IEJ/Water Allies Events 2018-2019
IEJ Research Videos
In these short videos, elders, knowledge-keepers, artists, and activists discuss what Indigenous Environmental Justice is and why it is so important. These videos emphasize that Indigenous Environmental Justice is more than theory, it is a practice, and that it involves a holistic conception of wellbeing that seeks justice for humans and for more-than-humans, ancestors, and future generations.
Environmental justice is not just theory- it is a practice. In this video, knowledge keepers, activists, and IEJ participants discuss the importance of being on and learning from the land as a means of environmental justice. They highlight the restrictions academia imposes on land-based learning, youth education of the land, and the need to be thankful to Mother Earth. The video urges viewers to reflect on their responsibilities and knowledge, their actions, and roles in addressing environmental injustice.
Understanding Indigenous Environmental Justice
In this video, elders, knowledge-keepers, artists, and activists offer perspectives on what Indigenous environmental justice means. They conclude that seeking justice is a way of being and is inseparable from their whole approach to life. The thinkers discuss how principles of living in relation to the land, responsibility, ceremony, and reciprocity compose the laws to living a just and well life. The understanding of Indigenous environmental justice presented in this video accepts all of creation as our relatives who require our respect and accountability.
What is Indigenous Environmental Justice?
In this video, elders, knowledge-keepers, artists and activists discuss their experiences of environmental injustice. They discuss how provincial and federal governments, and resource extraction companies, are causing environmental injustice. Governments are moving Indigenous people off their lands to create conservation areas, and are allowing extraction companies to exploit Indigenous lands. Resource extraction companies are making money off destroying Indigenous lands, and leaving Indigenous communities to clean up the mess. The thinkers also discuss how growing up in polluted communities makes it difficult to connect with the environment.
Why Indigenous Environmental Justice Matters
In this video, Professor Deborah McGregor, elders, and artists discuss how Indigenous Environmental Justice is a broad field that involves a holistic conception of wellbeing. Indigenous Environmental Justice considers more-than-human beings, the spirit world, ancestors, and future generations in determining what justice is and how we might seek it. Indigenous Environmental Justice builds on the knowledge that already exists on this territory, including Indigenous peoples’ knowledge systems, legal systems, governance systems, and conceptions of justice, to assess environmental injustice and develop solutions.
Elders & Youth Climate Change Gathering 2017
Speaker Series 2016-2017









IEJ Symposium - May 2016

























