Youth Engagement
Check out our discussion with activists and members of affected communities to learn about the harms that the oil industry in Canada is perpetuating on Indigenous communities and how, together, we can demand justice and change.
Meet the activists:
Alyssa-Maé hushyé, K'ai Taile Dënesųłı̨né from K'étélikóę (Fort Chipewyan) and was raised in the Fort McMurray area. She is a member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in Treaty 8 Territory. She joined Keepers of the Water as the Tarsands Outreach Community Coordinator to create partnerships with Indigenous organizations and communities to raise awareness for Indigenous Rights and Protection of Water.
Sarain Fox is a Canadian Anishinaabe activist, broadcaster and filmmaker. Sarain combines various mediums to amplify the voices of her people in hopes of creating meaningful dialogue between Indigenous and settler communities. Sarain has built her career at the cross-section of activism and media. Her mother and great aunt are the oral record keepers of the family. They have passed down ancient teachings from generations of knowledge-keepers and have raised her to be proud of her Indigenous roots. As a result, Sarain has become a powerful and vibrant voice for the Indigenous community.
Aliénor Rougeot is the Climate and Energy Program Manager at Environmental Defence and Climate Justice Activist. She advocates for a just transition for workers and communities and for the cleanup of the tar sands’ toxic tailings ponds.
This collaborative Instagram Live was recorded on June 28, 2023, by Environmental Defence on behalf of Keepers of the Water and Sarain Fox.
#CleanUpToxicTailings #IndigenousHistoryMonth #LandBack #EnvironmentalJustice #EnvironmentalRacism
Keepers of the Water recognizes the need for youth outreach in our work, as the youth are inheriting the responsibility to protect the lands and waters. As KOW grows as an organization we aim to grow our work with youth, too.
KOW has done numerous workshops in schools teaching about Water. In summer of 2022, we’ll also be running a youth water protector program, which we’re very excited to put together! Contact us to learn more about this program or donate to support its creation.
As part of our winter 2020/spring 2021 project on the relationships between Indigenous Peoples’ and Water, we partnered with three schools (Kikino Metis Settlement School, Onchaminahos School in Saddle Lake, and Caroline Robins School in Saskatoon) and asked for students to create art that answers the question, “What does Water mean to you?”. Below are the students’ beautiful creations.
Indigenous People and Fresh Water Management: Establishing a Canada Water Agency Community Booklet
