Breathing Lands
Kaila McGuinty and Elle Penner are two third-year pre-law students at Queen’s University who are combining their passion for law and justice with a commitment to fundraising for Indigenous sovereignty — sound familiar? As Co-president and Fundraising Director of Queen’s Pre-Law Society (QPLS) Kaila and Elle found a natural fit to start raising funds for…
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I have a love-hate relationship with forest fires. They are one of the most beautiful and powerful manifestations of our environment and the force of nature. They are a source of rejuvenation and new life — but, as we know, they can also cause immense harm and pain. While I write this, there are multiple…
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Throughout August, we’re taking a deeper look at the Breathing Lands and the boggy wetlands that make up a big portion of Treaty No. 9 territory. Here’s a little illustrated introduction to a wetland cutie, Sally the Salamander. Story written by Levin Chamberlain, Karissa Chandrakate, and Jamie-Leigh GonzalesIllustrated by Karissa Chandrakate The blue-spotted salamander is…
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On May 14th, RAVEN was in Toronto hosting an important conversation on the vital role of Indigenous perspectives in climate and environmental protection. RAVEN’s Leslie Anne St. Amour was joined by Desneige Frandsen, Indigenous Youth & Environment Program Manager at Level Justice, filmmaker Nicholas Castel, and Kate Kempton, Senior Counsel at Woodward and Company. The conversation…
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Today is Earth Day, and we are taking this day to highlight the importance of wetlands and the Indigenous leaders who have stewarded this vital ecosystem for generations and continue to do so. A wetland is an area of land that is either covered or saturated with water. The water is often groundwater seeping up…
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It’s World Water Day. I am reflecting on the February anniversary of Neskantaga First Nation’s boil water advisory. At 29 years (and counting), it’s the longest in Canadian history. Despite Trudeau’s 2015 election promise to get clean drinking water in all Indigenous communities by 2021, the federal government continues to “discuss” how to move forward…
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The Chiefs of Ontario have called for a year-long pause on all mining claims on their territories in the face of rampant mining speculation. Still: the province keeps issuing mining tenures without the consent of 133 First Nations. The Ontario provincial government began using an online system for staking mineral claims in 2018, allowing individuals…
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Treaties were made to provide a framework for living together on the land Indigenous people have occupied and cared for since time immemorial. They are agreements that laid the foundations for ongoing cooperation and partnership between settler government and Indigenous people. Although these laws are still valid, some treaties in Canada continue to be violated,…
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Wednesday Sept 27, 2023, a river of solidarity coursed through the streets of Toronto. Anishinaabe and Ojibwe Nations joined forces with 6000 marchers to push back against the Ontario government’s rampant pro-mining, pro-logging, pro-industry agenda. We are overwhelmed by the support pouring in from communities ready to do what it takes to protect Indigenous rights. …
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In advance of a week of demonstrations, dinners, and a rally in Toronto led by a group of Indigenous Nations who have come together to form the Land Defence Alliance (LDA), RAVEN hosted a deep dive webinar with lead lawyers on the Breathing Lands legal challenge. What are the Breathing Lands? “Protect the Breathing Lands”…
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