Elders

Province, Blueberry River First Nations reach agreement

Province, Blueberry River First Nations reach agreement

The B.C. government and Blueberry River First Nations have reached a historic agreement that will guide them forward in a partnership approach to land, water and resource stewardship that ensures Blueberry River members can meaningfully exercise their Treaty 8 rights, and provide stability and predictability for industry in the region. “This agreement provides a clear pathway to get the hard work started on healing and restoring the land, and start on the joint planning with strong criteria to protect ecosystems, wildlife habitat and old forests,” said Chief Judy Desjarlais of the Blueberry River First Nations. “With the knowledge and guidance of our Elders, this new agreement will ensure there will be healthy land and resources for current and future generations to carry on our people’s way of life.”

Serpent River First Nation remains resilient in fight for toxic injustice

Serpent River First Nation remains resilient in fight for toxic injustice

When government officials were invited to Serpent River First Nation to tour dead lakes, they refused to drink the coffee and tea. They were told not to worry; the beverages weren’t made from tailings pond water. Dr. Lianne Leddy told her grandmother’s story during Nipissing University’s 2022 Anne Clendinning Memorial Lecture. Leddy is the author of the new book, Serpent River Resurgence: Confronting Uranium Mining at Elliot Lake. Dr. Leddy is a member of Serpent River First Nation and associate professor in Indigenous Studies at Wilfred Laurier University.

Indigenous Youth Challenge Marks World Water Day

Indigenous Youth Challenge Marks World Water Day

Tomorrow is World Water Day, and RESEAU Centre for Mobilizing Innovation is marking the occasion by challenging Indigenous youth to solve drinking water problems in their community with the support of scientists and innovators. The Indigenous Youth Potable Water Innovation Challenge 2022 is a pilot program designed to foster innovative spirit in water-health. Working in teams, Indigenous youth in grades K-12 will engage Elders and community leaders and operators to identify local water challenges, barriers to solving them and potential solutions. With innovative educational tools and mentorship from scientists, engineers and experts from the water industry and universities, the teams will develop a solution to solve the most pressing local challenge. Then, they’ll workshop their idea with entrepreneurs before presenting it to their community.

‘No child should have to experience not knowing what clean running water is,’ says Autumn Peltier at the United Nations

‘No child should have to experience not knowing what clean running water is,’ says Autumn Peltier at the United Nations

I would like to thank the Global Landscapes Forum and the United Nations General Assembly for having me here today to share my concerns and share why my people have a sacred connection to the water and the lands. I would like to start by sharing that the work I do is in honour of my late Great Auntie Biidaasige-ba. If it weren’t for her lifetime commitment and sacrifices to create the awareness and the sacredness of water, I would not be standing here today. She inspired me to do this work as she was an Elder when she began. I thought about who would keep doing her work one day; I just didn’t expect that day to come as soon as it did. She created the Mother Earth Water Walks. She walked around all the Great Lakes, more than once. She did this because the Elders began to see changes in the lands, medicines, animals and waters.