A group of Mississippi Mills (aka Almonte) All My Relations members journeyed into Ottawa for the Together For Nature event Sept 15. We listened, learned and were deeply moved by young Land Protectors, lawyers from Legal Advocates for Natures Defence and we enjoyed, even danced in our seats (ok, some of us stood up!) to the music of Susan Aglukark and Terra Lightfoot! Here are some thoughts we shared with each other afterward…
One person in our group, said: “Hearing from the young Land Protector, Jeronimo, touched my heart and my mind. ALL the presenters truly KNEW where they were from, where their own feet have stood, where their ancestors have stood, and they described this with as deep a love, respect, and stewardship of that land as they would express for their family members.”
Another, who used to live in North, shared that “Susan Aglukark’s film took me back to the Eastern Arctic, seeing children (including mine) playing in the snow. Her story about how surprising and unsettling it must have been in the very first moments of contact got me thinking how, in those days, across thousands of miles of Eastern Arctic, small clusters of people (maybe about 30 in a large camp) would have been surrounded by land and water and to suddenly see a large ship and qallunaat (people of European descent) with strange languages and customs, would have been such a shock!… And yet, Aglukark’s song, ‘O Siem’ tells us, her ancestors welcomed them! “O Siem” is a joyful expression of welcome used for family, loved ones, and respected people, it is an anthem of unity and connection reminding us, “we are all family”!!”
Some of us remember hearing on the news the concerns of Indigenous Peoples and environmental groups about Bill C5 and the fast-tracking of approvals for large development projects. But many of us were not fully aware that treaty rights hadn’t been respected; nor were we fully aware of the significant potential harms to the environment and to Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities living nearby. This hasn’t been covered adequately in mainstream media, nor has there been a national debate about the risks and benefits of developing Canada’s vast natural resources. Indigenous rights, economic development, and environmental sustainability aren’t mutually exclusive. Carefully planned and managed projects can benefit everyone.
All were touched deeply by the evening, we pray many more hearts and minds will be touched at all the stops on their tour, and beyond.
For more information about Ontario Nature and Its partners: https://ontarionature.org/events/together-for-nature-tour
— Mississippi Mills All My Relations
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Together For Nature song and storytelling event informed and entertained
A group of Mississippi Mills (aka Almonte) All My Relations members journeyed into Ottawa for the Together For Nature event Sept 15. We listened, learned and were deeply moved by young Land Protectors, lawyers from Legal Advocates for Natures Defence and we enjoyed, even danced in our seats (ok, some of us stood up!) to the music of Susan Aglukark and Terra Lightfoot! Here are some thoughts we shared with each other afterward…
One person in our group, said: “Hearing from the young Land Protector, Jeronimo, touched my heart and my mind. ALL the presenters truly KNEW where they were from, where their own feet have stood, where their ancestors have stood, and they described this with as deep a love, respect, and stewardship of that land as they would express for their family members.”
Another, who used to live in North, shared that “Susan Aglukark’s film took me back to the Eastern Arctic, seeing children (including mine) playing in the snow. Her story about how surprising and unsettling it must have been in the very first moments of contact got me thinking how, in those days, across thousands of miles of Eastern Arctic, small clusters of people (maybe about 30 in a large camp) would have been surrounded by land and water and to suddenly see a large ship and qallunaat (people of European descent) with strange languages and customs, would have been such a shock!… And yet, Aglukark’s song, ‘O Siem’ tells us, her ancestors welcomed them! “O Siem” is a joyful expression of welcome used for family, loved ones, and respected people, it is an anthem of unity and connection reminding us, “we are all family”!!”
Some of us remember hearing on the news the concerns of Indigenous Peoples and environmental groups about Bill C5 and the fast-tracking of approvals for large development projects. But many of us were not fully aware that treaty rights hadn’t been respected; nor were we fully aware of the significant potential harms to the environment and to Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities living nearby. This hasn’t been covered adequately in mainstream media, nor has there been a national debate about the risks and benefits of developing Canada’s vast natural resources. Indigenous rights, economic development, and environmental sustainability aren’t mutually exclusive. Carefully planned and managed projects can benefit everyone.
All were touched deeply by the evening, we pray many more hearts and minds will be touched at all the stops on their tour, and beyond.
For more information about Ontario Nature and Its partners: https://ontarionature.org/events/together-for-nature-tour
— Mississippi Mills All My Relations
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