News
‘Our home on native land’: How a lyric change sparked long overdue reflections
During the NBA’s All-Star Weekend in February, singer Jully Black made a bold statement when singing Canada’s national anthem. Performing live in a full stadium in Salt Lake City, the Toronto born singer altered the lyric “Home and native land” to “Home on Native Land” with emphasizing the word “on.”Now, RAVEN is urging everyone to…
Wetsuwet’en appeal to pursue Charter Challenge linking Indigenous rights and climate impacts
Wet’suwet’en were in court mid-February, pursuing their case challenging the constitutionality of Canada’s inaction on climate change.
A Night of Brazilian Music in Support of Gitxaala — April 2, 2023
***This event has been rescheduled to April 2, 2023.*** Gitxaala Nation has launched a groundbreaking legal challenge that aims at B.C.’s outdated Mineral Tenure Act. Currently, the province allows anyone with $25 and a laptop to stake a mining claim without having to notify the Nation whose territory they’re prospecting on. RAVEN is so grateful…
Introducing: Carly Eldstrom, RAVEN’s new Development Director
RAVEN is welcoming back Carly Eldstrom, former RAVEN grant writer and now our newest Development Director! Carly recently graduated from Columbia University with a masters degree in Nonprofit Management, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her back on the RAVEN team in this new capacity.
Job Posting: Administrative Assistant
RAVEN is hiring an Administrative Assistant! The Administrative Assistant reports directly to the Operations Manager, works closely and collaboratively with the Accountant, and will be required to perform a wide range of duties to assist with organizational support.
RAVEN reflections with Susan Smitten: gratitude and greatness
We caught up with Susan Smitten, who has helmed RAVEN as Executive Director for 14 amazing years. Smitten is stepping away from her job this spring, making way for new leadership at a time when the organization is thriving. She’s leaving behind big shoes to fill: but, she assures her successor, they’re comfortable. Says Smitten,…
Alberta lawyers say “Canada has no history of oppression”, proving how desperately they need Indigenous justice training
The fact that that 50 lawyers in Alberta have been trying to wriggle out of taking a short course on Indigenous cultural competency proves the TRC’s point: that such education is sorely needed.
The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (VGFN) is heading to the Supreme Court of Canada
Have you heard? The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (VGFN) is heading to the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) February 7th to assert their powers of self-government. Most legal cases that protect Indigenous rights in Canada rely on Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. But, when the VGFN signed the monumental Vuntut Gwitchin Self-Government Agreement…
You’ve got Status: Intervenors on Mining Justice challenge pass BC Supreme Court’s test
Gitxaała’s groundbreaking opposition to B.C.’s outdated and unjust Mineral Tenure Act just got even stronger. It’s now bolstered by the voices of Indigenous organizations, environmental groups, First Nations governments, and responsible mining advocates who have been given leave to intervene in the upcoming court challenge. This historic legal action, scheduled for a seven-day hearing starting…
Salmon Nation launches Edge Prize grant.
Salmon Nation is launching the Edge Prize, which aims to support individuals and organizations working on solutions for their communities, and for the bioregion as a whole. We live in Salmon Nation, a beautiful, rich, and diverse bioregion. Here and beyond, in spite of thechallenges of climate change and cascading system failure, there is so…
PODCAST: The Constitution Express with Doreen Manuel
We sat down with Doreen Manuel, a Secwepemc filmmaker and one of the organizers of the historic Constitution Express.
A RAVEN year in review: highlights from 2022
The year is coming to a close, and for many of us 2022 has been a new chapter in a story of rebirth and transformation in times of uncertainty. As RAVEN heads into its 14th year, and we collectively move forward in our changed world — we know now more than ever that community care…
A timeline: the movement for Indigenous justice
Until very recently, the story that Canada has told about itself has been one-sided and half baked. In the story of “colony to nation,” Indigenous Peoples were part of helping settlers in the early days. They participated in the fur trade, signed a bunch of treaties, then went quiet for 200 years. Then, in the…
Passing forward Grandmother wisdom, wrapped up as legal precedents
As we pick our way along a cedar-lined trail near Bella Bella, B.C. elder Pauline Waterfall explains how her Heiltsuk traditions have been “passed forward” to her. Having suffered through colonial onslaughts of genocide and residential schools, the resilience that Pauline embodies goes much further than just cultural survival. When you follow her into the…
Celebrating Victories in 2022!
Thanks to the RAVEN community, we have a lot to celebrate about 2022! Despite difficult times — wedged between a pandemic and global inflation — we raised over ONE MILLION DOLLARS for Indigenous justice in 2022! Here are some highlights. Beaver Lake Cree Nation: BLCN celebrated a major victory after the Supreme Court of Canada…
A holiday message from our Executive Director, Susan Smitten.
I’m writing this on the ferry back to Victoria, following an uplifting and powerful few days of listening and learning with Gitxaala and Gitanyow leadership in Vancouver. Our Groundswell Mining Justice Summit was one of our first in-person events where we were able to gather in a room in almost three years, it was…
VIDEO: Groundswell Indigenous Mining Summit
Last night, we hosted an absolutely riveting conversation that should motivate anyone with a sense of justice to get behind Gitxaala’s mining challenge. The passionate arguments that presenters brought forward illuminated the genius of pairing the deep wisdom of land-based tradition carriers with the brightest legal strategists in the country. Have a listen. Chat Transcript…
WIN! Roy Henry Vickers & Tall Ship Cruises prizes in RAVEN’s silent auction
Bidding is now open for RAVEN’s fundraising silent auction! Featuring artwork and sailing cruise experiences, the auction is a chance to give twice: get a gift for someone you care about, while also supporting Indigenous Nations to protect land, air and water. Bidding ends: 9:00pm, Thursday 15 December 2022. Serigraphs by Roy Henry Vickers Renowned Indigenous…
Groundswell: An Indigenous Mining Summit
GROUNDSWELL: An Indigenous Mining Justice Summit Get Tickets Chief Txa La Xaatk (Matthew Hill) Hereditary Chief Matthew Hill has dedicated much of his life to working for the betterment of Gitxaała. Naxginkw (Tara Marsden) Tara is from the Lax Ganeda (Frog) Clan of Gitanyow Huwilp of the Gitksan peoples. Her primary focus for her 20-year…
The Story of “Unity”: From Appropriation to Honour
Restorying an appropriated work by Haisla-Heiltsuk artist Mervin Windsor.