The Reconciling Ways of Knowing Forum in collaboration with the Victoria Forum, shared the fifth dialogue in our Online Forum series, “Millennia of Experience: Drawing on Indigenous Knowledge in

The Reconciling Ways of Knowing Forum in collaboration with the Victoria Forum, shared the fifth dialogue in our Online Forum series, “Millennia of Experience: Drawing on Indigenous Knowledge in Responding to COVID-19.” on November 12, 2020. This dialogue explored how collaboration between Indigenous knowledge and science can improve public health outcomes throughout Canada in the face of COVID-19. Preliminary reports from Indigenous Services Canada suggest that First Nations communities are experiencing 1/4 of the infection rate and 1/5 of the mortality rate from COVID-19 experienced by the general Canadian population. The session will explore how Indigenous Peoples have leveraged their millennia of experience enduring past pandemics to protect their people and foster their resilience in the face of new public health challenges. Speakers Elder Dr Dave Courchene, Jr, an Anishinaabe Elder and spiritual leader; Grandmother Katherine Whitecloud, a Dakota knowledge keeper and Indigenous health and wellness advocate; Miles Richardson, OC, a Haida political leader and negotiator focused on Nation-to-Nation relationships between Indigenous Peoples and Canada; Tom Swanky, JD, a historical researcher focused on the role of smallpox in the foundational relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the Crown in British Columbia; and Dr Sabina Ijaz, a medical doctor who has built deep relationships in Indigenous communities, in dialogue with moderator Darrin Mah, JD, discussed the history of what Indigenous Peoples have learned in responding to pandemics, how this informs their responses to COVID-19, and what can be learned more broadly within Canadian society and the global community from these lessons. The speakers discussed issues including: How Indigenous knowledge has been marginalized by a presumption within policy- and decision-making circles that (Western) science is the only valid form of knowledge upon which to base and inform their work; How the devastation of Indigenous populations during previous smallpox and Spanish Flu pandemics has influenced Indigenous responses to COVID-19; How Indigenous Peoples have exercised their sovereignty and self-determination to protect their nations and communities; The role of traditional medicines and healing practices in protecting community health and recovering from the pandemic; How Indigenous knowledge has helped mitigate negative health outcomes that may result from factors such as remoteness from healthcare facilities, food security challenges, higher poverty rates and housing shortages on reserve; Opportunities for collaboration between Indigenous knowledge and science for improved health and social outcomes as we navigate our way through the pandemic together. More information at https://www.waysofknowingforum.ca/dialogue-5 and https://www.waysofknowingforum.ca.

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INTERNET LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION

Global Women are Leading for Water Protection! During this event "Women for Climate Justice Leading Protection of Water," we heard from grassroots women

INTERNET LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION

Global Women are Leading for Water Protection! During this event "Women for Climate Justice Leading Protection of Water," we heard from grassroots women leaders, water protectors, and international policy experts, who addressed the impacts of climate change and destructive projects on global water, and shared ongoing solutions and strategies for the protection of oceans, freshwater, rivers, and aquatic ecosystems based in a climate justice framework.

This is a formal side event of the UN Water Conference happening right now in New York City. In addition to the event, WECAN is submitting a commitment and releasing a Call to Action urging governments to increase and improve their ambition to protect global water sources by enacting a rights-based approach and ensuring women’s leadership in decision- making spaces. Read and share the call to action here: https://bit.ly/3LJNZgE

Speakers include:
Great-Grandmother Mary Lyons | Band of Ojibwe, Ojibwe Elder, Women of Wellbriety, International, United Nations Observer on Women/Indigenous Issues, Turtle Island/USA
Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner | Poet, Director for Marshallese youth nonprofit Jo-Jikum, and Climate Envoy, Marshall Islands
c (Cofán) | Indigenous rights & Land Defender, Goldman Prize Winner, Ecuador
Maude Barlow | Founding Member of the Council of Canadians, Co-Founder, the Blue Planet Project, Canada
Aurora Conley | Bad River Ojibwe, Anishinaabe Environmental Protection Alliance, Turtle Island/USA
Vasser Seydel | President at The Oxygen Project, USA
Moderation and Comments by Osprey Orielle Lake | Executive Director, Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN)

Links and resources from the event are available here: https://bit.ly/3JFnTZJ

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Global women and feminist leaders are calling for urgent action, rising for Climate Justice and Future Generations! In honor of International Women's Day, WECAN is celebrating by releasing a new

Global women and feminist leaders are calling for urgent action, rising for Climate Justice and Future Generations! In honor of International Women's Day, WECAN is celebrating by releasing a new video uplifting the voices and solutions of women and gender diverse leaders fighting for a just climate future. As the climate crisis escalates, and social inequities persist, we are rising for bold systems change and transformational leadership to stop further destruction in our communities and Mother Earth. Women, feminists, and gender diverse leaders are at the forefront of our movements and solutions for food sovereignty, Indigenous rights, Rights of Nature, fossil fuel resistance, feminist and new economies, and so much more. Our voices and solutions must be heard. WECAN is delivering a call to action, demanding governments declare a climate emergency. We are challenging governments, financial institutions, and corporations to stop extractive and exploitative practices, and rapidly pivot towards a Just Transition. We will never stop fighting for our beautiful Mother Earth. Many thanks to: 💠 Casey Camp-Horinek (Ponca Nation), Environmental Ambassador for the Ponca Nation, WECAN Board Member 💠 Great-Grandmother Mary Lyons (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe), Global Indigenous Wisdom Keepers 💠 Sônia Bone Guajajara (Guajajara), Executive Coordinator for the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) 💠 Helena Gualinga (Kichwa), Environmental and Indigenous Rights Defender, WECAN Young Women Project Lead 💠 Katherine Quaid (Nez Perce, Cayuse, Paiute), WECAN Communications Coordinator 💠 Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) 💠 Filmmaker Teena Pugliese

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Invitation to attend the SEED Institute's Wisdom from the Origins Conference, The Mayan Calendar, and other Prophecies on the Future of Humanity on September 13-17, 2012. (

Invitation to attend the SEED Institute's Wisdom from the Origins Conference, The Mayan Calendar, and other Prophecies on the Future of Humanity on September 13-17, 2012. (Schedule) The video features video clips from videos of conference presenters Gregg Braden, Grandmother Flordemayo (Mayan), LeRoy Little Bear (Blackfoot), Barbara Marx Hubbard, Sequoyah Trueblood (Choctaw), Tata Pedro Cruz (Mayan), and footage from a Dancing Earth performance, Of Bodies of Elements.

Produced by Ruth Ann Barrett, EarthSayers.tv, Portland, Oregon.

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In an engaging and personal talk -- with cameo appearances from his grandmother and Rosa Parks -- human rights lawyer

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