News
Who are the Neskantaga?
A people united, determined, and committed to protecting their lands and water Many of you will remember the hunger strike by Chief Theresa Spence, who camped out on Parliament Hill for 6 weeks to draw attention to the drinking water crisis in Ontario’s north. That was 2013. Here we are, in 2021, and despite speeches,…
A searing open letter: Anishinaabe leaders call out Ontario over Ring of Fire violations
Three First Nation chiefs from the James Bay region are collectively taking Premier Doug Ford to task for his ‘hop-on-the-bulldozer, myself’ enthusiasm to see industrial development in the Ring of Fire.
Stand with Neskantaga this Giving Tuesday!
November 30th is Giving Tuesday, and we are honoured to be spotlighting Neskantaga Nation. This northern Ontario Nation’s brave stance against the breakneck Ring of Fire mining expansion is an inspiring story of how one Indigenous community is upholding Anishinabe stewardship principles in the face of reckless development. Having launched their legal challenge just last…
Hearts strong for Wet’suwet’en
Now more than ever the Wet’suwet’en community needs our support. Join benefit concert Dec 4: https://cannedsalmonmusicfest.com
BREAKING! Neskantaga launches Ring of Fire action.
Neskantaga Nation has launched a legal challenge to push back against reckless mining development in the Ring of Fire. Though the Neskantaga community has been without clean drinking water for over 25 years, Ontario is rushing to approve road-building and mineral exploration permits along the Attawapiskat River in the James Bay region of northern Ontario. …
Save the Date: Miác̓i Canned Salmon Music Festival!
Announcing Miác̓i! On December 4 2021, RAVEN is partnering with Coastal First Nations to bring you the Miác̓i Canned Salmon Music Festival! A live stream of the festival will include performances by SNOTTY NOSE REZ KIDS, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Murray Porter, Candace Curr, Carsen Gray, Hayley Wallis, Jacob White, Jason Camp and the Posers, and…
Shine Bootcamp raises another 5K for Beaver Lake Cree Nation!
We would like to give a BIG thank you to Shine Bootcamp for raising $$2,769 for Beaver Lake Cree Nation, which was DOUBLED to $5,538! Back in March this year, they raised another $5000 for BLCN, which totals over 10K in donations this year! Shine Bootcamp is a startup organization that provides intensive training for women wanting to…
VIDEO: Busting BC’s Dependency on Fossil Fuel
In the Busting the Fossil Fuel Corridor webinar, hosted by The West Coast Climate Action Network in partnership with RAVEN, we were joined by three Indigenous Land protectors whose voices and stories showed us just how much impact we can have when we work as a collective and hold on to hope of a cleaner future.
Honouring Lee Maracle (1950-2021): A Bibliography
Lee Maracle, a giant of Indigenous scholarship, poet and writer, mentor, activist, and Stó:lō matriarch, is dead at 71. Writing in the Globe and Mail, Marsha Lederman says that “legendary Indigenous storyteller Lee Maracle was a powerful writer – poet, novelist, essayist. She was also a fierce activist with an indomitable presence. If you spent…
VIDEO: Inside the rarified world of Advance Costs
Well that was powerful. On the Wednesday following Beaver Lake Cree Nation’s Supreme Court hearing, we heard about the significance of Advance Cost Orders in Aboriginal title and Treaty rights cases. Karey Brooks, lead counsel for Beaver Lake Cree Nation, gave us a deeper look at the events leading up to last week’s Supreme Court…
Webinar: What happened at the Supreme Court of Canada?
WEBINAR: What happened at the Supreme Court of Canada? Inside the rarefied world of Advance Costs WEDNESDAY November 10, 2021 5:00pm Pacific | 8:00pm Eastern save my spot Karey Brooks, lead counsel Beaver Lake Cree Nation Karey primarily acts for First Nations and First Nations organizations in court and negotiations with government and industry on…
Webinar: Busting the Fossil Fuel Corridor
WEBINAR: Busting the Fossil Fuel Corridor A webinar in collaboration with the West Coast Climate Action Network (WE-CAN) WEDNESDAY November 17, 2021 4:00pm Pacific | 7:00pm Eastern save my spot Chief Roland Willson, West Moberly First Nations Roland Willson is the Chief of the West Moberly Lake First Nations, involved in the legal protection of…
On the eve of of COP26, BC’s climate failures are written on Indigenous land
As world leaders gather at COP26 to negotiate in the face of the deadly reality of climate change, Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs from Gidimt’en clan have set up a blockade to prevent drilling beneath a salmon-bearing river.
7 Ways Mining in B.C. is mean and not green
Gitxaala Nation is teaming up with RAVEN to force B.C. to live up to the claim that it is a world leader in social and environmental responsibility in its mining sector.
Double your impact for Beaver Lake Cree Nation
All donations are being DOUBLED for Beaver Lake Cree Nation. Let’s carry this case all the way to the Supreme Court!
Infographic illustrating Heiltsuk Nation’s legal challenge to Kirby Corp and BC over oil spill.
Five years ago today, the Nathan E Stewart tug-barge sank in Heiltsuk territory. The spill devastated Gale Pass, a prime shellfish and salmon habitat that Heiltsuk have relied on for countless generations. Big thanks to Karissa Chandrakate @pangea1010 for putting together this infographic that articulates the crisis and legal case of Heiltsuk Nation. The Heiltsuk are…
Tragedy and grace in the Great Bear Rainforest
Though the Nathan E. Stewart sank, the Heiltsuk are rising. Donations to support Heiltsuk’s groundbreaking title case are being DOUBLED, right now: please give.
We’re Hiring an Organizer (Ontario)!
Are you a talented and adept campaigner/organizer with a strong commitment to decolonization and environmental justice? Are you passionate about supporting Indigenous Nations’ legal actions to defend their lands, rights and title? Do you want to work with a team of talented and kind people to make a real difference in the world? Join the country’s…
Reconciliation Stories
Last week, for National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, we asked the RAVEN community to share your stories of putting reconciliation into action. Here are some of the beautiful, courageous and difficult stories you shared. Marie Lloyd: A long time ago, in a galaxy nearer than my face, there was an Indigenous-led mass arrest on…
Reconciliation is a Verb
Many are calling National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a day of reflection. While decolonizing is a process that requires introspection, the enormity of “reconciliation” also calls for responsive action. Unfortunately, the concept of “reconciliation” is often co-opted by politicians who use it to continue enacting colonial agendas, often by the same old means. In…