Raise your voice with song leader Luke Wallace

Join RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs) and Vancouver Unitarians Social Justice & Environment teams for a very special evening of songs and stories.  Luke Wallace headlines a show that will bring together storytellers, spoken word and a chorus of voices to sing songs of praise and protest for our world. This event is…

The last word in Gitxaała’s Big Mining Challenge

Despite having only 2 weeks to prepare, Lisa Fong’s legal team, together with Gavin Smith of West Coast Environmental Law, presented so many pages in their 89-page submission of their closing arguments, they exceeded the upload bandwidth of the Law Courts’ portal. With just one day to sum it all up, Gitxaała’s lawyers did a…

Circle of Voices: An Evening of Song & Stories with Luke Wallace

Tickets You are invited… About the Event Join RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs) and Vancouver Unitarians Social Justice & Environment teams for a very special evening of songs and stories. When: Monday June 19th, 7 pm Where: Vancouver Unitarians, 949 West 49th St. Luke Wallace headlines a show that will bring together storytellers,…

Title: A glimmer of hope as Heiltsuk Nation and others intervene in the Saugeen Ojibway Nation Appeal

While RAVEN primarily supports Indigenous Nations with their own legal challenges, we also support access to justice by funding Interveners in Indigenous legal challenges across the Nation. For those of us who don’t speak legal jargon: Interveners are third-party voices who can bring unique perspectives to a case in which they may be impacted by…

Webinar Recap: Tripping over DRIPA – The Indigenous mining justice case that could change everything in B.C.

Last week we had the opportunity to hear from West Coast Environmental Law’s Jessica Clogg, and Gitxaala Legal Advisor James Herbert on a webinar. Clogg shared her optimism, expressing that “This case is winnable, because it’s very hard to argue that a system that allows someone to pay $1.75 a hectare in the territory without…

Grassy Narrows bans all industrial logging in territory with historic declaration

Grassy Narrows First Nation declares its territory to be an Indigenous Sovereignty and Protected Area. The new “Grassy Narrows Land Declaration” bans all industrial logging in Grassy Narrows’ Territory and asserts that Grassy Narrows will make their own land use decisions.

RAVEN launches new legal fundraising campaign to protect the Breathing Lands

Several First Nations from Treaty 9 territory, which covers about 2/3 of Ontario from Timmins north, are launching a historic case in Ontario court against the federal and provincial governments. The case is a head-on challenge to the Crown governments’ purported unilateral jurisdiction and decision-making control throughout Treaty 9 Territory. The case says that the…

An Earth Day homecoming story

We are so happy for Gitxaała standing up against colonial forces to preserve their land and culture for future generations.

PODCAST: Gitxaała Nation takes on the Mineral Tenure Act in B.C.

This episode of RAVEN Debriefs takes a look at how Gitxaała Nation is taking on the Mineral Tenure Act in B.C.

Win Prizes at Norway House this April 22nd!

Join Dee and Tasman as they raise money to support Gitxaała Nation’s legal challenge! These two Indigenous studies students at Camosun College who are hosting this fundraiser for their final project. Come on out on Saturday April 22nd, 5pm at Norway House to support!

Home on Native Land in the media

RAVEN’s educational mandate — the newest arm of the organization — kicked off with roaring success this year with the launch of Home on Native Land! With over 5000 people across Canada signed up to take the course, we are shining a light on the truth about Canada’s unjust history and amplifying the voices and…

PODCAST: A different kind of mining company

This episode of RAVEN Debriefs is a guest episode put together by Gitxaala’s legal team at Ng Ariss Fong.

PODCAST: Meet the Gitxaała Challenge Intervenors.

This episode of RAVEN Debriefs is a guest episode put together by Gitxaala’s legal team at Ng Ariss Fong.

Gitxaała hearings begin with emotional appeal from Chief Nees Hiwaas

As the Nation begins a two-week hearing at the BC Supreme Court, RAVEN reports on their landmark mining case – the first to consider the enforceability of BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.  Conrad, Jamie-Leigh, Caitlyn, Levin met up at the Sutton Place Hotel for a press conference hosted by Gitxaała and…

The story of a Big Mining take-down, in pictures

It’s not every day that you get a chance to change the nature of mining, but that’s what’s happening at the B.C. Supreme Court this week (April 3-14, 2023).

Our very own Karissa Chandrakate created this graphic novel-style story explaining the case.

No fooling, it’s our birthday: buy yourself — or someone you love — a present in RAVEN’s new online shop!

For our birthday, we’ve got a surprise for you. We’ve been quietly putting the finishing touches on our new Online Shop, where we’re featuring high quality, sustainably sourced t-shirts, tote bags, mugs and touques featuring art by Indigenous creators like Mark Gauti (Coast Salish) and the late Mervyn Windsor (Heiltusk-Haisla). 

PODCAST: The Fight Against Big Mining: Guest Episode with Gitxaala Nation’s legal team

This episode of RAVEN Debriefs is a guest episode put together by Gitxaala’s legal team at Ng Ariss Fong.

Gitxaała is Heading to Court

Legal challenges are like icebergs.  There is a mass of work involved in preparing arguments, collecting evidence from elders and community members, pulling together expert reports and interviewing plaintiffs. While the work of RAVEN supports that process every step of the way, it’s only when Nations are in court, at hearings, that all that work…

Tripping over DRIPA: the Indigenous mining justice case that could change everything in BC

Tripping over DRIPA: The Indigenous mining justice case that could change everything in B.C Tickets Hereditary Chief Nees Hiwaas (Matthew Hill) Hereditary Chief Matthew Hill has dedicated much of his life to working for the betterment of Gitxaała.  Jessica Clogg Jessica Clogg (she/her/hers) is West Coast’s Executive Director and Senior Counsel, and heads up our work on…

Meet the Surf Scoter: A biodiversity indicator for Gitxaala Nation

If there is one thing we know about life on Earth, it’s that humans cannot exist without being in relationship to the natural world around us. Indigenous ways of being teach that we are a part of nature, not the owners of it: resources are gifts, not commodities. And, the only way to ensure the…