of up to $25 million to projects that reduce carbon emissions as Canada seeks to cut emissions to net zero over the next three decades.
ACTIONS TO TAKE:
Please consider donating this holiday season to help us support Indigenous-led movements, mental wellness of Indigenous youth, and Indigenous climate action across so-called Canada.
Organize & Elevate Wet’suwet’en Land Defense
In the long work of elevating Wet’suwet’en hereditary governance, there are many ways that supporters can step into movement through action. Please continue to organize in support of #wetsuwetenstrong. Thank you to everyone who has stood up.