News from the Nest — May 2016
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- Published on Friday, 20 May 2016 15:15
- Written by editor
www.raventrust.com | (250) 383-2331
Welcome to RAVEN’s first-ever official newsletter! News from the Nest will bring you updates on all of RAVEN’s campaigns and cases six times a year.
News from RAVEN Headquarters:
First up, 2015 was RAVEN’s most successful year yet. Donors made it possible to give more than $950,000 to First Nations’ legal actions – that’s a 69% increase over 2014. Amazing!! The Annual Report with all the details are on the website now.
2016 Young Scholars Essay Prize entries now being accepted! RAVEN recognizes students who are asking questions about the topics that we know to be important. The essay competition is open to all disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. Papers from all methodological and theoretical standpoints will be considered: submissions may be made from papers already written as part of normal coursework. For detailed guidelines and to submit your work, click HERE>
RAVEN has initiated a voluntary Legal Advisory Panel in response to increasing requests for fundraising support from Indigenous Peoples. The Panel will review requests for fundraising support and make recommendations to our board of directors. We are thrilled that Dr. John Borrows, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Law at the University of Victoria Law School, has agreed to join the panel! We are recruiting for more members now.RAVEN is hiring The RAVEN staff team recently spent a day in retreat at Stowel Lake Farm on Salt Spring Island. Supported by the excellent facilitation of Claire Rettie, we determined that it is time to hire a full time Campaigns Manager. The new CM will be recruited over the summer, and will lead RAVEN’s 6 fundraising campaigns to manifest the best impact possible for our indigenous partners. Click here for the job posting and to apply.
RAVEN staff retreat at Stowel Lake Farm
RAVEN is seven years old! Our AGM was held on March 30th, and we are happy to welcome new directors Troy Sebastian, Charlene Simon, Clara Bradley and Karl Mech. We also give our thanks to the directors who have completed their terms on the Board: Stanley Boychuk and Kathryn Harwood. To read about our new Board members, check out the RAVEN Board of Directors page on the website. While there, pop over to our new Partner’s Page! It’s high time these incredible donors got some love!!Campaign Updates:
TREATY 8 – SITE C
The David vs Goliath contest continues. Several legal actions launched by Treaty 8 First Nations to stop BC Hydro’s Site C Dam are before the courts – both provincial and federal. The legal teams are filing appeals in the BC Court of Appeal this month. READ MORE
MADII LII – On April 19th, representatives from Luutkudziiwus travelled to Ottawa, along with a delegation of senior leaders from Lax Kw’alaams, Wet’suwet’en First Nations and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs to meet with federal officials in the Prime Minister’s Office. The goal – to set the record straight on misleading claims of support for Petronas’ Pacific Northwest LNG pipeline. READ MORE
PULL TOGETHER — Last week, we heard that Enbridge has appealed to the federal government to extend federal approval for the Northern Gateway pipeline. Even after mass street protests, a declaration signed by 140 First Nations, a string of lawsuits AND the popular Pull Together campaign, Enbridge is still talking about “a path to victory, a path to construction”. READ MORE
TSILHQOT’IN - TEZTAN BINY/FISH LAKE – As you know, the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation and Tsilhqot’in National Government are back in court – as Taseko Mines Ltd. pushes ahead with judicial reviews after the second federal rejection of its open pit gold-copper mine. READ MORE
BLCN – Beaver Lake Cree Nation was back in court in March to deal with Alberta’s questions to their amended claim. The legal team is working hard on evidence gathering, with a range of projects including socio-cultural surveys and evaluation of the ‘lands taken up’ by industry starting this month. READ MORE
Fundraiser Profile: Last summer photographer and artist Deirdre Kelly jumped on the BC-Yukon Kairos Rolling Justice bus and saw the Peace River Valley for the first time. She was honoured to meet people from the West Moberly Band, and some of the farmers and ranchers who live and work in the abundant valley.
“I’ve been involved in many issues as an activist, but never as an artist. This was a perfect blending of two very important areas of my life – my love of painting and photography, and my profound belief in the rights of people to have a say in the issues that affect their destiny.”
Deirdre decided to do an art show and give 25% of the proceeds of her sales for the Site C related legal actions.
“When I decided to do the art show, I got all this energy! I was inspired by the words in Treaty 8 ‘as long as this river shall run’ and had to do what I could to prevent the needless destruction of something so precious.”
Please check out Deirdre’s Facebook page to see more of her artwork: Deirdre Kelly Fine Art. Thank you Deirdre!!
As one of our cherished supporters, you understand that Indigenous Peoples’ rights and title are among the most powerful forces for environmental protection in Canada. Supporting Indigenous Peoples’ constitutional right to assert this power is one of the most effective pathways for halting unsustainable industrial development and for bringing about much needed systemic change.
Thank you for all that you do!
Susan Smitten
RAVEN Executive Director
(250) 383-2331
PS - There are many different ways you can support RAVEN’s important work. Please check our website or give us a call for more information on:
- How to give through stocks and securities
- Making bequests
- Annual giving
- Monthly giving
- 1% For the Planet business profit-sharing
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