In the Know: Bear Teachings

Healing is justice, but what does this look like in practice? Learn more about the importance of individual and community healing with 3 healing justice advocates: Meda DeWitt, Arlana Bennett, and Michelle Brass. 

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Meda’s Tlingit names are Tśa Tsée Naakw, Khaat kłaat, adopted Iñupiaq name is Tigigalook, and adopted Cree name is Boss Eagle Spirit Woman “Boss.” Her clan is Naanyaa.aayí and she is a child of the Kaach.aadi. Her family comes from Shtuxéen kwaan (now referred to as Wrangell, AK.) Meda’s lineage also comes from Oregon, Washington, and the BC/Yukon Territories. Currently she lives on Dena’ina lands in Anchorage, Alaska with her fiancé James “Chris” Paoli and their eight children. Meda’s work revolves around the personal credo “Leave a world that can support life and a culture worth living for.” Her work experience draws from her training as an Alaska Native traditional healer, traditional foods educator, and Healthy Native Communities capacity building facilitator.

Arlana Redsky is Anishinaabe and a member of the Shoal Lake 40 First Nation in northwestern Ontario. She is a Ph.D. student in the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta, and a faculty member of the Summer Internship Program for Indigenous Peoples in Genomics (SING Canada). Arlana’s current areas of research and specialization include wildlife disease management, wildlife conservation, Indigenous harvesting rights, posthumanist ecology, and historical-contemporary multi-species entanglements in the Colonialocene.

Hi, I’m Michelle Brass, I am a writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and coach deeply committed to the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples and communities. Currently, much of my work is focused on the areas of Indigenous food sovereignty and the impacts of climate change, Indigenous health and wellness, personal healing and transformation, and the empowerment of Indigenous women.

MichelleBrass.com

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Additional Resources

ICA Blog: Healing Justice: ICA’s New Pathway

Panel at the Indigenous Economics Conference on Healing Justice

Webinar: "Climate Crisis, Fragmentation & Collective Trauma" discussion with Eriel Deranger, Bayo Akomolafe, Angaangaq Angakkorsuaw and Gabor Mate

Book: My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies (Resmaa Menakem)

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IndigenousClimateAction.com

The ICA Pod Team is made up of Lindsey Bacigal, Morningstar Derosier, and Brina Romanek.

Manoomin (wild rice) grows along the waterways of Northern Turtle Island and has been treasured by Anishinaabe since time immemorial. But in the past hundred years, protecting wild rice has become an increasing concern. Learn more about this sacred food source from manoomin harvesters James Whetung, William Yerxa, and Jana Rae Yerxa.

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Inspired by Harold Perry, whose grandmother carried seeds from Rice Lake to the Mississippi River near Ardock, James Whetung returned home from Ardock's 1982 food security uprising to his community of Curve Lake First Nation determined to restore their wild rice beds, with the ultimate goal of putting the rice back in Rice Lake.James and his clan (Black Duck) continue to work to restore their hereditary territory and to put the rice back in Rice Lake! BlackDuckWildRice.net Jana-Rae Yerxa is Anishinaabe. Her home community is Couchiching First Nation in Treaty #3 territory. She currently resides in Fort Frances, Ontario and is happy to be part of Seven Generations Education Institute as Faculty and Curriculum Developer in Anishinaabe Gikendaasowin. William Yerxa is Anishinaabe from Little Eagle which is now known as Couchiching First Nation. William began ricing when he was 13 years old and has been caring for manoomin for 70 years. He is happy his children and grandchildren know how to care for manoomin.

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IndigenousClimateAction.com

The ICA Pod Team is made up of Lindsey Bacigal, Morningstar Derosier, and Brina Romanek.

Traditional materials are both beautiful and sustainable, but they take a lot of work to prepare! We talked to three folks with lots of experience in this art form, covering sealskins, hide tanning, and fish leather: Mandee McDonald, Samantha Saksagiak, and Amber Sandy.

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Mandee McDonald is a hide tanner, workshop facilitator, and a PhD student in the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta where her work focuses on hide tanning theory and land-based learning. She is a co-founder and the Managing Director for Dene Nahjo, a Dene innovation collective that fosters Indigenous leadership skills and values through resurgence-based initiatives.

Instagram: denenahjo

Facebook: @denenahjo1

Atelihai! (Welcome) I am Samantha Saksagiak of Nain, Nunatsiavut. An inuk youth activist, leader, musician, writer, and student. A role model and a strong voice for Indigenous people.

Instagram: samantha_saksagiak

Facebook: Samantha Saksagiak

Amber Sandy is a member of Neyaashiinigmiing (Chippewas of Nawash First Nation) living in Sudbury, Ontario. She is an artist with a focus on leather work, beadwork and moose and caribou hair tufting. Amber is a hide tanner and uses moose, deer and fish skins to make leather by hand. As the coordinator of Indigenous Knowledge and Science Outreach for SciXchange at Ryerson University, she is an enthusiastic advocate for Indigenous Science. Her work focuses on the intersections of Indigenous knowledge and western science in her approach to conservation, environmental science, education and art. She passionately works to increase access to traditional land based practices for Indigenous peoples.

Instagram: @ambsandy

Twitter: @ambersandy

AmberSandy.ca

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IndigenousClimateAction.com

The ICA Pod Team is made up of Lindsey Bacigal, Morningstar Derosier, and Brina Romanek.

Moose are vital to many Indigenous communities across so-called Canada. In this episode we learn about Cree moose teachings from Jeff Wastesicoot and Dr. Kevin Lewis before talking to Chief Joe Alphonse (Tŝilhqot’in) and Dara Wawatie-Chabot (Anishinaabe) about their experiences with moose preservation. 

We want to recognize that some of the audio for this episde was pulled from a webinar co-hosted by Keepers of the Water, Kâniyâsihk Culture Camps, Indigenous Knowledge & Wisdom Centre, and Indigenous Climate Action.

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Jeff Wastesicoot comes from Pimickamack Cree Nation (Cross Lake Manitoba). He has served as a Language consultant and knowledge Keeper for many years. Jeff continues to dedicate much of his time to helping people overcome personal challenges through ceremonies, traditional medicines and counseling. He has dedicated his life to the preservation of the Nehiyew language and culture. 

Dr. Kevin wâsakâyâsiw Lewis is a nêhiyaw (Plains Cree) instructor, researcher and writer. Dr. Lewis has worked with higher learning institutions within the Prairie Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in the areas of Cree Language Development and Instructional methodologies. For the past 18 years, Dr. Lewis has been working with community schools in promoting land and language-based education and is founder of kâniyâsihk Culture Camps - a non-profit organization focused on holistic community well-being and co-developer of Land-Based Cree Immersion School kâ-nêyâsihk mîkiwâhpa. 

Website: KaniyasihkCultureCamps.com

Facebook: @nehiyawUniversity

Twitter: @theislander7

Instagram: @kaniyasihkculturecamps

Dara Wawatie-Chabot is Anishinabekwe from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and Algonquins of Barrier Lake Quebec. A young mother, student, teacher and leader, they have spent time in Ottawa learning about Indigenous and Canadian politics, grassroots activism and levergaging platforms to enhance the voices of the traditional caretakers of Anishinabe Aki. Their work on the Moose Moratorium focuses on solidarity building, advocacy and momentum building.

Connect with Dara (Wawatay Creations)

Facebook: @WawatayCreations

Instagram: @WawatayCreations

Connect to the Moose Moratorium

Instagram: @MooseMoratorium

Twitter: @AnishinaabeMM

Chief Joe Alphonse has been the Tribal Chairman of the Tŝilhqot’in National Government (TNG) since 2010 and elected Chief of the Tl’etinqox-t’in Government since 2009. As a fluent Chilcotin speaker, Chief Alphonse is a fifth generation Tŝilhqot’in Chief and the direct decedent of Chief Anaham, the Grand Chief of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation during the Chilcotin War of 1864. 

Website: tsilhqotin.ca/

Facebook: @Tsilhqotin

Twitter: @tsilhqotin

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IndigenousClimateAction.com

The ICA Pod team is made up of Lindsey Bacigal, Morningstar Derosier, and Brina Romanek.

In this episode, ICA’s Executive Director, Eriel, speaks to the first meeting that led to the formation of Indigenous Climate Action. 

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Eriel Tchekwie Deranger is a Dënesųłiné woman (ts'ékui), member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and mother of two, coming from a family of Indigenous rights advocates fighting for the recognition, sovereignty and autonomy of their Indigenous lands and territory in what is now known as Treaty 8, Canada.  

In 2015, Deranger worked with local Indigenous organizers to help build out the foundations of Indigenous Climate Action, becoming one of the core co-founders of the organization. She formally stepped into the role of Executive Director in July of 2017.  

Instagram: @tchekwie

Twitter: @ErielTD

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IndigenousClimateAction.com

The ICA Pod team is made up of Lindsey Bacigal, Morningstar Derosier, and Brina Romanek.

In this episode we explore the intersections of art and activism with two Indigenous youth artists: Victoria Anderson-Gardner, an Ojibway filmmaker and Robby Dick, a Dene photographer. 

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Victoria Anderson-Gardner is a queer Indigenous filmmaker and activist. They come from the Ojibway lands of Eagle Lake First Nation. Victoria recently completed their BFA in Film Production with the School of Image Arts at Ryerson University. Victoria is also a co-creator of the film company, Moontime Productions - a company whose goal is to encourage Indigenous resilience and resurgence through multi-media projects led by Indigenous talent.

Website: MoontimeProductions.com

Facebook: Victoria Anderson-Gardner

Other socials: @GoForVictoria

Robby Dick is an emerging photographer from Ross River. His work features people, northern life, and the environment in the Yukon. He is a member of the Kaska Dene First Nation and he grew up in Tu Łidlini (where the waters flow) all his life. He has been working closely with the Elders of his community for the last five years. He is passionate about revitalizing his language and sharing aspects of his Indigenous culture through visual storytelling.

Website: KaskaPhotography.com

Instagram: @kaska_photography

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IndigenousClimateAction.com

The ICA Pod team is made up of Lindsey Bacigal, Morningstar Derosier, and Brina Romanek.

How do you cancel a pipeline? In this episode we speak to two Indigenous activists who have been campaigning against the extraction industry for years from the frontlines to the UN: Melina Laboucan-Massimo and Dallas Goldtooth.

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Melina Laboucan-Massimo is Lubicon Cree from Northern Alberta, Canada. She is the founder of Sacred Earth Solar and the Director of Healing Justice at Indigenous Climate Action. She has worked on social, environmental and climate justice issues for over 15 years. Melina has worked, studied and campaigned in Brazil, Australia, Mexico, Canada and across Europe focusing on resource extraction, climate change impacts, media literacy, energy literacy and Indigenous rights & responsibilities.

Instagram: @melina_miyowapan

Twitter: @Melina_MLM

Connect to Sacred Earth Solar

Website: SacredEarth.Solar

Twitter: @SacredEarthSOL

(Mdewakanton Dakota and Dine) Dallas Goldtooth travels extensively across Turtle Island to help fossil fuel and hard rock mining impacted communities tell their stories thru social media, video, and other forms of communication. Dallas is Indigenous Environmental Network’s Keep It In the Ground Campaigner, working with IEN staff, board, and organizational partners from a diverse group of climate justice networks. Along with his many tasks and duties with IEN, he is also a Dakota cultural/language teacher, non-violent direct action trainer, and was one of the outstanding Water Protectors at Standing Rock/Oceti Sakowin Camp fighting the Dakota Access Pipeline. In addition, he is a co-founder of the Indigenous comedy group, The 1491s, a poet, journalist, traditional artist, powwow emcee, and comedian.

Facebook: Dallas Goldtooth

Twitter: @DallasGoldtooth

Instagram: @DallasGoldtooth

Connect to Indigenous Environmental Network

Website: ienearth.org

Facebook: @ienearth

Twitter: @IENearth

Instagram: @IndigenousRising

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IndigenousClimateAction.com

The ICA Pod team is made up of Lindsey Bacigal, Morningstar Derosier, and Brina Romanek.

Bears can be found all across so-called Canada and many Indigenous communities and Nations have lived side-by-side with bears. In this episode, we hear from Jeff Wastesicoot and Daphie Pooyak on Cree bear teachings before speaking to Inuk youth, Ruth Kaviok, about her experiences with polar bears. We end with an Inuit story about polar bears, read by ICA Steering Committee Member and Inuk/Mi’kmaq youth, Bryanna R. Brown.

We want to recognize that some of the audio for this episode was pulled from a webinar co-hosted by Keepers of the Water, Kâniyâsihk Culture Camps, Indigenous Knowledge & Wisdom Centre, and Indigenous Climate Action.

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Jeff Wastesicoot comes from Pimickamack Cree Nation (Cross Lake Manitoba). He has served as a Language consultant and knowledge Keeper for many years. Jeff continues to dedicate much of his time to helping people overcome personal challenges through ceremonies, traditional medicines and counseling. He has dedicated his life to the preservation of the Nehiyew language and culture. 

Daphie Pooyak identifies as a Nakota Cree traditional teacher and cultural advisor, Daphie comes from Sweetgrass First Nation located in central Saskatchewan. Mother of 5 children and grandmother of 4 grandchildren. Over the course of 20 years she has worked as a professional educator specializing in cultural education, and land based learning. Also working in the area of addictions, healing and trauma.  

Ruth Kaviok is an Inuk youth from Arviat, Nunavut. Ruth is the former president of the National Inuit Youth Council and has travelled to various places all over the world to speak about Inuit rights and the effects of climate change on Inuit communities. 

Bryanna R. Brown is Inuk and Mi’kmaq from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. She is a Labrador Land Protector. My vision is to be a good role model for her community by providing her insights regarding social justice issues, intergenerational trauma affecting indigenous communities, climate injustice, systemic racism, and cultural revitalization.

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The story Bryanna read is called “Children Getting Lost” and was taken from the book Inuit Legends, edited and illustrated by Mark Kalluak

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IndigenousClimateAction.com

The ICA Pod team is made up of Lindsey Bacigal, Morningstar Derosier, and Brina Romanek.