Building Our Roots: Youth Voices in Climate Action

Episode 5 - Imagining Clean Energy Futures: Indigenous Youth Leadership, Energy Sovereignty, and a Sustainable Greenhouse

According to Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE), over the past two decades, Indigenous communities, governments, and businesses have become among the most powerful clean energy proponents across Canada, on par with utilities and renewable energy development companies. ICE is a leader in this work, as a not-for-profit platform aiming to advance Indigenous inclusion in Canada’s energy futures economy. For our final episode, we are in conversation with ICE’s ImaGENation program, a mentorship program supporting Indigenous youth in bringing their clean energy projects to life. We are joined by Alexandra Thomson, the program manager at ImaGENation, as well as Tikkan Morisseau and Sara Fontaine, ImaGENation cohort members and leaders of a sustainable greenhouse project, as they share their visions for clean energy futures. Guest Bios: Tikkan Morisseau (she/her) is an Anishinabekwe from Sagkeeng First Nation. Tikkan works as an Educational Assistant at the local elementary school. She was a square dancer for the community’s local group, travelling to other communities to compete and entertain. Tikkan has been a volunteer with the Sagkeeng Youth Group since 2019. She along with Sagkeeng Youth Group started a garden initiative at the Junior High and High School which has transformed into this greenhouse project. Tikkan now has a passion to work in the clean energy field. Sara Fontaine (she/they/them) is an Anishinabekwe also from Sagkeeng First Nation. Sara has participated in Canada World Youth, a 6-month exchange program where she went to Kenya. They have participated in many youth summits and conferences. They have also been a youth volunteer with Sagkeeng Youth Group since 2019. She also sits on the Environmental Community Liaison Committee for Sagkeeng First Nation. Sara is hoping to continue bringing clean energy projects into the community. Alexandra Thomson (she/her) is a Nakoda woman mixed with French descent, belonging to Carry the Kettle (Cega’kin) First Nation, Treaty 4 Territory. Alexandra holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan. A community driven individual, Alexandra strives to apply her education in combination with Indigenous ways of knowing to solve issues that impact Indigenous communities as it relates to energy, infrastructure, sustainability, and socioeconomics. Alexandra’s goal is to empower Indigenous communities to establish sovereignty through community-based project work and capacity building initiatives. She hopes to nurture an interest in STEM amongst Indigenous women and youth, as it is her belief that Indigenous knowledge can largely contribute to an evolving holistic framework in the field that will ultimately provide meaningful, tangible, and long-lasting solutions for Indigenous communities. Connect with ImaGENation: Website: https://www.imagenationenergy.com/ [https://www.imagenationenergy.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndigClnEnergy/ [https://www.facebook.com/IndigClnEnergy/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/IndigClnEnergy [https://twitter.com/IndigClnEnergy] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indigclnenergy/ [https://www.instagram.com/indigclnenergy/] If you are interested in learning more about clean energy and energy sovereignty, check out the podcast Decolonizing Power hosted by Mihskakwan James Harper and Freddie Huppé Campbell, and produced by Indigenous Clean Energy: https://anchor.fm/decolonizing-power [https://anchor.fm/decolonizing-power] Hosted and edited by Emiko Newman and Megan Pham-Quan. With gratitude to Hilary Inwood of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and Stephen Hurley of VoiceEd Radio for their indispensable support and encouragement.

Episode 4 - Sharing Seeds and Growing Community: Connection, Kin, and Culture

The Mississauga Youth Seed Library (MYSL) was founded with the aim of providing the public with free access to open-pollinated and non-GMO seeds. The project emerged from the Young Urban Growers program run by local environmental organization Ecosource, and seeks to support local food systems, build seed saving literacy, and help people reconnect with the Earth. Founded during the pandemic, MYSL is just getting started. We are lucky to be speaking with two members as they are building out the vision of who they want to be and the impact they want to have in their community. Guest Bios: Marynil (she/her) is a co-founder of the Mississauga Youth Seed Library. She enjoys gardening, biking, cooking, and of course, eating. Ever since she was younger, she's been involved with growing food in her backyard. She just recently graduated from high school, and is planning to attend Durham College for their food and farming program after her gap year. Saniya (she/her) is heading into grade 12 next year. She joined the Mississauga Youth Seed Library because of her interest in food insecurity and gardening, and in particular, she thought that this project would be a good opportunity to address the cultural gaps that exist in many other environmental projects. Mentioned in episode: TEDxTC: Seeds of Our Ancestors, Seeds of Life by Winona LaDuke (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHNlel72eQc [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHNlel72eQc]) Connect with the Mississauga Youth Seed Library: Email: myseedlibrary@gmail.com [myseedlibrary@gmail.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myseedlibrary/ [https://www.instagram.com/myseedlibrary/] Hosted and edited by Emiko Newman and Megan Pham-Quan. With gratitude to Hilary Inwood of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and Stephen Hurley of VoiceEd Radio for their indispensable support and encouragement.

Episode 3 - No More Fossil Fools: Divestment, Activism, and Free Education

On October 27, 2021, the University of Toronto announced that it would be divesting its $4 billion endowment fund from fossil fuels. While this announcement was momentous, it failed to adequately recognize the decade of student activism that had made the divestment decision a reality. Today, we are bringing you a conversation with two of those student activists. Leila Tjiang and James Slaven are organizers with Leap U of T, a grassroots group working for fossil fuel divestment and the global liberation of life and land. They join us to speak about building student-led divestment movements, working against the corporatization of universities, and bringing education back to the community. Guest Bios: James Slaven (he/him) is a blind activist who has been involved with various other justice groups, though this is the first time he's been involved with a divestment-focused group. He will soon be graduating from U of T with a graduate degree in environmental history. Leila Tjiang (she/her) is an organizer with Leap. In the past, she has served in the role of Victoria College’s sustainability commissioner and co-chair, among several other student government positions. She recently graduated from U of T with a double major in environmental geography and biology. Connect with Leap U of T: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leapuoft/ [https://www.facebook.com/leapuoft/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/leapuoft?lang=en [https://twitter.com/leapuoft?lang=en] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leapuoft/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/leapuoft/?hl=en] Hosted and edited by Emiko Newman and Megan Pham-Quan. With gratitude to Hilary Inwood of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and Stephen Hurley of VoiceEd Radio for their indispensable support and encouragement.

Episode 2 - Planting Seeds in our Schools: Ecoliteracy, Urban Gardening, and Leadership

The Earl Haig ECO Council is a student-led organization based out of Earl Haig Secondary School, located just outside of Toronto, Ontario. The ECO Council seeks to enhance eco-literacy among high school students and engage the school community in climate action through projects such as waste management, energy conservation, and urban gardening. Today we speak with the outgoing vice president and the incoming president of the ECO Council, who share their extensive learnings, knowledge, and joy gained from their climate action work. Guest Bios: Hana is currently a grade 11 student at Earl Haig. She has been the gardening executive on the ECO Council for two years and was elected as president for this upcoming 2022/2023 school year. Hana is also a part of the Wild Outside youth program hosted by the Canadian Wildlife Federation. She has learned a lot through this program and applied that knowledge within the ECO Council. Julie just graduated from Earl Haig. She was the vice-president of the ECO Council, running initiatives like class visits, planting a pollinator garden, and giving deputations. She is also a long-time volunteer at the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Julie plans on studying environmental science at the University of British Columbia next year. Mentioned in episode: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer (https://milkweed.org/book/braiding-sweetgrass) [https://milkweed.org/book/braiding-sweetgrass)] Connect with Earl Haig ECO Council: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlhaigecocouncil/ [https://www.instagram.com/earlhaigecocouncil/] Hosted and edited by Emiko Newman and Megan Pham-Quan. With gratitude to Hilary Inwood of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and Stephen Hurley of VoiceEd Radio for their indispensable support and encouragement.

Episode 1 - (Re)Centering Racialized Voices: Justice, Care, and Solidarity

BIPOC voices (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) have been typically excluded from mainstream environmental movements, yet are crucial to building stronger, healthier, and more sustainable communities. For our first episode, we are in conversation with Climate Recentered, a climate action group created with the aim of reshaping the white narrative of climate organizing, centering joy over shame, and building a community of care. Climate Recentered was created by four BIPOC youth from so-called Surrey, British Columbia. Today, we are joined by a core member, Zoha Faisal, who shares her experiences navigating eco-anxiety, learning from intergenerational stories, and building supportive, loving communities. Guest Bio: Zoha Faisal (she/her) is a second generation Pakistani settler, going into grade 11 this September. She started her journey in the climate movement when she joined her highschool’s Green Team. Since then, she’s become involved with other youth climate justice organizations and focuses on bringing community, hope, and joy into her work. Connect with Climate Recentered: Website: https://www.climaterecentered.org/ [https://www.climaterecentered.org/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climate.recentered/ [https://www.instagram.com/climate.recentered/] Hosted and edited by Emiko Newman and Megan Pham-Quan. With gratitude to Hilary Inwood of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and Stephen Hurley of VoiceEd Radio for their indispensable support and encouragement.