Healing Justice: An Introduction
Indigenous Climate Action Pod
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. 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....
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In the Know: For the Love of Manoomin (Wild Rice)
Indigenous Climate Action Pod
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. 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...
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In the Know: Hides, Tans, and Leathers
Indigenous Climate Action Pod
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. 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...
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In the Know: Respect the Moose
Indigenous Climate Action Pod
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.
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Rising Up: The Founding of ICA
Indigenous Climate Action Pod
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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Youth in Action: Youth Artists and Activism
Indigenous Climate Action Pod
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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In the News: How Do You Cancel a Pipeline?
Indigenous Climate Action Pod
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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In the Know: Bear Teachings
Indigenous Climate Action Pod
Bears can be found all across so-called Canada and many Indigenous communities & Nations have lived side-by-side with bears. In this episode, we hear from Jeff Wastesicoot & 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 SC Member and Inuk/Mi’kmaq youth, Bryanna R. Brown.
info_outlineMeda’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
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)
Follow ICA on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
IndigenousClimateAction.com
The ICA Pod Team is made up of Lindsey Bacigal, Morningstar Derosier, and Brina Romanek.