Indigenous people are the original stewards of the land and have an important role to play in our collective response and action to a changing climate. In this episode we’re diving into the importance of reciprocity, the role of Indigenous knowledge in modern stewardship, and the significance of empowering Indigenous youth to lead future environmental initiatives.
Key Topics
01:24 - Indigenous perspectives on environmental stewardship and climate action
04:16 - Alberta-based examples of indigenous-led environmental stewardship
08:06 - The role of community in successful environmental initiatives
11:37 - Strategies for building meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities
16:18 - Empowering Indigenous youth to become leaders in environmental stewardship
Guest
Mackenzie Brown
Mackenzie is an Indigenous singer, drummer, storyteller, knowledge seeker, songwriter, artist, and Cree cultural ambassador. Mackenzie is also First Nations Cree from the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, though she currently live in Mohkinstsis, Calgary.
The What On EARTH Can We Do Podcast is a program of the Alberta Emerald Foundation, a registered charity with the unique mission of accelerating environmental excellence by identifying and celebrating Alberta’s visionary leaders and by sharing best practices through the power of compelling educational narratives.
Thank You to Our Sponsors: A big thank you to our sponsors who make this podcast possible: Capital Power, Government of Alberta, the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta, Pathways Alliance, City of Edmonton, TD Friends of the Environment, and City of Calgary
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect those of the Alberta Emerald Foundation. As a non-partisan organization, we are committed to presenting diverse perspectives on environmental issues.
Transcripts
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[00:00:10] Let's get into it.
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[00:00:40] Joining me today to discuss the role and perspective of indigenous people on climate action and environmental stewardship. Is Mackenzie brown. Who is first nations Cree from the sturgeon lake Cree nation, but now resides in Wilkins, disk Calgary.
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[00:00:59] Mackenzie Brown: Thank [00:01:00] you so much for having me. I'm really looking forward to our conversation.
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[00:01:24] Mackenzie Brown: That's such a good question. So I hail from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, , so I'm [00:01:30] Nehiyaw, I'm Cree, and when we look at our relationship with the earth, it's exactly that. It is a relationship, right? We see ourselves as being kin to Mother Earth, to the water, to every single blade of grass, to the We believe that everything has a spirit to it, and when you learn more about your relatives, such as the grass and the trees [00:02:00] and the water, they will tell you how they need to be heard, how they need to be kept, how they need to be stewarded.
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[00:02:28] There are certain [00:02:30] species that actually do better when there is management and when there is human contact. So as we talk about environmentalism, I think sometimes people can see. humans as being this negative force against Mother Earth, but when you realize that she is our relative, and we coexist in reciprocity, that's how we move forward in terms of, you know, [00:03:00] ethical stewardship.
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[00:03:13] Bri H.: I love that, that reciprocity and, you know, viewing Mother Earth as one of us. And that's, that's beautiful. And I think that that sets the tone. The stage perfectly for the rest of the conversation.
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[00:03:51] So, as someone deeply connected to your Cree heritage, how do you see Indigenous knowledge being included in [00:04:00] today's environmental and climate action discussions? Is there any examples from your own work or experiences that you could share? Thank you.
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[00:04:16] I have A couple good friends of mine who are from the Blackfoot Confederacy, who are doing amazing work in terms of environmentalism and paralleling it or marrying it with indigenous [00:04:30] perspectives. We call that two eyed seeing, right? You're taking Western perspectives, but you're also taking indigenous perspectives and the balance of both of those will be our superpower as we move forward in reciprocity with Blackfoot.
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[00:05:07] Actually, they have this amazing uh, massive, solar panel installation down at Metis Crossing. And so that's a perfect example where they came together as the Metis Nation of Alberta and thought, okay, what technology do we have? And what do we need it to do for us in terms of how we're taking [00:05:30] care of our people, our lands, and everything?
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[00:06:00] They do farm to table food service there. They, you know, they have their bison and they every year they do a traditional bison harvest for the Métis Nation of Alberta. And so this is such a beautiful example of utilizing those two world views. some of my other favorite initiatives. It is that happened down in Blackfoot territory that I had alluded to a little bit earlier is, uh, an annual fish rescue that happens down in Pekani every year.
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[00:06:57] And so again, you know, we're seeing these kind of [00:07:00] like grassroots initiatives where understandings of our Relatives, right? The fish, or the water, or the sun, we can come together in reciprocity and utilize. modern day initiatives and technology to help create these pathways moving forward. so those are some of like my favorite examples of what we're, what I'm seeing currently happening in Alberta, where we're marrying these two [00:07:30] beautiful worldviews together.
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[00:07:34] Bri H.: Based on how you're describing these projects in the Pecani Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy, it sounds like the success and the key to success within these projects, obviously, is the, is that balance between the two worldviews, but is there anything else within those particular projects that you think make them so successful and could be used as kind of a blueprint for other organizations, whether they're grassroots or not, [00:08:00] who want to start working together with indigenous communities to grow and foster environmental stewardship?
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[00:08:37] So what, what resources and what knowledge do we all bring to the table to think communally about our relative Mother Earth? And something that I really like is, you know, thinking about two eyed seeing and the balancing of these worldviews. They're both super important because when you look at today and the [00:09:00] context that we are in right now, we need those Western perspectives because the systems that are at play are the systems that we have to play in.
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[00:09:32] And so you have to look back to almost look forward. And then the way that you think in an indigenous perspective is not just making solutions for tomorrow or for the next fiscal year or for the next fiscal quarter, it's thinking in the next seven generations. So what are you doing today that is going to impact that?
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[00:10:15] something else that I didn't mention is when you think about Mother Earth as being a part of your community to you'll listen to her. Right. I had always heard before I was like plant nerd. I had always [00:10:30] heard lots of my elders say like the plants have a language. And when you learn to speak their language, they will tell you they will tell you what they need.
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[00:10:54] Bri H.: We've talked about these examples of these wonderful projects within Alberta that are [00:11:00] happening. And obviously there are so many environmental projects related to stewardship and, and action within the climate space.
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[00:11:32] How do you have that conversation? Who do you reach out to from your perspective? What would be a good place to start?
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[00:11:49] Let's think first about why do you want to get Indigenous people involved in this, right? What are your, what are your intentions behind this? Because, [00:12:00] while this is very important, I always like to push people to understand why, right? Not just, it's the right thing to do, or like, well, Indigenous people have been here for so long, and so it's important that we invite them into these spaces.
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[00:12:38] And the other question is, Are you going to be willing to dismantle certain structures that you might be operating under when you're working with Indigenous communities as well, Because lots of the reasons why we're in the situations that we are in are because of these corporate structures. So, that all to [00:13:00] say, once you figure that out first, it's like the before engagement part, right?
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[00:13:39] So there are a couple different ways that you can reach out to communities. You know, you can connect with band offices and lots of our communities now have their own environmental portfolios that they're working on. there's also some really amazing organizations such as Ancestors Future and Indigenous Youth Roots [00:14:00] who do some really incredible, work.
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[00:14:42] That's just how things kind of come together And uh showing up at events too is a really fantastic You Way to, uh, to get contacts and and start getting involved as well. you know, there's oftentimes powers that are going on, or, there might be [00:15:00] examples of activism that is happening.
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[00:15:20] so that's, that's what I suggest when people are, you know, I don't know where to get started. That's totally fair. It's tough to know that, give the band [00:15:30] office a call because they will appoint you. In the right direction or connect with one of our indigenous like climate action organizations, too, because there's a lot of them right now, and they really want to help.
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[00:16:04] How can we best support Indigenous youth in our communities to lead future environmental efforts? What would help ensure that they have the tools and platforms that they need to thrive? And, and how can organizations participate in that?
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[00:16:39] And it's not just. Providing a table for them to come and sit, but it's actually listening to what they're saying, right? Because when we look at it, indigenous youth are one like everybody's important, but they're very, very important because they're the ones who are going to take on this work and continue with [00:17:00] it.
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[00:17:48] And helping them to move the agenda in in ways that will actually have change created. there's some amazing [00:18:00] organizations out there. so I really love We Matter is an amazing organization all focused on Indigenous youth. Ancestors Future, more of that environmental lens that we see. I also love Indigenous Youth Roots and they actually have a program that get youth into how to create policy change.
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[00:18:43] Because they're modern indigenous youth in this world. And so I think getting their voices and actually using their voices, um, to create change, not to just listen and provide them a space [00:19:00] is really going to be a big change for a lot of a lot of the work that we do.
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[00:19:19] And, you know, we'll have you on our committee or whatnot, but like, how is it actually serving them? How can they actually participate? I think is a huge question. And, you [00:19:30] know, we've talked about the, the past, the present, uh, integrating Indigenous voices and knowledge into these spaces. And in terms of the future.
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[00:19:59] Mackenzie Brown: I would [00:20:00] love to see designation for the rights of certain areas. You know, something that has inspired me so much, I spent a lot of time in New Zealand with the Maori people. you know, they have a river that is designated with the same rights as human beings. And like that, that's amazing because you're giving personhood to these.
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[00:21:02] And so, as we know, we just had the devastating fires. And, uh, I know a lot of people who were a part of those fire safe programs. But. I've been reflecting on it so much because the Blackfoot people down here in southern Alberta, they're called Blackfoot because they were traditional fire stewards, and they would have controlled fire burns.
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[00:21:52] So I would like to see, you know, Indigenous communities voices being heard. On the lands that they have [00:22:00] stewarded for hundreds of years. I think that there are some unique ways that we can take traditional stewardship and traditional management and marry it with current societal perspectives, right and technology.
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[00:22:47] Bri H.: Absolutely. I think that's the perfect summation of, of this entire conversation we've had so far is just that marrying and that balance and giving it back to the hands of indigenous people who [00:23:00] know better than any of us, how we should do this, and then, you know, balancing it with that current scientific knowledge that, you know, pairing them together for the betterment of the future.
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[00:23:37] But what can they do? What are the next steps for them?
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[00:24:02] Um, Carrie Armstrong has a beautiful book on Indigenous medicines for our well being as well. And so it just, you know, puts you into more of a, Understanding of plants as our relations and what we can learn from them. I also love to give people a couple of different podcasts. So Unreserved is great. Uh, it's CBC podcast and it talks a lot.
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[00:24:54] Um, and then. What I really like to recommend for people if you're in an urban center, [00:25:00] uh, reach out to your local friendship center to see what kind of initiatives that are going on, if there's volunteering, those kind of things. and then also keep up to, Date on community bulletin boards that are happening within nations as well.
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[00:25:53] Bri H.: that's the perfect way to end this podcast. I think that leaves with people with a call to action to to [00:26:00] learn and continue to learn and just You know, move forward together as community, and I'm so, so grateful for your time today to, to share your insight and knowledge with us on indigenous perspectives on environmental stewardship.
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[00:26:31] Thanks for listening. If you'd like to learn more. Check out the resources in the show notes. The what on earth can we do? Podcast is a program of the Alberta Emerald foundation. A registered charity focused on accelerating environmental excellence across Alberta. To learn more about the upper to Emerald foundation, head to our website, Emerald foundation.ca. Or follow us on social media at Alberta Emerald. A big, thank you to our [00:27:00] sponsors who make this podcast possible. Capital power.
