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VIDEO: James Herbert, Gitxaała Senior Advisor on What’s Next for the Campaign…
It’s a familiar story — in Canada, and around the world. A small community is forever changed when a mining company is too cheap, or too careless, to safeguard ecosystems and human rights. These communities should not have to be the watchdogs over an industry that enjoys lavish government subsidies and tax breaks. Yet, off B.C.’s…
“The Environment in Canada” Podcast talks to RAVEN’s Leslie Anne St. Amour
RAVEN’s Campaign Director, Leslie Anne, was in conversation with Jessica Murray from Sierra Club’s The Environment in Canada podcast — listen here: Episode description: Jessica Murray talks with lawyer Leslie Anne St. Amour of the RAVEN trust about the Wet’suwet’en challenge to Canada’s climate inaction, the usefulness of UNDRIP, why we urgently need to change…
A fond farewell and a chorus of rowdy “Huzzahs” for our friend, russ elliott
When it comes to honouring the legacy of someone like russ elliott, where do you even start? As a member of the RAVEN community, you may know russ as the friendly voice at the end of the phone who guides you to what you need, whether it’s a tax receipt or a deeper understanding of…
Picking Sides for Reconciliation: Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Intervene in Jim Shot Both Sides v. Canada
Canada has shot itself in the foot many times when it comes to reconciliation. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), who intervened in Jim Shot Both Sides v. Canada with RAVEN’s support, believes this is one of those times. The Supreme Court of Canada heard the case in the fall that stands to set a…
When Canada won’t step up, Heiltsuk moves across the pond to the UN.
On Mar 20, 2024 Heiltsuk leadership were in London, England speaking to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The IMO is the United Nations agency responsible for international laws about shipping and the prevention of pollution from ships. IMO Conventions are incorporated into Canadian law through the federal Marine Liability Act. Heiltsuk and the Inuit Circumpolar …
Crisis Unfiltered: The Ongoing Struggle for Clean Drinking Water
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…
A letter to Premier David Eby: 17 organizations (including RAVEN) call for reform to B.C.’s outdated and colonial mineral regime
RAVEN is proud to be joining together with 17 organizations in calling for reform to B.C.’s outdated and colonial mineral regime. Read the letter, which was delivered to Premier David Eby together with the ministers of Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation and of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. Dear Premier David Eby, Minister Osborne, and Minister…
Hot Take: B.C. is Dripping Drama — how to make a mess of implementing DRIPA
Hey B.C.? Get your sh*t together please and thank you. You’re acting like a gaslighting boyfriend who promised me a romantic birthday dinner and then expected me to cook. As we know, back in 2019, B.C. passed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). Then, in 2022 the province released the first…
RAVEN is Hiring: Are you the next RAVEN Operations Manager?
Summary of the role: The Operations Manager is an essential member of the RAVEN team and is responsible for maximizing and strengthening the internal capacity of RAVEN to fulfill its mission. This position is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the organization, providing robust and culture-building leadership. This role increases capacity in infrastructure and…
VIDEO — Growing Rooted Solidarity: Allyship and Land Back
On Saturday March 9th, RAVEN teamed up with First Unitarians Church of Victoria to host an in-person and livestream conversation on how to live in solidarity and allyship with Indigenous Nations. Watch the video here: Located on the unceded lands of the WSANEC First Nations, The First Unitarians Church of Victoria is a welcoming community,…
Run for FUNds is back for its 4th year!
For the past 3 years, RAVEN supporters Kayci Lesosky and Sarah Legg have been organizing 5k and 10km community fun runs at Elk Lake provincial park in Victoria, with the goal of raising funds and awareness about Indigenous sovereignty. Run for FUNds What started as a Covid 19 project for Sarah and Kayci. At the…
VIDEO: Wet’suwet’en chiefs reveal depth of devastation, vision for repair on powerful webinar
What happens when you bring 5 Indigenous chiefs who have been fighting industry for their cultural and ecological survival together for a short, sharp hour? You get a powerful conversation: and, an injection of hope into a movement hungry for change. SLIDESHOW EXPLAINER ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN: https://raventrust.com/wetsuweten-charter-challenge-explained/ Last night, we joined Smogelgem (Warner Naziel), Dstahyl…
What’s next for Wet’suwet’en land protectors?
“When the glacier melts, the world will catch fire.” That’s a warning, issued by elders, that drives Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs as they work to uphold their Nation’s laws. Having been sidelined in consultation processes and left out of critical negotiations over industrial activity that is transforming their homelands beyond recognition, Dsta’hyl and other hereditary chiefs…
Breaking News: Supreme Court affirms Indigenous self-governance in child welfare law, UNDRIP in groundbreaking decision
What is the TLDR? The long struggle for equity for Indigenous children and families has reached a milestone. In upholding Bill C-92, Canada’s Supreme Court also recognized that the federal government can pass laws which incorporate Indigenous laws, giving them the power of federal law. The Court agreed that, with this legislation, Canada did affirm…
Indigenous Resistance to Mining: Ontario First Nations Call for Year-Long Moratorium on Mining Claims
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…
Growing Rooted Solidarity
Growing Rooted Solidarity: Allyship and Land Back save my spot Leslie Anne St Armour Leslie Anne St. Amour (she/her) is a member of the Bonnechere Algonquin First Nation, located in Eastern Ontario and of mixed Algonquin and settler heritage. Leslie Anne completed her BA at McGill University in Political Science and a minor in Indigenous…
If the Glacier Melts, the World Will Catch Fire
If the Glacier Melts, the World Will Catch Fire save my spot You are invited! Join Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs for a webinar on Thursday, February 22nd at 6 pm Pacific, and learn about their groundbreaking Charter of Rights & Freedoms challenge taking on Canada’s climate inaction. Learn how the Nation plans to hold the government…
Hot take: 6300% FALSE: Canada takes gaslighting to a whole new level
What is Gaslighting? It’s that workmate who, when called out on their racist behaviour, retorts, “You’re being too sensitive: this has NOTHING to do with race.” It’s that casual date who shows up half an hour late to dinner then, when you tell them you’re upset about it, says you’re being ‘clingy’. Or, it’s that…
Hot Take: We won?!? A chance to stop rampant LNG exports
Boy do we ever need this. In the climate justice movement, there is slow, incremental progress and — let’s face it — a dizzying array of losses to contend with. But yesterday’s announcement that the U.S. is pausing LNG export permits is one to celebrate. It’s the result of intense organizing over YEARS by groups large and…
$2 million from Krawczyk Foundation breathes new life into Indigenous environmental justice
$2 million from Krawczyk Foundation breathes new life into Indigenous environmental justice in Canada. Krawczyk Family Foundation has made a remarkable and transformative $2 million donation to RAVEN, supporting access to justice for Indigenous Nations who are in court to protect land, air and water for future generations. Alex Krawczyk, daughter of the late philanthropists…