In the struggle to preserve
the natural environment, maintain indigenous sovereign lands and halt global climate change, indigenous people and environmentalists
share a deep commonality in their connectedness to Mother Earth. This commonality, though recognized, has not as of yet been
explored to its full potential. Indigenous people have living knowledge of biodiversity and the wisdom of the sacredness of
the Earth that environmentalists can learn and heal from. Environmentalists have knowledge about organizing campaigns, policy
platforms, legal areas and technological tools that indigenous people can learn from in order to maintain their sovereignty
and the dignity of their lands. This potential for partnership and collaboration between these two expansive movements in
a time of planetary crisis is crucial to ensure that dramatic changes are made.
Young people are the vital link to begin connecting these movements in a harmonious, inclusive, heartfelt and strategic
way.
We will begin this journey by bringing together the young people from indigenous communities and the environmental movements
of Turtle Island with the intention of connecting to one another in an authentic way. We will begin with the most simple of
acts, by sitting in a circle together to listen to and share stories about who we are and why we are involved in the work
we are engaged in. Each circle will be opened and closed in ceremony under the advisement and guidance of indigenous elders
from represented communities. This circle will be the foundation from which we can restore the awareness of our sacred relationship
to one another and to our Mother Earth and from which the visions, ideas, imagination and explorations of how we can collaborate
and support one another can begin.
This project will bring together one group
of indigenous young people and one group of young environmental activists at a time and from this network provide the support
system for many beautiful collective creations.
We hope that from this network in Turtle Island, many other young people
around the world will be inspired to sit together as an act to inspire the love and vision that is required to transform our
current planetary crisis and paradigm.
We will be partnering with different organizations that have the skill sets and
experience to manifest this vision in a good way.
For a full project proposal, please contact
Julia Walsh (julia2012@gmail.com).
