Idle No More
This movement originated in the province of Saskatchewan, originating from educational sessions to protest the introduction of bills that would further oppress Indigenous land rights (Idle No More, 2019). From this first step, it has evolved into “one of the largest Indigenous mass movements in Canadian history” and has drawn global attention from rallies, events and protests.
The website provides an overview of the movement, actions taken, and individual stories. It also provides readers with additional resources and a chance to donate to the movement. Throughout the site, North America is referred to as Turtle Island which reflects long-standing Indigenous beliefs and culture. Incorporating cultural aspects into methods for conversation is essential for a thorough analysis of the issue. This comprehensive analysis is not limited to the incorporation of culture, but includes attributes such as race and sexuality which are also subject to oppressive systems.
Overall, this is an important movement to provide a platform for those who are not involved at state levels. It also stresses government transparency through the stories of individuals affected by issues, giving others a chance to view a problem from multiple viewpoints.
More information can be found at http://www.idlenomore.ca/
David Suzuki Foundation
The David Suzuki Foundation is an environmental organization founded by Canadian environmentalist, David Suzuki. The foundation arose from public interest in Suzuki’s 1989 CBC radio series It’s a Matter of Survival, that spoke to the human impact on our environments (David Suzuki Foundation, 2019). Thousands began to seek ways in which they could faciliate change both locally and globally, so the Foundation sought to establish public movements.
The Foundation prioritizes 3 areas:
- Environmental rights
- Defending biodiversity
- Climate solutions
From the area of environmental rights arose the project on addressing drinking water advisories. This project has been aiming to track the success of Trudeau’s commitment by releasing yearly reports. Each report has concluded that although work is being done, the government is not on track to meet the 2021 deadline. This Foundation proposes several recommendations, including a “First Nations-led approach” and “transparent funding for operations and maintenance”.
More information can be found by visiting https://davidsuzuki.org/project/drinking-water-advisories/