SAY Magazine, Environment, Indigenous Lifestyle

CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS MAGAZINE

ISSUE 120 ENVIRONMENT

DISPLAY UNTIL JULY 1, 2023

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2 | ENVIRONMENT

contents.SPRING 2023 ISSUE 120

6 ZIIGWAN (It Is Spring) 22 Environmental Champion: JP Gladu

24 Now or Later? Gender and Self-Determination

28 Leveraging Technology to Address Water Scarcity

30 Music 35 Spring: Good for Your Health 36 Literature: This Place Is Who We Are

38 Advertiser Index

ENVIRONMENT

12 Cover Feature Reconnecting with her Anishinaabe culture has helped Chevaun Toulouse understand why she feels an inherent responsibility to care for the lands and waters. An environmental conservationist, Toulouse hopes to be a role model for other Indigenous youth

7

On track to distribute its four millionth moose hide pin, the Moose Hide Campaign has grown into a nationwide movement to end gender-based violence

20

Meet powerhouse business owner Leana Kennedy of G-Man Waste Removal and visionary Mélanie Paul, president of Inukshuk Synergy and copresident of Akua Nature

8

Indigenous Peoples continue to come up with environmentallyfriendly businesses guided by a culture of care for all life. Learn about two Indigenous-owned businesses doing their part to create a healthier world

18

The annual Vision Quest Conference and Trade Show is back with outstanding keynote speakers and a full conference lineup of opportunities for learning, sharing, networking and partnership-building APRIL 2023 | 3

calendar of EVENTS 2023

Moose Hide Campaign Day, February 11, 2021

MAY 9-10 Soaring: Indigenous Youth Empowerment Gathering

High school students from across Canada will learn about career and post-secondary education options by participating in career workshops.

Students will also learn about financial support and meet Canada’s top employers.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada indspire.ca/events

MAY 11 Moose Hide Campaign Day

All Canadians are called to join together to take a stand against violence towards women and children, and to take practical steps for our collective journey of reconciliation.

Canada moosehidecampaign.ca/campaignday

MAY 11 Indspire Awards

2023 marks 30 years of honouring First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals who demonstrate outstanding achievement across Turtle Island and beyond.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada indspire.ca/events

MAY 17-18 2023 Vision Quest Conference & Trade Show Annual event focused on Indigenous business, community and economic development.

RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada vqconference.com

MAY 17-18 Forward Summit

Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses and organizations across Canada come together for economic reconciliation, creating a community focused on action.

Grey Eagle Event Centre Tsuut’ina Nation, Calgary, Alberta, Canada forwardsummit.ca

MAY 23-24 Eastern Indigenous Consultation & Engagement Conference

The Canadian Institute’s 14th annual event brings together consultation experts, from across Canada to discuss renewable, sustainable and reclaimable mining activities.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada canadianinstitute.com/eastern-indigenousconsultation-engagement

MAY 24-26 Indigenomics by Design

Activate reconciliation in the 100 billion dollar Indigenous economy with the Indigenomics Institute.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada indigenomicsinstitute.com

JUN 1-30 National Indigenous History Month

National Indigenous History Month honours the history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples in Canada. youtube.com/watch?v=R-GB-zcDDsI

JUN 21 National Indigenous Peoples Day

The arrival of the summer solstice, and a day to celebrate and honour each member of our diverse National Indigenous family, and their unique cultures and histories.

SAY Magazine makes every effort to ensure our calendar of events is up to date; however, we encourage you to check event websites regularly for more information.

4 | ENVIRONMENT

EDITOR’S MESSAGE

SINCE 2002

I

t is safe to say that everyone on Earth is experiencing the global environmental crisis differently; some of us are more vulnerable than others, especially those living in developing countries. And certainly no one is immune to the detrimental effects of global warming.

According to the United Nations (UN) “Humans are responsible for virtually all global heating over the last 200 years. Human activities are causing greenhouse gasses that are warming the world faster than at any time in at least the last two thousand years.” The consequences are catastrophic, to say the least, but this is not new news. We’ve long been warned of the damaging impacts humans are having on the environment, and years of government control have only exacerbated our already delicate ecosystems. So what climate action can be taken?

According to the UN, although we face significant challenges, there are known solutions and global frameworks in place to guide progress. In 2022, the Government of Canada introduced “Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, which provides a roadmap for the Canadian economy to achieve 40-45% emissions reductions below 2005 levels by 2030,” and along with 120 countries, Canada has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050.

In order for real change to occur, “incorporating Indigenous ideas and knowledge into how we manage the environment is critical,” says environmental advocate JP Gladu, principal of Mokwateh and previous president and CEO of CCAB. Gladu speaks publicly, and often, about the critical importance of governance, in particular environmental, social and governance (ESG), and the inclusion of Indigenous voices at the highest level of decision-making across all industries. “Empowering our Indigenous workforce is Canada’s competitive edge," he says. It is our Indigenous Peoples who will lead the way in the ecological revolution—it’s time the world listens.

SAY MAGAZINE Volume 22, Issue 2 SAY Magazine is a bi-monthly publication that publishes six issues a year—one issue every eight weeks.

SAY Magazine is published by Spirit of Youth Enterprises Inc. Mailing Address: Kildonan Place, RPO Box 43084 Winnipeg, MB Canada R2C 5G7 E: info@saymag.com saymag.com Publishers: Dominick Blais and Kent Brown Editor-in-Chief: Danielle Vienneau: editor@saymag.com Editorial Team: Sarah Ritchie: sarah@saymag.com Theresa Peters: theresa@saymag.com Art Director: Orli Gelfat: orli.g.design@gmail.com Sales Team: Megan Henry: megan@saymag.com Dominick Blais: sales@saymag.com Website and Social Media: Sphere Media Agency info@spheremediaagency.com Submissions are welcome.

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SAY Magazine assumes no responsibility for submitted material.

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SAY Magazine acknowledges that we publish in Treaty One Territory, at the crossroads of the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene Nations, and at the heart of the Métis Nation homeland.

As a diverse team of both Indigenous and ally collaborators, we strive to embrace, embody and live the truth that we are all Treaty people. All our relations!

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APRIL 2023 | 5

HEALING

ZIIGWAN

It Is Spring

By Asha Frost

As Indigenous Peoples, the Spring Equinox symbolized the official start to our New Year.

A time of renewal, rebirth, planting seeds and visions for what is to come.

In the East Direction, we have Eagle initiating our flight and calling us into our sacred medicine.

What can you no longer take with you that has been weighing you down?

What flutters do you feel in your heart that want to be birthed into the world?

What rises for you as you think about taking those leaps?

Remember that you are the Medicine, and Eagle (Migizi) is here to initiate the winds around you so you can soar.

A guided visualization/ceremony: 1 Place your hand upon your heart and take a breath

2 Under your heart, imagine that there is a medicine wheel filled with the wisdom of all of the seasons and cycles.

3 Breathe deeply into your wheel three times and feel it begin to spin clockwise.

4 As it spins, it integrates your last year, bringing all of

your creations and dreams, your failures and slips, your letting go and releases, your doubts and fears, and your celebrations and integrations together. It weaves into great wisdom for this day.

5 A beautiful seed of renewal and growth is birthed into your hand.

6 Take a seed of some sort (sunflower, corn, handful of chia/ flax) and offer your dreams to the earth—you can do this in real life or in a vision.

7 Send gratitude to the earth and your ancestors for all of your blessings.

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Asha Frost

is an Indigenous Medicine Woman, entrepreneur and a member of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation. She is the best-selling author of You are the Medicine and The Sacred Medicine Oracle, and has guided thousands of people through profound and lasting transformation.

As a highly sought-after speaker, Frost leads from her clan teachings of the Crane—holding space from vision and heart.

Frost has blended her life experience in her work as a homeopath, energy healer and mentor, with her innate gifts and the wisdom of her ancestors. She loves sharing her Medicine in powerful ways through ceremonies, teachings and speaking events. Through this work, she loves seeing people reclaim their roots, find their healing wisdom and rise into their power.

RECONCILIATION

Join the

Moose Hide Campaign

End Gender-Based Violence Sponsored by the Moose Hide Campaign

The Moose Hide Campaign was born from a hunting trip along British Columbia’s Highway of Tears, where so many Indigenous women have been murdered or gone missing.

F

ather and daughter Paul and Raven Lacerte were moose hunting in their Carrier Traditional Territory when it became powerfully clear to them: they needed to do something to help address the crisis of violence against Indigenous women and girls.

What began as a humble campaign of handing out small squares of the hunted moose hide with handwritten notes urging people to pin it to their clothes to show their commitment to ending genderbased violence has now grown into a nationwide movement.

The devastating truth in Canada is that one in three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime, and Indigenous women are sixteen times more likely to go murdered or missing than non-Indigenous women.

The moose hide pin is offered as a gift of medicine that grounds us and feeds our spirit on this collective healing journey. This year the campaign is on track to distribute its four millionth moose hide pin. Each pin has been proven to spark at least five conversations that bring this critical issue out of the darkness and into the light. That’s over 20 million conversations!

“Domestic and gender-based violence is completely preventable, and yet, it’s still happening every day,” says Raven Lacerte, co-founder of the Moose Hide Campaign. “Wearing the moose hide pin signifies your commitment to honour, respect and protect the

Lacerte Family (left to right): Sage, Paul (father) and Raven

women and children in your life and speak out against this kind of violence.”

The annual Moose Hide Campaign Day on May 11 brings Canadians together for a day of ceremony. The day involves grassroots events in many communities across Canada organized by local champions. If none are in your region, you can participate through the live stream originating from Victoria, British Columbia.

The ceremony involves many speakers on the topic of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People, including a keynote address by Brandi Morin who is an award-winning journalist who has written extensively about this critical issue.

Moose Hide Campaign Day also includes workshops, both live in Victoria and online for those who register ahead of the day. Individuals are also encouraged to participate in a fast from dawn to dusk as a means of testing and deepening their personal commitments to ending gender-based violence. There is also programming for youth from Kindergarten to Grade 12, including workshops like storytelling through song and dance.

Joining Moose Hide Campaign Day is a concrete step in our collective journey toward reconciliation.

Together, we can take meaningful action to end violence against women, children and all those along the gender continuum in Canada.

Order a moose hide pin as a free gift of medicine at moosehidecampaign.ca.

APRIL 2023 | 7

LEADERSHIP

How Indigenous Peoples in Canada Continue to Be Environmental Leaders

By Rebecca Chartrand

Whether it’s starting up a solar energy company or starting a boreal forest herbal production business, Indigenous values and oral traditions continue to impact the way Indigenous Peoples do business.

F

rom coast-to-coast-to-coast, Indigenous world views have a common thread that can be understood visually through a web of life where human beings are but a strand on the web. Such teachings illuminate the importance of maintaining a culture of care for all life.

Protesting efforts to stop fracking and the pillaging of other natural resources has put Indigenous Peoples in the spotlight time and time again as stewards and protectors of the lands and waters.

Darrell Brown 8 | ENVIRONMENT

This leadership is critical as Canada aspires to achieve its domestic and international biodiversity goals, including conserving at least 25 per cent of Canada’s lands and oceans by the end of 2025, and creating healthier habitats for species at risk.

It will be interesting to see how the Government of Canada partners with First Nations, Inuit and Métis to establish protected areas with Indigenous leadership, especially when the lands set aside for Indians is what Phil Fontaine, former National Grand Chief of the Assembly of First Nation, calls “Ishkonigan”, an Ojibwe word that means leftover lands—lands that nobody else wanted when Canada was emerging as a new country.

Some of these lands are remote, isolated and fly-in communities in northern rural areas, making it difficult to participate in mainstream economies.

Despite having limited opportunities, we continue to see Indigenous Peoples across Canada creating new environmentally-friendly businesses. Kisik Clean Energy is one of these businesses. Owned

by Darrell Brown, Kisik Clean Energy focuses on working with energy industry leaders and Indigenous communities in the areas of solar and wind energy. Kisik is currently working with the Sayisi Dene First Nation (SDFN), a community that has long relied on diesel to power their homes, schools, public buildings and workplaces. Diesel is considered a dirty fuel with potentially serious health effects on those exposed to its exhaust.

LEADERSHIP

Indigenous values and oral traditions continue to impact the way Indigenous Peoples do business

APRIL APRIL 2023 2023 || 99

LEADERSHIP

Another company working hard to reduce its carbon footprint is Boreal Heartland Herbal Products Inc., an Indigenous-owned and -operated business based in Air Ronge, Saskatchewan. This business grew from the Keewatin Community Development Association, which aims to advance Indigenous education and employment outcomes.

Former Chief Evan Yassie of SDFN (left) and Darrell Brown of Kisik Clean Energy (right)

Offsetting diesel reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which will help Canada achieve its goal of becoming net zero by 2050.

While some progress has been made to help communities shift from diesel to other forms of energy, just under half of the First Nations, Inuit, Métis and remote northern communities still rely on diesel.

The sun will soon deliver the Sayisi Dene community’s power, and the diesel generators can be switched off to reduce the diesel used per year. This project is not only providing education on the benefits of solar energy and helping the community members become clean energy champions, but it is also creating jobs by training local members.

Boreal Heartland Herbal Products 10 | ENVIRONMENT

This project is passing traditional harvesting practices onto community members, including young people.

Currently, 90 per cent of their harvesters are Indigenous. The beauty of this enterprise is the restoration of cultural practices, and the passing on of knowledge and teachings. The result is the creation of four flagship teas that are blending traditional harvest techniques with modern practices to create healthful and flavorful teas.

Their website outlines a commitment to sustainability, including respect for the boreal ecosystem that has been supporting life within the boreal forests for about 8,000 years.

Despite Indigenous Peoples in Canada having disproportionately small, fragmented land bases far from urban centres, with limited commercial and residential use, natural resources or abilities to expand, we continue to find innovative ways to live off the land while creating economic opportunity.

Rebecca Chartrand,

the CEO of Indigenous Strategy Alliance, is an Anishinaabe First Nations woman from Treaty 4 territory in Manitoba with over 25 years of experience in K-12 and postsecondary education, including the arts. She has a strong sense of pride in her identity and is highly respected for her courage, integrity, voice and vision. Chartrand’s work focuses on bridging diverse communities through reconciliation, anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and Indigenous and multicultural education frameworks.

She leverages Indigenous ways of teaching, learning and leading to bring a holistic perspective to her leadership style and purpose-driven initiatives.

APRIL 2023 | 11

COVER STORY

From the Swamp to the Great Lakes

Chevaun Toulouse Brings Indigenous Perspective to Conservation

By Danielle Vienneau

Chevaun Toulouse is a conservationist and an expert when it comes to reptiles and amphibians. Her love of the natural world and its inhabitants began as a child.

Catching snakes and turtles in the swamp was a regular pastime for Toulouse, and these experiences have guided her career path and fueled her passion for protecting the environment.

T

oulouse is Pike Clan from Sagamok Anishinabek First Nation, which is located on the North Shore of Lake Huron, across from Manitoulin Island—the largest freshwater island in the world. With many wetlands in her community, Toulouse learned to seek out and handle snakes and turtles at a very young age.

At 30 years old, she still experiences the same excitement now as when she was a youth—something she hopes to pass on to her little boy. “I thought they were the most fascinating creatures I’ve ever seen,” says Toulouse. “I still get the same excitement now when catching a garter snake.”

Currently completing an undergraduate degree in Biology and Indigenous Environmental Science at Trent University, Toulouse has worked in the environmental conservation field for many years as a species-at-risk technician

12 12 || ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENT

COVER STORY

for the Toronto Zoo, Magnetawan First Nation, Sagamok First Nation, for the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, and for the Ontario Science Center.

Recently Toulouse was a researcher for the documentary Great Lakes Untamed, which introduced her to a new artistic medium and the world of environmental conservation that highlights our Great Lakes and the challenges they face.

“Conservation outreach with First Nations and working for the environment have been the most rewarding experiences I have ever known.”

A passionate advocate for species at risk, Toulouse aims to blend her traditional knowledge and formal training to ensure a healthier planet for generations to come. SAY Magazine was honoured to interview this young changemaker.

SAY: Did you always plan to work in conservation?

Toulouse: No, actually. When it was time to choose a post-secondary program, I chose aesthetics. At 18 years old, I left home and went to Seneca College. Within the first few days of my program, I realized aesthetics was not for me. But since I told everyone in my high school that I was going to be an esthetician, I felt like I had to finish what I started, so I did. It took that experience for me to recognize that my love for the outdoors was what should have guided my program choice.

I ended up at Sault College and earned my diploma in the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Technician Program and completed the Ontario Master Naturalist Program at Lakehead University Orillia in partnership with Ontario Nature. I started working in forestry soon after.

SAY: Was there a moment or an experience that really opened your eyes to what you really wanted to do in terms of conservation?

Toulouse: While I was working in forestry, I just kept sending my resume to the Toronto Zoo. I did this for a number of years, and eventually I got a call back from the Toronto Zoo and was hired to do turtle tracking, which APRIL APRIL 2023 2023 || 13 13

COVER STORY

"I find it really rewarding to conserve the species in our native environment that have been a part of our culture. I love water snakes, and in Ojibwe culture, they carved the rivers with their bodies."

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COVER STORY

is something I never thought I would get paid to do. I had to relocate to Toronto for the job where everything was new and I didn’t know anyone. I really extended myself at the zoo for two years, and it was while working there that I felt like I really got a grasp on what I wanted to do. While tracking turtles I got to work with other Indigenous women in the field every day and go to different First Nations in Ontario to do outreach. Just meeting all the different people, and learning about their conservation projects and environmental issues affecting their communities, like invasive species. It’s through my work at the Toronto Zoo that I was able to find my purpose—wanting to work with First Nations people in the environment, for conservation and to develop relevant programming. I felt really kinda lost up until I got that job.

SAY: What is it about snakes that fascinates you so much?

Toulouse: Snakes are the real underdogs. Typically people don’t like them, but they have so much purpose in the ecosystem. They are a food source for hawks, but, more importantly, snakes consume rodents that carry ticks and diseases. Because of climate change, there are a lot of ticks, and ticks are having terrible effects on moose, which means moose are now at risk. Snakes eat rodents—it’s their primary duty and their diets depend on that species. People are often afraid of snakes, but, contrary to popular belief, the majority of snakes in Canada are not venomous. In Ontario, for example, we only have one venomous snake, and it’s located in more Southern Ontario.

SAY: Do you have a favourite snake?

Toulouse: I love water snakes because they are such curious snakes. I’ve found if I tap my hand on the water, I can get water snakes to come over, and often I am able to catch one. I love trying to catch water snakes so that I can teach

others how to handle them at outreach events. Our native water snakes also eat invasive species like the round goby, which competes directly with native shallow-water fish for resources and habitats, and eats native fish eggs. This is having devastating effects on the fish population, including all of our sport fish and our traditional harvesting fish populations. Water snakes have adapted their diets to eat more than 90 per cent of round gobies.

SAY: How did you get involved in the Great Lakes Untamed mini-series?

Toulouse: I’m part of the Canadian Herpetological Society, and Ted Oakes (director, series producer and executive producer) reached out looking for someone who had reptile stories from around the Great Lakes region.

Luckily I did, and so I got involved through a placement with Oak Island Films. I was a researcher and an ideas person, and was able to bring my Indigenous perspective and stories to the project, like the segment about the blue racer snake. I also got my dad involved because he grew up trapping and has such incredible stories. I had the opportunity to go out in the field with the cameraman and gain wildlife filmmaking experience, but I only saw things bit by bit. Getting to see it upon completion in its full glory was amazing.

SAY: As a conservationist, what are you most proud of to date?

Toulouse: I’m so proud of the colouring book I created with Magnetawan First Nation. Each set of pages features photographs of common reptiles, gnebikoog (snakes) and mishiikenyag (turtles) found on Magnetawan First Nation, that have been converted to colouring images.

There are also Anishinabemowin names for the species in both northern and southern dialects. I’m also really proud of the work I have done with Walpole Island First Nation and APRIL APRIL 2023 2023 || 15 15

Photo Credit: David Sherry

COVER STORY

Toulouse and friend/coworker Kassie McKeown of Alderville First Nation working in the swamp.

Alderville First Nation. Both of these communities are doing really amazing things, preserving one of our only grassland habitats left in Ontario through prescribed burning.

SAY: When it comes to major environmental issues, what do people need to know about the importance of working with Indigenous Peoples?

Toulouse: Right now, I would say it’s important to recognize that we are losing all of our species at a really fast rate. Climate change is accelerating so many issues exponentially. The majority of our turtles are at risk now, as is our moose population. There needs to be more partnerships and programming created to support conservation 16 | ENVIRONMENT

initiatives, including partnering with First Nations.

A lot of our culture comes from the environment, and we’re losing both at the same time and at a rapid rate. They’re so interconnected and we need to conserve both, conserve our language and our cultures as well as our environment. Indigenous Peoples were always involved in the conservation of our environment, but colonization displaced us from that.

Personally, I feel such a connection working in the environment, and I want other Indigenous youth to have the opportunity to feel that too and realize that there are jobs in conservation. Growing up, it felt like our only job option was to go work in the mines. We need more funding from the government to increase awareness of this field of work and the accessibility of training.

COVER STORY

SAY: What can people/families do to help the environment?

Toulouse: A good place to start is with simple gardening initiatives, like not mowing your lawn so that biodiversity can increase. Try planting native species in your yard as opposed to invasive ones. Increase pollinators because, as we know, pollinators are also at risk. And support Indigenous conservation initiatives. There are things like turtle hospitals now in Ontario, so supporting those kinds of services for our species at risk is an easy and realistic action step in the right direction.

SAY: What are some of your future goals?

Toulouse: I didn’t grow up really knowing my language or my culture. By working in the environment, and for conservation as an Indigenous person, this work gives me that sense of connection and a real sense of meaning. As a result, I’m hoping to develop programming and resources that can do the same for other Indigenous youth and communities. I want to develop Ojibwe resources

and label ecosystems in Ojibwe—STEM resources that incorporate Indigenous knowledge and language.

SAY: How do you feel your type of work has impacted you, and why should others consider it as a career?

Toulouse: Being able to work in this field and do something I love is so fulfilling. There is a real need for conservation work but, more importantly, I feel it can have such a positive impact on mental health, especially for those in First Nations communities.

I’m 30 years old, and many of my classmates from high school have passed away now. I hope there will be an increase in mental health, especially for our young people, and I think our connection to the environment plays a key role in that. I’ve been really fortunate to work in forestry, with reptiles and in film—there are such a variety of options. Youth need to be able to access these opportunities and see themselves represented in this field (conservation).

I hope I can help facilitate that because there needs to be more of us.

“In First Nations cultures, snakes are considered to be guides, protectors and heroes. Snakes were also commonly represented on petroglyphs, petroforms and sacred birch bark scrolls. Snakes were amongst the most powerful of the spiritual beings to First Nations, and were depicted as compassionate and willing to sacrifice themselves to save others despite their cold-blooded or villainous reputations. Snakes were believed to create the rivers, as their twisted, winding nature matched the oscillating movements of snakes. Amongst the snake stories of the Anishinabek, the Medicine Serpent was the most powerful and influential. It was a healer and protector of medicine that could give gifts to medicine men, which were highly sought after. The snake is also considered to be a helper and protector of women. The Haudenosaunee also saw their benefits to the ecosystem and humans, as snakes eat pests that carry disease or decimate crops. These are benefits that snakes continue to provide humans with today.” ~ Chevaun Toulouse, Adopt-A-Pond News, Toronto Zoo

Danielle Vienneau, Editorin-Chief with SAY Magazine, believes in the power of sharing positive stories to inspire greatness in others. To submit your story, email editor@ saymag.com.

APRIL 2023 | 17

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Vision Quest Conference and Trade Show Is Back Sponsored by Vision Quest Conferences Inc.

An inspiring celebration of business and culture, the Vision Quest Conference and Trade Show is a highly anticipated event held each year in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This year it will take place at the RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg from May 17-18.

“Last year’s return to an in-person conference really set a new standard,” says Carol Johnston, chair of the Vision Quest Board of Directors. “Our goal is to continue that momentum with outstanding keynote speakers and a full conference lineup of opportunities for learning, networking, information-sharing and partnershipbuilding. The focus is on promoting Indigenous business, community and economic development.”

The two-day conference includes 14 interactive workshops, a trade show that is free of charge to the general public, and a closing banquet with entertainment, cultural and award presentations. Trade show exhibitors include small and large businesses, artists and crafters, post-secondary education and training opportunities, non-profit services and government agencies. In addition to the many interactive sessions, the conference offers an impressive roster of speakers including emcees Darrell Stranger, APTN National News host, and Dennis Ward, host and producer of APTN News.

The continuing theme “From Vision to Reality” is exemplified by keynote presenters JR LaRose, Grey Cup champion, community leader and member of One Arrow First Nation, and Waneek Horn-Miller, Olympian, activist and speaker on Indigenous health and reconciliation. “Both JR and Waneek are highperforming athletes who have shown leadership and a deep commitment to upholding traditional Indigenous values as they strive for excellence,” says Johnston. “They embody hope, resilience and grace, overcoming personal hardships to achieve their goals, and ultimately a better life for themselves, their families and communities. We are honoured to welcome JR and Waneek to Treaty #1 Territory to share their powerful stories.”

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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Dragon’s Quest Business Plan Competition

As in past years, Vision Quest is pleased to partner with Indigenous Business Development Services in featuring the Dragon’s Quest Business Plan Competition, which is dedicated to inspiring and assisting Indigenous entrepreneurship across Manitoba. Award recipients will be announced at the closing banquet where the Steve Prince Memorial Bursary and the Kim Bullard Memorial Bursary will also be presented. Both bursaries support Indigenous students pursuing studies in the Indigenous Business Education Partners program at the University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business and who have also demonstrated involvement in their community.

Entertainment and Cultural Presentations

Delegates will experience the artistic talents of Junonominated award-winning pop/folk/rock music collective Indian City and the Walking Wolf Singers & Dancers, who have been performing and educating people for over 25 years on First Nations song and dance.

From NBC’s America’s Got Talent, comedic illusionist Chris Funk has a unique approach to magic that has garnered him performances at Las Vegas’s Planet Hollywood, Mandalay Bay, Venetian, Rio and Tropicana casinos, as well as residencies at Disney. Banquet attendees will be mesmerized by Funk’s Redefining Wonder, an engaging and visceral multimedia experience that brings together magic and music.

Johnston urges attendees to embrace everything the conference offers, which, in addition to the full speaker program, includes an Elders’ Corner where delegates and the public can share and learn, a community art project with Graffiti Art Programming, and an array of cultural experiences with Manitoba’s Indigenous veterans, traditional drummers and dancers, and Indigenous visual and performing artists.

“There are so many opportunities at this year’s Vision Quest Conference and Trade Show,” says Johnston. “Make new connections, be inspired, learn new ways of doing what you need to do and what you’d like to do. You might even discover a new path for you or your organization.”

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Keynote Presenters Waneek Horn-Miller

When just fourteen years old, Waneek Horn-Miller was stabbed in the chest by a Canadian soldier while protesting a condo development on traditional Kanien’kehá:ka Mohawk lands. The image of her wounded, holding her young sister, was shared across national media and launched her into the public eye as a symbol of Indigenous struggle.

Throughout her life, Horn-Miller has always stood up for what was right—as a mother, an activist, an athlete and an entrepreneur. This has entailed hard choices, pain and sacrifice, but this commitment and drive have made her one of Canada’s most inspiring figures.

As a high-performance athlete, Horn-Miller was a member of the Canadian women’s water polo team that won gold at the 1999 Pan Am Games and was co-captain of the Canadian team that placed fifth at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. On stage, HornMiller traces the path from the painful event at the protest to the strength depicted in her iconic TIME cover, an image of incredible power, poise and dignity as the first Canadian Mohawk woman to compete in the Olympic Games.

Her 13-part documentary Working It Out Together is a healthy-eating initiative with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network that highlights real people who courageously share their journey to reclaim their well-being with the help of leaders in health. Horn-Miller’s work on the documentary earned her a 2015 DAREarts Cultural Award, which is presented each year to individuals who have shown leadership in advancing culture for youth across Canada.

Horn-Miller has also taken a leadership role as a director of community engagement for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Going forward, undoubtedly she will continue to support communities through fearless advocacy and inspire many as an icon of strength, resilience, versatility and sport.

JR LaRose

JR LaRose is a nine-year veteran of the CFL and a 2011 Grey Cup champion.

A proud member of One Arrow First Nation, he is an accomplished speaker who has been recognized and awarded for contributions to his community. LaRose's path to success has been a long and hard-fought journey that began in lowincome housing in Edmonton, Alberta’s inner city.

LaRose's upbringing was significantly impacted by his mother’s exposure to abuse suffered during her time at a residential school. LaRose overcame an environment of poverty, drugs and abuse. The sport of football was the opportunity that LaRose longed for. His passion for football as a youth would turn out to be his profession as a young man. Now retired from football, LaRose is a gifted speaker, whose story of redemption is universal, breaking down racial and generational walls, and bringing forth a sense of hope and humanity.

FIND OUT MORE

For information and to register, visit vqconference.com/conference.

Vision Quest Conferences Inc. is a consortium of five Manitoba Indigenous Community Futures Development Corporations: Cedar Lake CFC, Dakota Ojibway CFDC, Kitayan CFDC, Community Futures North Central Development, and Southeast CFDC.

APRIL APRIL 2023 2023 || 19 19

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

LEANA KENNEDY

G-MAN WASTE REMOVAL - MILLBROOK FIRST NATION, NOVA SCOTIA

C

o-creator and co-owner of G-Man Waste Removal, Leana Kennedy, is a self-proclaimed “fixer”. “I wouldn’t recommend it,” she laughs, “you can’t do everything yourself.”

This unassuming powerhouse of a business owner, mother and councillor in her home community of Millbrook First Nation, Nova Scotia, has made jewellery, fixed airplanes, sold real estate, put herself through business school, built a successful business, and is now looking toward even more new projects. “I love new projects,” she

#ResilientWomen 20 | ENVIRONMENT

states. “I’d love to work in building homes out of shipping containers and cleaning up oceans. I also have a passion for whales. I don’t know much about it all yet, but… then you get a sense of this adventurous mind and spirit at work.”

Leana started G-Man Waste Removal with her husband and partner Shane Kennedy in July 2017. G-Man Waste Removal is a full service waste hauling company that services residential and commercial clients with the removal of organic, recyclable and landfill waste.

Although a younger business, G-Man Waste Removal is already being nominated for and receiving awards. The company has been awarded Ulnooweg’s 2018 Entrepreneur - New Business Start Up of the Year, Divert NS 2018 Mobius Award of Environmental Excellence - Small Business of the Year and Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce 2019 - New Small Business of the Year.

Shane and Leana regularly participate in certification training and represent their community at solid waste management (SWM) committees, provincial workshops and regional forums. Ongoing collaboration with the inclusion of First Nations communities, Tribal Councils and Indigenous Services Canada are key to addressing local, provincial and federal issues.

Shane has 20 years experience in the fishing industry and captains vessels in both Area 24 (Snow Crab) and LFA35 (Lobster) where he deals with ghost gear issues first hand.

Leana has travelled throughout the province to advise communities on

#IndigenousProsperity

Sponsored by:

residential waste, and how much can be diverted, in order to increase recycling and waste diversion in other communities. As Leana says, “The world is so connected, and affected.”

Leana also offers advice to people who may want to set up their own businesses in this industry and often receives calls and answers questions for start-ups. Even with potential competitors, she laughs, “There’s no harm in sharing because it’s not a secret, there is no secret recipe for anyone.”

Her generosity is evident. She talks about when she used to make jewellery and how she loved making it, but says she was terrible at selling it. “I’ll work myself to the bone, but I hate charging for it.”

But this hard-working, soft spoken, successful mother says the hardest part is just deciding what you want to do. After that, she says, you just work out the kinks because you have to.

“This is a dream to me," she says, "to have my own successfully operating business.” And she mentions a story of when she would drive her truck to collect from a dumpster at a pre-school and how she loved to see all the little girls in the window waving at her driving the garbage truck. She wants them to know “they can be and do anything they want to if they put their mind to it”.

Ulnooweg helped Leana and Shane achieve their dream.

Ulnooweg has been providing loans and business services to Aboriginal entrepreneurs throughout Atlantic Canada since 1986.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

MELANIE PAUL

AKUA NATURE AND INUKSHUK SYNERGY - MASHTEUIATSH, QUÉBEC

M

élanie Paul is a visionary.

Not only that, but she has a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Laval University.

Mélanie explains that as a young person she noticed a variety of social problems. She always had it in her heart to do something to help improve the precarious situation of Aboriginal communities in Quebec and throughout the rest of Canada.

In 2002, she took her first steps in entrepreneurship by joining the family business where she held various positions, ranging from human resources to marketing and operations, so that she could fully understand the management of the company.

At that time, her father asked her to join the family business. “I didn’t know what to do,” she recounts. “I really wanted to help people. But my father explained to me that there were many ways of helping people. He helped me understand that as entrepreneurs we could help people in other ways. He told me about reducing poverty through employment, reviving people’s pride by enabling them to dream and achieve their own dreams.” Then she burst out laughing and added: “He convinced me!”

Her next step was to take several courses in management and administration before enrolling in the Beauce School of Entrepreneurship in 2013. She was the first Aboriginal entrepreneur to graduate in 2015.

What characterizes this entrepreneur is her human side

Sponsored by:

and her great respect for Mother Earth. Today, she is president of Inukshuk Synergy. This Aboriginal company develops solutions based on renewable energies to replace the majority of the diesel used for the production of electricity and heating in off-grid businesses and communities.

She is also co-president of Akua Nature, which specializes in the manufacturing and development of cosmetic and health products using the medicinal properties of the traditional First Nations pharmacopoeia. The products offered, whose benefits have been scientifically confirmed, are 100% natural and allow you to take care of your body and mind.

When she talks about her father, she speaks of him with great respect. You can feel how proud she is of her family and her culture. It’s very obvious in her. You can also sense her passion for helping others.

She states that she wasn’t sure she would be as good an entrepreneur as her father.

But she learned that it wasn’t about being the same, but rather about finding her own distinctive colours, her own uniqueness and building on those strengths.

She says, “The day I realized that I didn’t have to take over everything from my father and that I could make my own choices, develop my own models, was a great relief and the beginning of a great adventure.”

She adds, “I think about how I would like to continue, and I will continue to dream in colour!”

Learn more about some of the Indigenous women entrepreneurs that the Aboriginal Financial Institution network has supported at nacca.ca APRIL 2023 | 21

ENVIRONMENT

Environmental Champion:

JP Gladu

By Danielle Vienneau

An accomplished public speaker and a well-respected Indigenous business leader, JP Gladu’s passion for protecting our natural resources began at a young age. As a youth, he learned to fish, hunt and camp with his father, a second-generation logger and Chief.

These experiences taught Gladu to respect Mother Earth and all her gifts.

A

nishinaabe from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Gladu is a member of Sand Point First Nation, located on the southeast shores of Lake Nipigon. His career in the natural resource sector spans over 25 years, and includes work with Indigenous communities and organizations, environmental non-government organizations, industries, and governments from across Canada.

Gladu is currently the principal of Mokwateh, a consulting firm that acts as a bridge-building consultancy. Gladu previously served as the president and CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) for eight years, and has held numerous advisory and committee member positions with a variety of organizations throughout his extensive career. He now serves as a board member for Suncor, Noront Resources, Institute for Corporate Directors, Broden Mining, and the First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) Advisory Centre.

Gladu is first and foremost a forester. After completing his forestry technician diploma in 1993, he obtained an undergraduate degree in forestry from Northern Arizona University in 2000. He also holds an Executive MBA from Queen’s University and an ICD.D from Rotman School of Management University of Toronto.

As the current chair of Canada Forest Trust and the Boreal Leadership Champions, he is a strong advocate of sustainable forestry and its critical role in the collective fight against climate change.

Gladu also speaks to the role forestry plays in economic reconciliation. In fact, if you are lucky

22 | ENVIRONMENT

Gladu and daughter Chloe

enough to speak directly with Gladu, you’ll come to learn that he is extremely passionate about sustainable development as a whole, and the role of governance as it relates to moving non-Indigenous and Indigenous businesses toward sustainable partnerships and shared economic prosperity.

His passion for a better future stems from a deep love for his daughter Chloe, his culture, traditions and community—all of which fuel his goal of building environmentally and economically robust communities. SAY Magazine had the honour of speaking with JP Gladu on a variety of topics including how communities can get involved in sustainability projects, the impact of Indigenous involvement at the highest level, and youth engagement in environmental sustainability.

SAY: How can communities get involved in or start environmentally-sustainable projects?

Gladu: Becoming members of the FNMPC is a really great first step because the organization is designed to support the community in business negotiations and environmental assessment, review and oversight. The FNMPC offers a lot of great resources because many of our communities don’t have the capacity to manage all that comes with taking on a large project. Seeking outside help is really important, but seeking help from Indigenous-based organizations is the best strategy because Indigenous organizations innately know and align with the values of communities, and also understand the importance of economic development and economic reconciliation, as well as oversight of our environment and Mother Earth.

ENVIRONMENT

SAY: When it comes to Canada’s goal to be net zero by 2050, can you speak to the critical importance of involving Indigenous Peoples in those decisions?

Gladu: At the end of the day, any kind of land-based activity, whether that’s transmission lines or mining activities, pipelines, gas lines, etc., Indigenous oversight and consent are critical. Engaging and informing communities early on, and often, and supporting their capacity development to be able to meaningfully engage so they can make informed decisions is really important. Economic reconciliation is Canada’s competitive edge.

When we have Indigenous communities, knowledge holders and land-users leading environmental processes, that gets us through the regulatory process, which is very complex and cumbersome in this country. When we empower the Indigenous workforce, that creates long-term certainty, not only for communities but the companies that need to develop resources and projects.

So economic reconciliation is in fact our competitive edge, and we need to spend time making sure we not only understand that but that companies can support that going into the future.

SAY: What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges when it comes to engaging youth in environmental sustainability?

Gladu: Young people seem to have climate anxiety, and rightfully so. Understanding that there’s a healthy balance is really important. My daughter understands that

we can find the balance between responsible resource development, conservation, protection and our ways of life. I live on Lake Nipigon, and when she comes to visit me, we go fishing on the lake—the lake is protected, and the water is clean and we can drink the water right out of the lake. Then we go down the road and go right by my community’s sawmill. There are four First Nations that are managing the forest—100 per cent owned and controlled by our communities—we’re the ones harvesting, we’re the ones milling for wood products in the region and for our homes. So she sees that. She knows her Great Uncle Robbie manages two run-of-the-river hydro projects that are on our river systems, and she understands the lithium project that our community is a part of, will eventually make sure she can get all the minerals required for her Apple phone so she can stay connected to her friends. So she sees it and she lives it.

I think one of the biggest opportunities and challenges in our country has to be the number of young people who are growing up in cities, so disconnected from our natural environment. They don’t really understand because it’s not a lived experience, and that’s the difference. They only digest it from what they’re told or what they see in the news or via social media sites. It’s critical that more people get out on the land to actually experience the interconnectedness so they can understand the balance that my daughter gets to experience when she comes to see me. Young people are going to be fundamentally important in developing resources in the future.

Danielle Vienneau, Editorin-Chief with SAY Magazine, believes in the power of sharing positive stories to inspire greatness in others. To submit your story, email editor@ saymag.com.

APRIL APRIL 2023 2023 || 23 23

SELF-DETERMINATION

PART 3 Inussuk sculpture by Niels Molfedt above the waterfront in Nuuk, Greenland, on 20 July 2022

Now or Later?

Gender and Self-Determination

By Dr. Rauna Kuokkanen

In this four-part article series, Research Professor Rauna Kuokkanen shares the key findings of her research that has been published as the book Restructuring Relations: Indigenous SelfDetermination, Governance and Gender (Oxford University Press, 2019). For her comparative study, she interviewed over 70 Indigenous individuals from Sápmi, Greenland and Canada, the majority of whom were women. She wishes to share her findings as a means to increase awareness and empower women.

24 | ENVIRONMENT

I

ndigenous self-determination means breaking up power relations and restructuring them. A key political goal of Indigenous movement has long been to gain equal standing with other peoples in the world. My and other research show, however, that this is not enough. Indigenous self-determination must also consist of gender justice. Colonial structures, including governing bodies, have changed gender relations in Indigenous societies and established similar unequal gender structures that can be found in mainstream political structures. This is why it is very important that gender is a central part of implementing Indigenous self-determination.

Otherwise, colonial power is maintained in the name of Indigenous self-government.

SELF-DETERMINATION

In Indigenous politics, we often hear comments that “once we get selfdetermination” everything else will fall into place. Behind this thinking is that everything troubling Indigenous societies is due to colonialism and that self-determination will solve all problems in Indigenous communities. Idealizing Indigenous self-determination is problematic and dangerous for Indigenous women in particular. If sexism and gender discrimination are not taken into consideration at the time of establishing self-government, genderbased marginalization becomes rooted as an inseparable, normal part of political institutions. Afterward, it is difficult to change the institution, its founding values and premises.

In the first part of this series, I wrote about how the rights framework is too limited to understand Indigenous self-determination. For Indigenous Peoples, self-determination is a central right and a collective foundational value, a broadly shared

view about what a people or nation considers necessary for its wellbeing both at individual and collective levels. This article considers how gender issues have been addressed in Canada and Greenland.

Gender Equality Policies in Greenland

Henriette Rasmussen, co-founder of the women’s group Kilut in the 1980s and served as the Minister for Social Affairs (1990-95) and the Minister for Culture, Education and Research (2003-2005)

Greenlandic women played an important role in gaining greater autonomy in Greenland but were marginalized when Greenland Home Rule was established in 1979. Greenlandic women’s involvement in politics was restricted by structural and systemic discrimination that came with the Danish governance model. Passed in 2003, the first gender equality act centered on equal treatment of men and women in employment and in public services. It was replaced by new legislation in November 2013. According to some Inuit Greenlandic women, an

Nuuk City in Greenland—one of the world's smallest capitals.

APRIL 2023 | 25

Source of Artwork: Sogorea Te' Land Trust

SELF-DETERMINATION

Feminism isn’t about making women strong. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.

— G.D. Anderson

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individualistic approach to the gender equality legislation in Greenland has significance only to the urban welleducated elite. Yet it is the women in small communities with stronger patriarchal gender patterns who would need gender equality legislation more.

Unlike Greenlanders, most Indigenous Peoples are not in a position to consider whether and what kind of gender equality legislation they need to pass. They have adopted the Western gender equality ideology rather than considering Inuit conceptions of gender and gender egalitarianism. High rates of violence against women in Greenland, however, point to the inadequacy and incapability of legislation alone to eradicate gendered violence.

In Greenland, political institutions and non-governmental organizations are seen as masculine institutions, with a focus on male traditional economic activities and self-determination as defined by men. Social issues have been marginal to the agenda of the

Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), the leading NGO in Greenland. Though this is slowly changing, social issues still receive much less attention within ICC.

Indigenous Gender Issues in Canada

Indigenous women in Canada were among the first to raise the problem of gendered violence in the 1980s. This was the result of the heightened public debate on self-government combined with Indigenous women’s struggle against sex discrimination in the Indian Act. There was a broadly shared concern among Indigenous women that they would be marginalized in self-government and community development in the same way as they have been excluded from their communities by the Indian Act. Many asserted that leadership had internalized and naturalized patriarchal values and that they would be carried into self-governing institutions and practices. They were worried that, as a result, women’s concerns and realities, especially gender violence, would be neglected.

SELF-DETERMINATION

Accusing Indigenous women in particular of being “anti-Indian” when raising issues of gender discrimination has been a highly successful strategy of normalizing the division between sovereignty and gender, and developing a gender silence in most areas of policy, law and politics. It has also disempowered and further marginalized Indigenous women.

Postponing key concerns affecting a large segment of Indigenous Peoples enables violence in its many forms to continue and leaves relations of domination firmly in place.

Indigenous women have made important inroads to politics and are represented in political institutions more than before, yet they are still expected to take responsibility for certain issues that are not considered self-determination or sovereignty issues. “Women’s issues” include child care, elder care, social issues and education. So long as men can count on women looking after “social issues,” men simply do not need to concern themselves with them. The mostly male leadership can focus on land rights and state relations because they can depend on the caretaking role of Indigenous women in their communities.

Reclaiming Indigenous women’s political roles, or rematriation, was seen by many as a precondition for Indigenous self-determination and implementing Indigenous governance.

Rematriation also recognizes the different ways of participation in Indigenous nation-building and self-

Rematriation

determination. These include ways that are not typically considered “political,” such as raising and educating children, choosing to speak their Indigenous languages, engaging in direct action, running community programs, providing support and shelter to victims of violence, and interrogating patriarchal attitudes and behaviours.

This must not, however, serve as an excuse for excluding women from formal politics.

Some Indigenous women argue that structural change can only be created by joining politics at all levels, including municipal and city councils. Many Indigenous women take leadership roles because they see the need to “come forward and stop the bus.” Some consider it possible to change the system from within.

Others refuse to enter into formal politics, arguing that Indigenous women should not waste their time, energy and resources on a faulty system. They stress on-going grassroots activism and creation of alternatives, not participation in existing political structures.

Regardless of the approach, through introducing different priorities to the self-determination agenda, Indigenous women seek to transform the selfgovernment framework to include issues that inherently are Indigenous governance issues. If there is a segment of a society whose concerns are ignored in establishing political institutions, it is very hard to change them later.

Rauna Kuokkanen

Rauna Kuokkanen (Sámi) is a Professor of Arctic Indigenous Studies at the University of Lapland (Finland), an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto, and a 2021-2023 Fulbright Arctic Initiative Fellow. She previously lived and worked in Canada for nearly 20 years.

Kuokkanen is a longtime advocate for the protection of Sámi sacred sites, particularly Suttesája, a sacred Sámi spring in Northern Finland.

Currently, she leads the Siida School project, a communitydriven renewal of Sámi Siida system.

For more information visit rauna.net.

APRIL 2023 | 27

WATER

Leveraging Technology to Address

Water Scarcity

By Dr. Cody Friesen

Inadequate access to clean drinking water is one of humanity’s biggest problems. How big? The United Nations estimates that water scarcity affects more than two billion people worldwide.

I

n rural native communities in the United States, the lack of safe, clean drinking water is common. Such is the case for many Navajo Nation members.

This vast community, roughly 27,000 square miles in size, is just a few hours from our office in Scottsdale, Arizona, but when it comes to accessing basic services, it’s essentially a different world. There, an estimated 40 per cent of residents—about 70,000 people—lack access to safe, clean drinking water.

This forces some residents to drive more than an hour each way to buy cases of bottled water. When the cost of gas is factored into the equation, not to mention the time, what seems to be an affordable option actually costs between $60-$80 per case. Some residents truck water in, an equally costly, laborious process with its own challenges.

This frustrating experience and lack of viable options aren’t exclusive to the Navajo

28 | ENVIRONMENT

about 70,000 people— lack access to safe, clean drinking water in Arizona

WATER

Nation. It’s true throughout other communities we partner with as well. From the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs in the Pacific Northwest to Indigenous communities in Australia’s Northern Territory, securing water that’s safe to drink is time-consuming and expensive.

We’re changing this reality through the practical application of technology.

Our SOURCE Hydropanels use the sun’s energy to draw pure, constantlyreplenished water vapour out of the air and transform it into fresh, perfectly-mineralized drinking water.

Because our hydropanels require no additional infrastructure and work nearly anywhere in the world, we can provide safe, clean drinking water to people across the globe.

By building meaningful relationships with tribal leaders and community stakeholders, our team has installed SOURCE Hydropanels at 547 homes throughout Navajo Nation. This year, with an additional $8 million in federal funding secured, we will increase these numbers.

SOURCE Hydropanels have changed drinking water access for many, but I want to be clear: solving the global water scarcity crisis will require policy changes, technological advancements, and buy-in from across the public and private sectors.

While it hasn’t been easy, and many challenges remain, I believe that by working together and building on the solid foundation that’s being laid today, future generations will know water scarcity only from the annals of history.

Dr. Cody Friesen,

founder and CEO of SOURCE Global, PBC, is an innovator and business leader who is passionate about using advanced technology to solve humanity’s most pressing and essential challenges. A leading global thinker in technology for sustainability and social equity, he is known for developing resultsdriven teams and cultures that are highly inventive and lead with love. Friesen holds a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering from Arizona State University and a Ph.D. in the same discipline from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

APRIL 2023 | 29

MUSIC

Dan L’initié

L’initié is a truth seeker with a mission to find spiritual growth

Dany Proulx, aka Dan L’initié, is a conscious rapper. He is a truth seeker with a mission to find spiritual growth. Of Wendat descent, he began rapping at the age of 16 and quickly discovered a deep passion for music and writing. As a French performer, he has carved his own lane with his unique sound, impactful lyrics and zest for life.

A

journey that began in 2014, L’initié experienced success early on in his career with several TV appearances, recognition by Musique Nomade (a non-profit organization that works for the development and recognition of Indigenous talents in music) for his video "Hymnes à la vie" and an album release in 2015 called Porteurs de Messages. He then embarked on a new, and arguably his most important, mission—becoming a father.

Anthony Plante (Ampee), Anthony Janelle (Dj Tito) and Rémi Savignac (Dj Gold Dee Da One).

In September 2016, following the birth of his son, he announced a threevolume concept, each featuring songs that highlight the Wendat and Quebec culture. Most recently, L’initié released the last installment of his three-volume project. Tome III: L’accomplissement (The Fulfillment) is the logical continuation of the last two projects L’expérience (The Experience) in 2021 and Renaissance before that in 2017.

“Volume III: The Fulfillment is the finale of a three-volume (21-song) project on the soul’s journey in the physical world as we know it, but taking into account the etheric and esoteric journey of our souls here on earth,” says L’initié.

Volume III represents positivity and commitment through deep and heartfelt lyrics, and explores themes of parenthood, hope, love, success and resilience. L’initié’s story is told through rhythmic and positive melodies produced by several Quebec composers, including Félix-Antoine Leroux (Dj Horg), Alex Payeur (Synfo), 30 30 || ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENT

Other collaborators on the project include the Mi’kmaq rapper Q052 on the song “Pour mes natives”, the country singer Gator Beaulieu on “Success Road”, the committed rapper Sans Pression on the tracks “Québec Wendake Montréal” and “Est-ce qu’on s’aime encore” with Dj Gold Dee Da One and Dj Horg on the scratches.

In recognition of his artistry, L’initié received the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (ResearchCreation) grant to complete his album, and he signed with Bohemaa Communication/Symphonic in August 2022. He looks forward to promoting his latest project via live performances starting this spring, and on June 21 L’initié will be performing at the KWE! Festival in Quebec City as part of his album launch.

MUSIC

APRIL APRIL 2023 2023 || 31 31

MUSIC

Lynn's authentic writing inspires listeners to know their own values and not to settle for giving in to the difficulties of life.

Getting Real with

Alexis Lynn

R

Real, relatable and relevant. Alexis Lynn is an Indigenous pop star from the West Coast who has once again laid her soul bare in her latest album Real Talk. Fans have come to expect to be challenged by her vulnerability, but this is her most authentic and raw work to date.

Growing up outside of Vancouver, British Columbia, Lynn always wanted to be a singer and began writing songs as a teen. Her family’s roots in Caldwell First Nation (Ontario) inspired her commitment to honest storytelling, and a belief in the value and necessity of sharing life experiences. With a maturity well beyond her 21 years, she is never one for idle chatter but targets the true purposes of her life and journey. Her authentic writing inspires listeners to know their own values and not to settle for giving in to the difficulties of life. Settling is not an option for Lynn.

With her strong work ethic and drive for clarity, she is making her dreams come true.

Her latest album Real Talk delves into the darkness of a mental health journey, exploring depression, eating disorders and ineffective band-aid solutions, dealing with the addiction of others and finding catharsis on the other side. Not a stranger to mental health issues, Lynn shares her teenage fight with eating disorders, trauma and pain. Her journey has had ups and downs, sometimes hiding and sometimes healing from deep wounds. Her honey-toned honesty leads the listener on their

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own journey paralleling hers. The overarching theme of the album is much needed: only you can deal with your issues and find happiness; no one can do it for you, and you cannot do it for someone else.

In true dramatic Lynn fashion, her songs come with creative and stunning videos, each one unique to the song’s message. Each single is its own complex mix of sound, visuals, images and thematic development, creating a masterpiece of audio and visual technique that moves the listener to see inside themselves and identify with her message.

Lynn is a force to be reckoned with, recently hitting Top 40 on the Indigenous Music Countdown with “Something To Prove”—her sixth straight hit to make the charts.

Her connection with her fans is undeniable. Lynn understands. She knows she is not alone, that each listener is hurting, needing and struggling. She tells us all: It’s okay to “Fall Apart.”

MUSIC

APRIL 2023 | 33

MUSIC

MATCITIM's dream of creating something new by mixing his Indigenous culture with mainstream music has been a journey of selfdiscovery and hard work.

MATCITIM Tim Ruperthouses, aka MATCITIM (ma-dji-tim), has come a long way. This multitalented Algonquin/Cree from Pikogan in Quebec has fought for his dreams since he was a boy.

MATCITIM discovered his love of singing at age eight, but he was painfully shy and refused to sing in front of people. With time, he began to play guitar and challenged himself to sing and play in front of others.

At age 19, MATCITIM joined a band, which helped push him out of his comfort zone and achieve a great deal of success. That immersive experience inspired the songwriter within him—he began to write songs and learned to play bass and drums.

He had something to prove, to show the world. His dream of creating something new by mixing his Indigenous culture with mainstream music has been a journey of selfdiscovery and hard work.

In 2019 he released his first single “Cash Money”, which explores the darker side of what people will do for money. In 2022 MATCITIM released the single “215”, which was dedicated to the 215 Indigenous children whose graves were found on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia. “It affected me so much when I heard about it,” says MATCITIM. “I felt guilty questioning my father’s stories that he told me when I was young. For a long time he stopped sharing until they found the children. I hope this song helps people heal.”

He recently released his first selftitled EP, which features three tracks.

Sung in Anishinaabemowiin and English, it explores the sounds of heavy rock and is influenced by System of Down, and the voice of Stevie Ray Vaughan and the electric guitar of Megadeth.

For rock enthusiasts, MATCITIM is a must-listen. Don’t miss this upand-coming artist.

MUSIC INTERVIEWS

by LARRY K. May 8 I Dan L'initié May 15 I Alexis Lynn May 22 I Matcitim 34 | ENVIRONMENT

Native Voice One

NV1.org

The Native American Radio Network

Visit us at IndigenousinMusic.com

SHORT TAKE

Good for Your Health

By Danielle Vienneau

It’s springtime! There’s an incredible sense of renewal that comes from stepping outside into the sunshine and the fresh air without having to load up with all kinds of heavy winter gear. With the warmer weather of spring comes longer days and the opportunity to witness the revival of the natural world after months of rest and hibernation.

Have you ever considered the health benefits of spending time in nature? Since the pandemic, it seems that, now more than ever, people are realizing the therapeutic benefits that come from spending

time outdoors. Many studies have demonstrated that connecting more with our natural surroundings helps to improve our emotional, psychological, physical and spiritual wellness. Longer days mean more sunshine which, has many benefits: it feels good physically, helps our bodies produce Vitamin D, improves sleep patterns, and increases serotonin in the brain which helps improve overall mood.

If you have a “green thumb” you will be happy to hear that a study out of the University of Colorado Boulder found that gardening can lessen feelings of stress and anxiety, and lower risk of illness. Why? Because gardening is an easy way to increase physical activity, which leads to better heart health. It’s also a great way to grow your own food, which often leads to healthier eating habits and an increase in fibre-rich foods which are good for gut and immune health.

What’s even more appealing is that gardening is affordable, scalable and sustainable, much like other leisurely activities that can be enjoyed outside.

So go outside, take a deep breath, and reconnect with the environment and yourself!

APRIL APRIL 2023 2023 || 35 35

LITERATURE

This Place Is Who We Are

Stories of Indigenous Leadership, Resilience and Connection to Homelands Katherine Palmer Gordon

This Place Is Who We Are profiles Indigenous communities in Central and Northern Coastal British Columbia, Canada. A collection of ten inspiring stories, this book explores how communities are reconnecting to their lands and waters, and growing and thriving through this reconnection. Because Indigenous Peoples and cultures are integrally connected to the land. Wellbeing in every sense—physical, social, environmental, economic, spiritual and cultural—depends on that relationship, which is based on a fundamental concept: when the land is well, so are the people.

36 36 || ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENT

T

his vast region of British Columbia spans the homelands of more than two dozen First Nations and one of the largest remaining coastal temperate rainforests in the world. With increasing strength, Indigenous Peoples are restoring what has been lost through environmental depredation and healing what has been devastated by colonization.

In this compilation, X̱aayda voices explain how their rediscovery camps are healing and empowering their youth; Dzawada̱’enuxw Hereditary Chief Maxwiyalidizi K’odi Nelson shares the story of building a healing centre and ecolodge; Wei Wai Kum Chief Christopher Roberts describes the challenges and opportunities for an urban First Nation looking to prosper while protecting the environment and ancient Ligwiłdaxw history, and living cultural values; and many more Indigenous leaders share their own experiences of growth, strength and reconnection.

Thoughtful and inspiring, This Place Is Who We Are (Harbour Publishing) illustrates what can be accomplished when conservation and stewardship are inextricably intertwined with the prosperity and wellbeing of communities.

This book is dedicated to all those who graciously shared their voices and stories.

Immense gratitude also goes to their families, Elders, leaders, communities and Nations.

LITERATURE

“We are not apart from nature; we are a part of it. We are part of the same ecosystem. What’s best for the ecosystem is therefore best for everything in it, us included.” ~ Mansell Griffin, Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government’s Director of Lands and Resources, 2021

Katherine Palmer Gordon is the author

of eight non-fiction books and has been writing for publications in Canada and New Zealand since 1995.

With over twenty-five years of experience working with Indigenous Peoples in inter-governmental relations, Gordon also writes about the complex and human side of treaty negotiations, reconciliation and the leadership of Indigenous Peoples.

Palmer Gordon is an award-winning freelance journalist and currently lives on Gabriola Island in the unceded territory of Snuneymuxw First Nation in British Columbia.

APRIL 2023 | 37

ADVERTISER INDEX

Canadian Wildlife Federation...........................................11 canadianconservationcorps.ca Ed-Digenous Traditions.....................................................35 ed-digenoustraditions.ca

“We have a mother, and that mother is our territories, our common home of all the Indigenous Peoples and everyone who inhabits this earth” ~ Maximiliano Ferrer, general secretary of the National Coordination of Indigenous Peoples of Panama

The Frog Radio.....................................................................40 thefrogradio.com The Moose Hide Campaign...............................................35 moosehidecampaign.ca The National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA)................................18 nacca.ca Vision Quest Conference and Trade Show....................2 vqconference.com

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ENTERTAINMENT June is National Indigenous History Month!

Join SAY Magazine in celebrating Indigenous excellence in the media and entertainment industry in the next issue.

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Criteria for submissions • Up to 500 words • High resolution image(s) • 2-3 sentence biography APRIL 2023 | 39