Dragonfly Training & Consulting Services

Here is a very important joint letter sent today by the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) and conservation groups calling on the BC government to provide the cr...itical financing for First Nations old-growth protection initiatives. The conservation groups include the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance, Ancient Forest Alliance, Sierra Club of BC, Wilderness Committee and Stand.earth. Please read and SEND a MESSAGE down below. Without the key funding, the implementation of all 14 of the Old-Growth Strategic Review panel's recommendations, including the systematic logging deferrals that must happen immediately and the legislated protection of old-growth forests across the province cannot occur on a sufficient ecological scale, in particular in the most heavily contested, high productivity old-growth forests (ie. the grandest forests with the classic forest giants at the heart of the controversy, of which only 415,000 hectares or 3% remain in BC). Across British Columbia old-growth forests are on unceded First Nations lands, and numerous First Nations are developing Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA) plans and land use plans to protect and manage their territories, which can include the remaining tracts of critically important lowland and high productivity old-growth forests with support. Successive BC governments including the current one have worked to foster foster an economic dependence on old-growth logging in First Nations communities by arranging agreements for revenue-sharing, employment, joint ventures, and tenures for old growth timber in contentious areas for First Nations, who face limited economic opportunities as a result of colonialism and racism. With a lack of critical and accessible funding, combined with the government’s overwhelming influence resulting in Indigenous dependency on old-growth logging jobs and revenues, First Nations communities are unable to exercise their Title and Rights to freely pursue other economic options consistent with the protection of old-growth forests and Indigenous self-determination. Therefore, consultations conducted by the provincial government without the requisite funding for sustainable economic alternatives maintains the status quo of old-growth logging while removing Indigenous self-determination, decision making and well-being in conservation and stewardship. Financial resources for First Nations are needed to implement the immediate logging deferrals in their territories to forgo the associated revenues to their communities, and to fund Indigenous land use planning, community engagement, management, and stewardship (through initiatives like Indigenous Guardians programs) that are vital to the establishment of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas to protect old-growth forests for future generations. In addition, conservation financing is vital to support and advance sustainable economic self-determination in First Nations communities to ensure that an equivalent economic alternative to old-growth logging is available for these communities. The financing is needed to assist the development of First Nations businesses in cultural and eco-tourism, clean energy, value-added second-growth forestry, sustainable seafood, and non-timber forest products congruent with old-growth forest protection. ps. For those of you who contend BC has no money for this, remember that the BC government is choosing to throw away $100 million/month (ie. over $1 billion a year, with many $billions more to go if they continue...) into the runaway, continually escalating costs of the Site C dam megaproject boondoggle at taxpayers' expense... You can read the full letter here: https://www.endangeredecosystemsalliance.org//ubcic-and-co And be sure to SEND a MESSAGE calling on the provincial and federal governments to fund the protection of old-growth forests in BC at: https://www.endangeredecosystemsalliance.org/news/ogbc

Buffy Sainte-Marie

Prayers to their families and community members

This is a disgusting and wrong on so many levels! I hope they fire that woman!

Good morning from Neskantanga. We are showing our support on this water crisis.

Prayers to the community and family!

Day 25 - into my hunger strike. When our leadership begins working towards changing the systemic racist child welfare laws and policies that our families have suffered and continue to suffer.....then I'll eat. Brenda Morison. Please share, tag and hashtag your family and friends.

Prayers for justice and positive healthy change. Sending healing prayers to the family and community.

This is so awful. I can’t imagine what the parents and family members are going through. Sending prayers for healing and justice.

Day 18 into my hunger strike. When our leadership begins working towards changing the systemic racist child welfare laws and policies that our families have suffered and continue to suffer.....then I'll eat. Brenda Morison. Please share, tag and hashtag your family and friends.

So tragic. My prayers go out to the family, community.

THE WOMEN WILL LEAD THE HEALING`~ "The elders say the women will lead the healing among the nations. We need to especially pray for our women and ask the Creato...r to bless them and give them strength. Inside them are powers of Love, and strength given by Moon (Meztli) and Earth. When everyone else gives up, it is women who sing songs of strength, she is the backbone of the people. So, to our women we say...Sing your songs of strength...pray for your special powers...keep our people strong...be respectful..gentle and modest. Great one ~Bless our women~Make them strong today" Author - Angella Piercy- Sparrow White Elk Raven Matriarchy rising

Truth! If you haven’t tried it, save yourself and don’t! Prayers go to all our relations who struggle with addictions. It’s a downwards spiral and hard to get up! Asking they find the strength, courage and support they need to get back on their feet and live healthier lives.

Wow! Way to go!

Wow! So many thoughts go through my mind.

So great to hear!