RAVEN Trust
620 View St # 509 V8W 1J4 Victoria, BC, Canada

Did you know, under the Indian Act, it was illegal for an Indigenous person to hire a lawyer? If a person offered Indigenous people legal counsel or raised funds to support their access to justice, they could be fined up to $200. Until the 1950’s, RAVEN’s work and the groundbreaking legal gains Indigenous Peoples have made in the past 70 years would have been against the law. Tomorrow is the last day of National Indigenous Peoples Month, and we want to take the time to re...member the restrictions put under Indigenous Peoples by the Indian Act. In the early 1900s, Indigenous Nations were organizing and beginning to push back against policies that were stripping their #cultures and communities of rights and dignity. In response, in 1927, the federal government amended the Indian Act to include Section 141, which stated: * Every person who receives, obtains, solicits or requests from an Indian any payment or contribution or promise of any payment or contribution for the purpose of raising a fund or providing money for the prosecution of any claim which the tribe or band of Indians to which such Indian belongsshall be guilty of an offence and liable to a penalty not exceeding $200 and not less than $50 or to imprisonment for any term not exceeding two months. * Section 141 was enacted in response to Indigenous led movements and uprisings. The amendment effectively barred #Indigenous peoples’ ability to fight for their rights and prohibited Indigenous governments from exercising any real power in the political and legal systems. Put together with the #potlatch ban another Indian Act edict Indigneous People were stripped of their ability to govern. There is no question that the Indian Act set out to destroy Indigenous identity and values in #Canada. RAVEN's work would not be possible if it wasn't for the Indigenous leaders rising up to stand for their rights to access to #justice. You can be part of supporting the resurgence of rights and the defence of Aboriginal values by supporting RAVEN. Make a donation to a campaign of your choice, or becoming a monthly donor at www.raventrust.com !!

RAVEN is excited to be working with Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation to secure Aboriginal title to unceded traditional territory in interior B.C. Their vision is to enshrine Indigenous stewardship practices into law for future generations. A title win would facilitate a new, healthier economic development and resource development, one that seeks to balance the ecology, people, land and businesses. Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc land title is about building and maintaining long-term sustainable economic development in a healthy environment.

The Wet’suwet’en matriarchs are Women of the Year for standing up for unceded lands.

"Bank of Montreal turned what should have been a positive occasion into one that reinforces our colonial past.

In the face of oppression, racism and physical violence, Indigenous peoples across the country are demanding protection of their ancestral lands and recognition of their Aboriginal and Treaty rights. As part of these efforts, the role of the criminal justice system in upholding the status quo and undermining Indigenous interests is also being challenged. In R. v. Turtle, 2020 ONCJ 429 the Ontario Court of Justice confronts this issue head on, highlighting the colonial roots of Canada’s justice system and its persistent failure to serve and protect Indigenous peoples.

We want to give a shoutout to all the small businesses that have supported us this year. This year has been a challenge for many small businesses, yet a lot them still stepped up to support Indigenous legal challenges. We are so grateful, and wouldn't be able to do this work without you all. Earnest Ice Cream was one organization who supported us with a generous donation this year. They recently raised 6K to support Indigenous legal challenges! We see how the legal cases t...hat Raven supports are a powerful way to both advance long overdue Indigenous legal rights, while also protecting the health of the oceans, rivers, and lands, which are threatened by outdated fossil fuel and other ecologically harmful projects. We believe that the path to addressing the climate crisis also requires addressing the injustices of colonization. The rights of Indigenous People have been under attack for generations, says Ben, co-owner of Earnest Ice Cream. We love how RAVEN supports Indigenous communities to use the settler legal system that was a part of taking so much from Indigenous people to build justice for their communities while fostering sustainability for everyone. We love you Earnest Ice Cream! Be sure to give them a follow on Facebook: Earnest Ice Cream Instagram: @earnesticecream and visit their website: https://earnesticecream.com #SmallBusinessSunday

A group of newly trained Indigenous doulas reclaim their future bringing back birthing traditions.