Topic: Today’s News

Stronger Together: DJ Shub kicks off National Indigenous Peoples’ Day event connecting 8 Canadian cities

Highlights include live performances by Juno winner DJ Shub, JB the First Lady,  DJ Handsome Tiger, and celebrations from Indigenous coalitions in Halifax, Vancouver, Surrey, Cambridge Bay, Thompson, Saskatoon, and more.

Halifax NS — The National Urban Indigenous Coalition Council (NUICC) hosts an online simulcast event on Tuesday, 21 June 2022, connecting eight urban Indigenous communities for National Indigenous Peoples Day.

From downtown Halifax to Cambridge Bay (Nunavut) to a Vancouver Indigenous boat cruise, the event will share stories, music, and interviews from Coast to Coast to Coast. Presented in both English and French, the 150-minute simulcast is co-presented on Eastlink Cable and Eastlink Stream, as well as on a NUICC-hosted Zoom broadcast (registration required) available at NUICC.ca

The event showcases urban Indigenous success stories, such as in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. NUICC interviews Emily Angulalik about her commitment and vision for the Kuugalak Cultural Centre — a $1.7-million facility for the Pitquhirnikkut Ilihautiniq / Kitikmeot Heritage Society — to advance cultural programs and activities for the western Nunavut community, to preserve the Inuinnaqtun language and culture, and to pass down Inuit language and traditional knowledge to people of all walks of life.

NUICC’s music program kicks-off at the Grand Oasis Stage in downtown Halifax in celebration of the Summer Solstice with DJ Shub and War Club Live, and special guests Fawn Wood and Boogat. DJ Shub (Dan General) is a Mohawk DJ and music producer, Juno award-winner, and member of the Six Nations of the Grand River. Known as the ‘the Godfather of Pow Wow Step’, DJ Shub will usher in the flag raising ceremony in Grand Parade. 

On the West Coast, NUICC’s music program streams live from Holland Park in Surrey City Centre, with a live performance by JB the First Lady an Indigenous hip-hop and spoken word artist from the Nuxalk and Onondaga Nations. While she tells her own stories through raw rhythms and raps, her goal is to empower other young people through hip-hop or through their own art.

The program also includes children’s programming from Thompson, Manitoba at MacLean Park where Gina Spence, coordinator for Thompson Urban Aboriginal Strategy (TUAS), will host an Indigenous puppet show with Star (puppet woman) and singers performing songs for Indigenous Youth.

More cultural broadcasting will come from Saskatchewan’s City Square Plaza and Victoria Park in downtown Regina for the Red Dog Drum Group & Starblanket Dancers, the Asham Stompers, and Student Drum Group & Dancers, with special guest Conway Kootenay, comedian, actor and champion chicken dancer. Regina’s program is expanded with additional programming from coalitions in Prince Albert with Riverside Square Dancers and Pow Wow demonstrations from Métis nation members.

For practical Indigenous knowledge, NUICC is in Québec, to Val d’Or and Montréal, for a Decolonial Toolbox Launch and live interview with Geneviève Sioui, from the Huron-Wendat nation, and Concordia University’s first Indigenous community engagement coordinator.

Then, the simulcast concludes off the West Coast with an all-native boat cruise from the Native Hip Hop Society, co-hosted by Manik 1derful and DJ Handsome Tiger spinning on the top deck. Handsome Tiger is an Anishinaabe Métis / North African music producer and DJ.  NUICC will have an exclusive interview with Handsome Tiger where he talks about the Decolonized Dance Party and his new album, Diaspora.

Join NUICC for this nationally-broadcast Coast to Coast to Coast event in the following time zones on Eastlink Community TV (digital cable and streaming) and on Zoom at NUICC.ca

  • 3:30-6pm   –  Pacific     
  • 4:30-7pm   –  Mountain
  • 5:30-8pm   –  Central
  • 6:30-9pm   –  Eastern
  • 7:30-10pm –  Atlantic

Program details and schedule available on NUICC.ca

Join the one million urban Indigenous Peoples that live in urban centres in Canada. Add your urban voice to the celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day. Share your pride: post a photo, record a video and tag #urbanindigenous — we are stronger together.

The U of A celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day

All year round the University of Alberta community celebrates the unique heritage and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

June is National Indigenous History Month, with National Indigenous Peoples Day held on June 21. Here is how the university is marking the day as we highlight some of the university’s exceptional Indigenous scholars:

Highlighting some of the U of A’s many outstanding Indigenous scholars:

Kokum Hazel McKennitt (Kokum is ‘grandmother’ in Cree) is part of the Indigenous Health Initiatives Program at the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry and an elder-in-residence. She is also a 10-year residential school survivor, former teacher and Indigenous women’s health advocate. Kokum Hazel can discuss the efforts to advance Indigenous health and remove health inequities First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples face. 

Associate professor of secondary education, Sean Lessard, designs school experiences that enhance the lives of Indigenous youth through physical activity and mentorship. Lessard is a former youth worker and high school guidance counselor who works with Indigenous youth across Canada, including those on Enoch Cree Nation. He is co-director of a research project in Montreal Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan called mitho waskayawin, which translates to ‘Moving Well’. The research aims to address systemic racism in physical activities and organized sports.

Beaver Hills Cree education professor Dwayne Donald will work with Canadian teachers in four different communities to better understand how to “unlearn colonialism” and be guided by Indigenous wisdom in the classroom. Donald was recently appointed Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Reimagining Teacher Education with Indigenous Wisdom Traditions. While mandatory Indigenous courses are common in teacher education programs across Canada, they still mostly focus on information about Indigenous peoples and their experiences. In his role as CRC, Donald will support the development of innovative teaching and learning practices that are inspired by learning from local Indigenous wisdom teachings. 

Crystal Fraser is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Native Studies and the Department of History, Classics, & Religion. She is originally from the Northwest Territories and is Gwichyà Gwich’in (Gwich’in are one of the most northerly Indigenous peoples in North America). An intergenerational Indian Residential School survivor, Fraser’s research focuses primarily on the histories and effects of the residential school system in Canada. She is part of the Governing Circle guiding the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation; the group’s role is, in part, to ensure Indigenous Peoples are in control of archival materials related to residential schools.

Tanya Harnett, a member of the Carry-The-Kettle First Nations in Saskatchewan and a university professor jointly appointed in the Department of Art and Design and the Faculty of Native Studies, curated the permanent Residential School exhibit at the Royal Alberta Museum. Harnett, who has three generations of family members that attended residential schools — including her mother who was sent to Brandon Residential School at the age of four — took seven years to create the exhibit.

Events:

National Indigenous Peoples Day event in Camrose

The Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta will hold a special event with former U of A Writer in Residence, Richard Van Camp. The event will feature storytelling and readings while providing a space to engage in Reconciliation. 

Date: June 21 at 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. 

The general public can attend virtually. Tickets are required for the free digital presentation. More information is available here.

University of Alberta Indigenous Strategic Plan launch

The U of A is set to launch Braiding Past, Present and Future: University of Alberta Indigenous Strategic Plan (ISP). The plan is the result of wide-ranging conversations to envision ways to carry out institutional commitments to the TRC Calls to Action and Indigenous Initiatives more broadly. The ISP aims to build better relationships with Indigenous communities — equitable, respectful and mutual — by remediating past practices, bridging the curriculum gap, breaking down barriers for Indigenous students, faculty and staff, and imagining innovative practices in ethical research, fundraising and alumni engagement, among others. 

The development of the ISP was led by Dr. Florence Glanfield (Métis), who serves in the inaugural role of Vice-Provost, Indigenous Programming and Research with the support of the Indigenous Advisory Council, a council comprised of 22 First Nations, Inuit and Métis employees from across the U of A. The Indigenous-led plan was created in broad dialogue with faculties, units, individuals, and communities.

Date: June 24 at 10 a.m.

The general public and campus community is invited to attend the livestream of the launch.

Dr. Florence Glanfield is available to speak with the media about the Indigenous Strategic Plan.

More support for First Nations and Inuit women entrepreneurs thanks to Hydro-Québec and the FNQLEDC

Hydro-Québec and the First Nations of Québec and Labrador Economic Development Commission (FNQLEDC) have announced a partnership aiming to meet the needs expressed by Indigenous women. Hydro-Québec’s contribution of five million dollars over five years will enable the FNQLEDC to expand its service offer and support more First Nations and Inuit women entrepreneurs who are working to create and develop their businesses.

Studies led by the FNQLEDC show that enterprises run by Indigenous women are especially committed to the well-being and development of their communities. The collaboration with Hydro-Québec will provide the FNQLEDC with the means to offer new financing services, including microcredit, as well as a financial contribution to support business creation and commercial infrastructure development. More women entrepreneurs will benefit from personalized support and expert services at every step in their project, from start-up to expansion.

Marketing support will also be available to participating businesswomen under the First Nations Identification brand created by the FNQLEDC to support and protect First Nations entrepreneurs and communities in every sphere of economic development and easily recognize the authenticity of their products and services.  

The result of a consultation

The initiative is the outcome of a consultation with current and aspiring First Nations and Inuit women entrepreneurs. Decision makers from several nations and Inuit organizations, as well as members of the Secrétariat aux affaires autochtones, were also consulted. Hydro-Québec and the FNQLEDC, which already offers entrepreneurship services for women, worked together to define the measures to put in place. 

Quotes

“In the past few years, Indigenous women have been increasingly interested in entrepreneurship. Hydro-Québec’s support will enable the FNQLEDC to significantly enhance its current support services and complete its offer through the development of new services and tools. Women of all nations will benefit from the support of our team of expert advisors to develop their business plans or expand an existing enterprise. The women entrepreneurs who take part in the program will become role models for the next generations.”

Jinny Thibodeau Rankin, Interim Director General, First Nations of Québec and Labrador Economic Development Commission 

“Last November, at the Grand Economic Circle of Indigenous People and Québec, Hydro-Québec made the commitment to deepen the dialogue with the First Nations and Inuit nation. And it was through this dialogue that it became clear we would support Indigenous women entrepreneurs. Our collaboration with the FNQLEDC and the support measures that will be put in place flow directly from our talks with women entrepreneurs, who generously shared their realities with us. We want to sincerely thank them, and we pledge to invest every effort to meet their expectations.”

Julie Boucher, Vice President – Sustainability, Community Relations and Communications, Hydro- Québec

Aki Kikinomakaywin Program Offers Hands-on STEAM Learning Opportunities for Indigenous Youth in Northern Ontario

NORDIK Institute is launching its new Aki Kikinomakaywin (Learning on the land)  program, which offers hands-on, Indigenous science, technology, engineering, arts, and  math (STEAM) training for Indigenous youth.  

The program will run for one week in July at Lakehead University and Confederation  College in Thunder Bay.  

Aki Kikinomakaywin is a women- and Indigenous-led program that teaches Indigenous  youth from Northern Ontario First Nation communities Indigenous ways of knowing and  being through learning on the land through the use of western science techniques.  

Aki Kikinomakaywin will be running a week-long camp in Thunder Bay at Lakehead  University and Confederation College this summer 2022. The program is free to youth  ages 12-14 and covers all costs for accommodation, transportation, and food. In future  years, programs will be run in both Thunder Bay and Sault Ste Marie, Ontario.  

Youth participating in the program will learn from local Elders, Water Walkers, and  Knowledge Holders about Indigenous water laws and governance, as well as how to  complete an Indigenous Impact Assessment using Indigenous ways of knowing and  being.  

Youth will learn how to code sensors to collect environmental data and learn how western  science techniques can be used to support Indigenous science, while also becoming more  confident in university and college settings.  

“The Elders have said that we need to teach our young on the land. Mother Earth is our  education system, she is our pharmacy, our kitchen, our everything. By learning on the  land, our young will come to understand she is our everything” said Dr. Susan Bell Chiblow, Assistant Professor at the University of Guelph, NORDIK Research Associate  and, and Anishinaabekwe from Garden River First Nation, who is a Co-Lead to the  program.  

“The youth will learn that we all come from water and need to protect the waters. They  will gain the understanding that water is life, is alive with spirit, and is medicine. They 

will understand that as Anishinaabek, we always did science. This will provide confidence  in who they are and potentially assist them in career decisions,” Dr. Chiblow said. 

Aki Kikinomakaywin is led by an Advisory Group that is comprised of Indigenous women  who are all leaders in the education field and their communities.  

This Advisory Group is led by Marnie Yourchuk the Education Program Manager at  Mamaweswen, The North Shore Tribal Council; Erin Desjardins is a Stewardship Intern  at Matawa and Four Rivers, as well as an M.Sc. candidate at Lakehead University; Lisa  Harris is the Coordinator of the Niijii Indigenous Mentorship program at Lakehead  University; Mary Wabano-McKay is the Vice President of Nyaagaaniid, Anishinabe  Initiatives, Equity and Student Success at Algoma University; Nicole Nicolas-Bayer is the  Director of Mukwa Waakaa’igan at Algoma University; Carolyn Hepburn is the Dean of  Indigenous Studies and Academic Upgrading at Sault College, and lastly Jasmine Baxter  is an Environmental Technician with Matawa and Four Rivers who is also completing her  Honours B.Sc. in Environmental Science at Lakehead University.  

Dr. Gayle Broad, Professor Emerita at Algoma University and Research Associate at  NORDIK Institute, has also played an integral role in developing the program.  

Aki Kikinomakaywin is also fortunate to be partnering with Water First and Let’s Talk  Science to provide engaging water-focused and coding hands-on western science  activities.  

“Aki Kikinomakaywin is an important program aiming to support Ontario’s northern  First Nation youth in learning about careers in STEAM,” said Haley MacLeod, a Ph.D.  Candidate at Lakehead University and a Co-Lead on the program.  

“Allowing youth to learn from local Elders and Knowledge Holders will provide a unique  opportunity to get youth excited about their own knowledge systems and future career  opportunities. I am excited to help get youth on to the land and in the lab and to provide  more education opportunities in the North,” MacLeod said. 

Applications and additional information are available on the program’s website at  akikikinomakaywin.com.  

NORDIK Institute is excited to aid in this program. This program will benefit Indigenous  youth in Northern Ontario through providing them with unique learning opportunities  and provide a model for future land-based learning opportunities in the region. 

Canada Post issues commemorative stamp recognizing Métis leader Harry Daniels

The new issue honours Daniels’ work to advance the rights and well-being of Métis in Canada

This news release is also available to read Michif (click here).

REGINA – At an event today in Regina, Canada Post unveiled a new commemorative stamp recognizing the accomplishments of Métis leader Harry Daniels. A politician, activist, writer and actor, Daniels dedicated his life to the rights and well-being of Métis and non-status Indians in Canada.

This is one of three stamps that will officially be released on June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day – in recognition of the contributions each Indigenous leader has made to their communities.

About Harry Daniels

Born in Regina Beach, Saskatchewan, Daniels (1940-2004) – known for his quick wit and joie de vivre – served as an outspoken advocate for his people for more than 40 years. Many consider his contributions to Métis rights to be without equal in modern-day Canada.

First elected to office in 1972 as vice-president of the Métis Association of Alberta (now Métis Nation of Alberta), Daniels would go on to represent Indigenous and Métis Peoples provincially, nationally and internationally. He was elected secretary-treasurer of the Native Council of Canada (now Congress of Aboriginal Peoples) in 1974 and later served as its president and chief executive officer.

One of Daniels’ most important contributions was successfully leading an effort to convince the federal government to enshrine the inherent rights of Métis and non-status Indians in the new Constitution. As a result, Métis are included, along with First Nations (named as Indians) and Inuit, as Indigenous (identified as Aboriginal) Peoples in the Constitution Act, 1982.

For Daniels, however, constitutional recognition was just a first step. Since 1867, the federal government had recognized only “status Indians” as being its jurisdictional responsibility. The provincial governments had also not claimed responsibility for Métis and non-status Indians. To this end, in 1999, Daniels and several other plaintiffs launched Daniels v. Canada to determine the federal government’s relationship with the two groups. The case was not decided until 2016, 12 years after Daniels’ death, when the Supreme Court upheld the Federal Court ruling that Métis and non-status Indians are Indians under the British North America Act, 1867, and therefore, come under the federal government’s jurisdiction.

Over his lifetime, Daniels wrote several books on Métis issues and many articles and papers on the Constitution and Indigenous rights. An actor of both stage and film, he also held degrees from the University of Saskatchewan, Carleton University and the University of Ottawa (honorary doctorate). During his later years, he taught Métis history at the University of Saskatchewan and guest lectured at universities across Canada. In March 2004, Daniels was awarded the Order of the Métis Nation by the Métis National Council.

About the Indigenous Leaders stamp series

This stamp set is the inaugural release in Canada Post’s new multi-year Indigenous Leaders series. On June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day – Canada Post will issue three stamps in honour of Indigenous leaders Harry Daniels, Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier and Jose Kusugak.

This week, two more stamp unveiling events will be held:

  • On June 14, the stamp commemorating Jose Kusugak will be unveiled at an event in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.
  • On June 15, the stamp honouring Chief Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier will be unveiled at an event in Fort Qu’Appelle, Sask.

Stamps and collectibles will be available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada beginning June 21.

Here are links to find images of the stamp and other products, and other resources:

THE OFFICE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THE BC ACHIEVEMENT FOUNDATION ANNOUNCE 2022 RECONCILIATION AWARD RECIPIENTS

Vancouver, B.C. (June 14, 2022): The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, in partnership with the BC Achievement Foundation, is honoured to announce the recipients of the second British Columbia Reconciliation Award. The award recognizes six extraordinary individuals and organizations who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect, and commitment to furthering reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in the province of British Columbia, or inspired others to continue reconciliation efforts.
Individual Recipients:

  • Kwuntiltunaat, Kim Baird (Tsawwassen)
  • T̓łaḵwagila, Chief Bill Cranmer (Alert Bay)
  • Brendan Eshom (Prince Rupert)

Organization Recipients:

  • Atomic Cartoons in partnership with GBH (Vancouver) 
  • DIVERSEcity – Surrey Local Immigration Partnership (Surrey)
  • Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and the City of Kamloops (Kamloops)

“Reconciliation builds relationships and bridges the gap between two worlds through the efforts of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. By recognizing the truths of past wrongs and showcasing examples of how to make things right, others will be inspired to follow,” said BC Achievement Foundation board member Cloy-e-iis, Judith Sayers. “In its second year, the British Columbia Reconciliation Award continues to celebrate innovative and empowering ways to embark on this journey, designed and decided by Indigenous peoples, allowing them to thrive while making the world a better place. On behalf of BC Achievement, we are privileged to announce and honour the 2022 awardees. Congratulations to all the recipients and thank you for your efforts on our collective reconciliation journey.”

The BC Achievement Foundation has several established programs honouring excellence and inspiring achievement throughout British Columbia, including the Indigenous Business Award and the Fulmer Award in First Nations Art.
“For the second year of the British Columbia Reconciliation Award, I have been heartened by the continued focus on advancing reconciliation in BC,” said the Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. “The 2022 recipients represent elders and youth, partnership and leadership. They showcase creative ways of educating young generations and new Canadians on the history and culture of Indigenous people, ensuring all are included on the journey of reconciliation. It has been my deep honour to champion the award, and I couldn’t be prouder to share the accomplishments of the 2022 recipients with British Columbians.” 
The Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, has chosen reconciliation as one of the key priorities of her mandate. This commitment includes participation in promotion of public awareness of the ongoing journey of reconciliation, and developing a legacy through the creation of this award.
The British Columbia Reconciliation Award draws inspiration from the work of the Honourable Steven Point [Xwĕ lī qwĕl tĕl], 28th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, and a founder of the Award. His hand-carved red cedar canoe, Shxwtitostel, currently on display at the BC Legislature buildings, was created as a symbol of reconciliation, with the understanding that “we are all in the same canoe” and must “paddle together” to move forward. In honour of this legacy, this year’s recipients will receive a print of a canoe paddle beaded by Dene and Carrier artist Crystal Behn to commemorate the award. Crystal Behn is the Emerging Artist recipient of the 2021 Fulmer Award in First Nations Art.
The selection committee for the 2022 British Columbia Reconciliation Award, including representation from Indigenous Elders and leadership, is:

  • p̓i·q̓, Dr. Christopher Horsethief – Ktunaxa Nation
  • T’esóts’en, Patrick Kelly – Leq’á:mel Nation 
  • Nicole McLaren – Métis Nation 
  • Cloy-e-iis, Dr. Judith Sayers – Hupacasath Nation
  • T,łalisam, Dr. Kim van der Woerd – ‘Namgis First Nation

Members of the selection committee, along with the Honourable Steven Point, led in the creation and design of the BC Reconciliation Award, ensuring the award was founded on the principles of Indigenous culture and knowledge.
Interviews with representatives of the BC Achievement Foundation, as well as BC Reconciliation Award recipients, are available upon request. Awardee bios and high resolution images are available here.
For more information about the BC Achievement Foundation or BC Reconciliation Award program, please visit www.bcachievement.com.

Canada must fulfill its obligation to Indigenous children says Anishinabek Nation leadership

ANISHINABEK NATION HEAD OFFICE (June 14, 2022) – On behalf of the Anishinabek Nation, Grand  Council Chief Reg Niganobe and Children’s Commissioner Ogimaa Duke Peltier have issued a statement  in response to the recent report released by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child  expressing deep concerns about the welfare of Indigenous children in Canada. 

“All children deserve equal opportunity and access to adequate health care, education, nutrition, and  shelter, surrounded by their family, community, culture, and history. In this era of truth and  reconciliation, Canada must step forward to fulfill its obligation to the many Indigenous children who  suffered and continue to suffer as a result of discrimination,” states Grand Council Chief Niganobe. 

In 2021, the Parliament of Canada passed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous  Peoples Act (UNDRIPA), committing the Government of Canada to “take all measures necessary to  ensure that the laws of Canada are consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of  Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).” The Government of Canada has since committed to implementing  Article 14 of UNDRIP, honouring the rights of Indigenous peoples to “establish and control their  educational systems and institutions providing education in their own languages, in a manner  appropriate to their cultural methods of teaching and learning”. 

“Almost all First Nation children are still required, by law, to attend schools where they do not learn to  speak their own languages. This amounts to the ongoing, forced, assimilation of these children. The  perilous state of most First Nation languages makes the need for the implementation of Article 14  pressing and urgent. The implementation of Article 14 can be achieved through amendment of the  Indigenous Languages Act, making it enforceable in Canadian courts,” states Commissioner Ogimaa  Peltier. 

Released on June 9, 2022, Concluding observations on the combined fifth and sixth reports of Canada recommends that Canada “put an end to structural discrimination against children belonging to  Indigenous groups, and address disparities in access to services by all children, including those in  marginalized and disadvantaged situations”. The report also raises concerns that Canada’s “child  welfare system continues to fail to protect Indigenous children and adolescents from violence.” 

“The Anishinabek Nation has been working tirelessly to advocate for and protect the rights of  Anishinaabe children and youth. Through the Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law, the  Anishinabek Nation Child, Youth, and Family Well-Being System, and the Anishinabek Nation Children  and Youth Bill of Rights, we are exercising inherent jurisdiction over child welfare to protect and 

promote the well-being of Anishinaabe children, youth, and families. We must honour each and every  child to ensure the success of our future generations and to create the best future for our Nations,”  adds Commissioner Peltier. 

UVic leads national project to tackle water and sanitation crisis

If problems around water quality and wastewater in remote and poorly served communities are to be solved, they’ll need funding, local involvement and technical know-how.

Caetano Dorea, a University of Victoria professor in civil engineering at UVic, is leading a team that has been awarded a $1.65-million Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada grant to train emerging engineers to work on water and sanitation projects in low-resource contexts in Canada and abroad.

The project brings together researchers and students from eight Canadian universities—UVic, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Western University, University of Guelph, University of Toronto, Carleton University and Laval University, where he previously taught—and gives those students broader exposure to different education and institutions, as well as hands-on experiences.

“The goal is to produce engineers with practical experience who can work with communities and implementing agencies to find solutions to their water and wastewater problems,” says Dorea, who leads the Public Health and Environmental Engineering Lab, Canada’s first research group dedicated to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Another aim is to promote research that’s needed to develop sustainable water and sanitation services to improve the lives of the most marginalized members of the global community.

The project reflects UVic’s commitment to ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, as articulated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Issues with safe drinking water and safe disposal of wastewater are not unique to low- and middle-income countries, he says, noting that he and his colleagues use the term “low-resource context” because “inequities are independent of the income level of a country.” In Canada, for instance, there are rural and Indigenous communities that have lived under boil-water advisories for more than two decades and some six million people face water and wastewater management challenges.

“They need to achieve the same water quality standards as everyone else,” Dorea says, “and yet, they have fewer resources and lower capacity.” He expects the project will continue the same type of collaborative research he has done in the past, in which communities have ranged from Nunavik in northern Quebec to communities in Malawi, a country in southeast Africa.

Such communities often have a water source that’s contaminated, meaning their water needs to be treated before it’s consumed, he explains. In these situations, the solution can often involve providing systems to do treatment at the point of use. However, such technology, which is designed in well-controlled lab conditions, doesn’t always work as planned in the real world.

The NSERC CREATE grant will help universities train engineering students to collaborate with local authorities, implementing agencies and NGOs working with low-resource communities and the communities themselves to find “fit-for-purpose” solutions. Many communities already know what the solutions are but need help refining them.

Such immersive experiences are key to the educational benefit students will receive.

“During this training experience, what we want to do it to make sure the students have the right heads, hands and hearts,” he says. “Behind these solutions, there are humans. You think in a different way when you have an understanding of the inequities you’re addressing.”

The program, which involves approximately 40 grad students, is funded for six years. Dorea hopes it will jumpstart WASH as a more widely studied academic discipline in Canada and a critical mass of water- and sanitation-related disciplines and expertise.

Read the Government of Canada news announcement.

Secretary Haaland Launches New Indian Youth Service Corps Program

ALBUQUERQUE — Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today joined Tribal leaders, community partners and Indigenous youth to celebrate the launch of the Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) and unveil the program’s guidelines. The IYSC is a new partnership-based program that will provide meaningful education, employment and training opportunities to Indigenous youth through conservation projects on public and Indian lands, and Hawaiian homelands – putting young people on a path to good-paying jobs while working to tackle the climate crisis.

Building on the decade-long success of the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps, the IYSC will provide opportunities for Native Americans and Alaska Natives to support the conservation and protection of natural and cultural resources through construction, restoration or rehabilitation of natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational or scenic resources. Participants will receive a mix of work experience, basic and life skills, education, training and mentoring.

“Indigenous people have a strong and abiding connection to the Earth – increasing their access to nature early and often will help lift up the next generation of stewards for this Earth,” said Secretary Haaland. “In addition to completing much-need conservation projects that will enhance landscapes and ecosystems on Tribal and public lands, the Indian Youth Service Corps will have considerable focus on vocational skills training, economic empowerment and career development for Indigenous youth.”

Authorized in 2019 by the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, the John S. McCain III 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Act amended and expanded the Public Lands Corps Act to establish the IYSC.

The National Park Foundation (NPF) today announced a new commitment to fund $1 million in IYSC projects, in addition to its ongoing support of Tribal youth service corps projects. NPF is currently funding more than 10 projects from Maine to New Mexico that engage Tribal youth in a wide range of conservation and preservation activities, providing invaluable skills development, personal and professional mentoring and career preparation. Projects also protect Indigenous cultural practices, languages and traditional ecological knowledge used for land management practices.

“The imprint of Tribal history and culture is visible across our national park landscapes,” said National Park Foundation President and CEO Will Shafroth. “Supporting the Indian Youth Service Corps engages and connects Tribal youth to the care and preservation of sacred places across the nation’s public lands.”

Tribal leaders, community partners and several current and former Indigenous members of the Conservation Legacy Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps and Rocky Mountain Youth Corps joined a virtual roundtable with Secretary Haaland and Shafroth to share their experiences in conservation.

The IYSC guidelines provide a framework for Tribal and partner organizations’ participation in the program. Goals of the program include creating awareness of Indigenous culture and history, and conserving and protecting their landscapes, stories and shared experiences for current and future generations. The program guidelines were established in consultation with Indian Tribes, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and other stakeholders. They authorize the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture and Commerce to implement the new program.

IYSC activities can include research projects, oral histories, habitat surveys, climate mitigation, trail restoration, invasive species removal, fire fuels reduction, watershed restoration, recreational expansion and the development of educational, informational or communication materials for the public.

The projects will promote Indian self-determination and economic development and can take place on Tribal lands, or on federal lands where Tribes have ancestral connections. All projects on Indian lands will be designed and managed in a collaborative fashion, including consultation with the Tribal government prior to the start of any project.

The Interior Department is committed to strengthening Tribal sovereignty and governance, fulfilling the federal government’s trust and treaty responsibilities, and engaging in robust consultation with Tribal Nations. This year, the Department is providing $2 million to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, $700,000 to the National Park Service and $600,000 to the Bureau of Reclamation to establish the IYSC.

Chiefs to Meet with Banks and Investors to Attract Capital to Indigenous Energy Projects

TORONTO, ON   The Indian Resource Council, an organization representing over 130 First Nations who produce or have a direct interest in the oil and gas industry, is leading a delegation of Chiefs to Toronto on June 9, 2022 to meet with the investment community. Their objective is to attract capital for Indigenous energy projects and ensure First Nations have equity opportunities going forward.

“There is an idea in some corners of Canada that First Nations are opposed to oil and gas development. In fact, what we want is to be partners and owners in energy projects, and benefit from the development of resources from our territories,” said Chief Roy Fox, chair of the IRC Board. “For that to happen, we need the investment community to be willing partners.”

Ensuring that ESG (environmental social and governance) funds value Indigenous participation is key to ensuring that First Nations can access capital that has long been denied their communities.  “ESG metrics have been focused almost exclusively on GHG emissions. It’s time to give Indigenous participation in projects more weight, if the financial community is truly committed to reconciliation,” said Chief Billy Morin. “There is an opportunity for everyone to win here.”

Conventional and oilsands production have allowed hundreds of Indigenous businesses to prosper and grow. Meanwhile, pipelines, LNG terminals, power generation, hydrogen and carbon capture projects have all provided major opportunities for Indigenous equity positions in the past three years.

“The movement to divest from the fossil fuels is actively harming our economic prospects,” said Stephen Buffalo, President of IRC. “First Nations have solutions for protecting the environment while ensuring we can provide affordable energy to a world that needs it. Instead of abandoning our industry to others with lower ethical and environmental standards, the investment community can work with First Nations to make sure Canadian oil and gas can get to global markets.”

Members of the delegation include Chief Roy Fox (Kanai Nation/ Blood Tribe), Chief Greg Desjarlais (Frog Lake First Nation), Chief Billy Morin (Enoch Cree Nation), and Stephen Buffalo (CEO & President, Indian Resource Council).

In addition to meetings with the chartered banks and major investment firms, the delegation will participate in a panel at the Albany Club to share their message.