
Photo Credits to Hilary Szeto & Owen Iyirhiaro
Audio narration of When youth carry the weight of the world
These young activists have proven to their communities and the world that there is no time like the present to make a change.
With help from the environmental organization Coastal Actions and scientist Dr. David Maxwell, Bowles found that the rivers were contaminated to the point of being hazardous to human skin.
"If you're passionate about something, once you find your voice don't be afraid to use it."
Known as a water protector, Makaśa Looking Horse prefers to be seen as a proud indigenous woman dedicated to preserving her culture. From the Mohawk wolf clan and Lakota from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, Ont., Looking Horse has been fighting for water conservation rights for her community alongside the Ohneganos water conservation group.
Multinational corporation Nestlé has been using water from lakes within Six Nations
communities. When Looking Horse began to do research on Nestlé’s water consumption, she found out that the food and beverage giant was taking 3.6-million litres of water out of Six Nations’ reserve per day. Neither Looking Horse, nor anyone in the community, knew about this.“It enraged me to know that only nine per cent of the community has clean drinking water,” says Looking Horse.
“It enraged me to know that only nine per cent of the community has clean drinking water.”
Climate change is also gravely impacting her community’s ability to maintain cultural traditions. Deforestation and pollution mean animals that community members normally hunt, like deer, are being chased off. Without the animals, people can’t pass down their hunting practices and teach their children how to make garments, such as traditional moccasins. “It’s really about survival or your entire people will be wiped out,” explains Looking Horse. “We have to survive or our whole lineage, our whole nation, is going to be
gone.”
“We have to survive or our whole lineage, our whole nation, is going to be gone.”
Alongside the discussion for climate change, she also stresses the importance of listening to indigenous voices as much as other activists. In the summer of 2019 she attended the UN climate summit in New York City where she was invited to make an opening speech and was asked to join a discussion group with other indigenous leaders. While this was taking
place, a larger group, that included activist Greta Thunberg, was in a separate room with more political world leaders. “It spoke volumes of the disconnect between the two when indigenous people should be at the forefront of climate action,” she says.
With the rise in global protesting and youth activism, although it may be a long road to government changes, Looking Horse remains hopeful for this new decade.“The power is
with the people no matter who the politicians are, that’s how it’s supposed to be, we’re
supposed to have democracy and the leaders are supposed to be working for us, and that’s not how it’s working.”
“The power is with the people no matter who the politicians are, that’s how it’s supposed to be, we’re supposed to have democracy and the leaders are supposed to be working for us, and that’s not how it’s working.”
This story was originally published in the print version of Emerge magazine.
Author: Melissa Lopez – Martinez
Graphic Designer: Hilary Szeto & Owen Iyirhiaro
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