Media Advisory: Indigenous Divestment Webinar February 27
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2023
Defending Indigenous Sovereignty through Divestment
An Introduction to Divestment for Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous nations all over the world share the fight against borderless corporations that rely on the lifeline of banks fuelling the climate crisis. Major Canadian banks such as RBC are the top investors of fossil fuel projects that continue to violate Indigenous rights. Indigenous sovereignty and traditions have proven to be a material risk for companies and their investors, but the threat to Indigenous ways of life is a climate risk for us all.
Indigenous rights have the capacity to stop oil and gas projects. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) recognises Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is the right for Indigenous people to give or withhold consent to a project that may affect them or their territories. But who defines FPIC and how is it unique for each of our nations?
O QUE:
ICA invites you to join the conversation hosted by Ellen Gabrielle, featuring Vanessa Gray and Sleydo from Wet’suwet’en Nation to learn how we are working together to develop strategies based on ways of life including:
What is divestment in an Indigenous rights and sovereignty context?
What is risk?
Indigenous legal rights and divestment
Land defense as financial risk
The Banks, the pipelines and the police. How sovereign Wet’suwet’en Rights Protect the Yintah
ONDE/QUANDO:
Monday, February 27, 2023
7:00 PM (AT); 6:00 PM (ET); 5:00 PM (CT); 4:00 PM (MT); 3:00 PM (PT)
Online | Event will be recorded for those unable to attend live.
ORADORES:
Sleydo’ Molly Wickham, Gidim'ten Camp
Wet’suwet’en Nation
Sleydo’ Molly Wickham is a spokesperson for Gidimt’en checkpoint on Wet'suwet'en territory. The Wet’suwet’en people, under the governance of their hereditary chiefs, are standing in the way of the largest fracking project in Canadian history. The Coastal Gas Link pipeline (CGL), owned by TC Energy (formerly TransCanada) aims to connect the fracking operations of Northeastern B.C. with a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility in the coastal town of Kitimat.
Vanessa Gray, Indigenous Climate Action
Aamjiwnaang First Nation
Vanessa Gray is a queer Anishinaabe Kwe from the Aamjiwnaang First Nation. She is a water protector, environmental researcher, and community organizer for the Great Lakes region. Vanessa is a respected land defender emphasizing Indigenous peoples inherent and legal rights and sovereignty within climate justice. Read more.
Ellen Gabriel
Kanien’kehá:ka Nation
Ms. Gabriel graduated from Concordia University in May 1990 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major Studio Art. She began her public activism during the 1990 Siege of Kanehsatà:ke (1990 “Oka” Crisis) and was chosen by the People of the Longhouse and her community of Kanehsatà:ke to be their spokesperson. Read more.
CONTATO COM A MÍDIA:
Rosalyn Boucha, Indigenous Climate Action
rosalyn@indigenousclimateaction.com
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Ação Climática Indígena (ICA) é a única organização de justiça climática liderada por indígenas no chamado Canadá. Orientados por um grupo diversificado de detentores do conhecimento indígena, protetores da água e defensores da terra de comunidades e regiões de todo o país, acreditamos que os direitos e os sistemas de conhecimento dos povos indígenas são essenciais para o desenvolvimento de soluções para a crise climática e para a obtenção da justiça climática. Modelamos nosso trabalho e nossa estrutura organizacional com base em sistemas de consentimento livre, prévio e informado e de autodeterminação. Ao fornecer conhecimento e recursos às comunidades, podemos inspirar uma nova geração de líderes climáticos indígenas a criar soluções centradas em nossos direitos e culturas inerentes.
