This conversation will explore innovative ideas and investment opportunities that recognize the value of nature and the work that Indigenous communities have been doing in stewardship on the land since time immemorial.

We need innovative investment solutions that can support grassroots and Indigenous-led initiatives for sustainable community finance, healthy landscapes, and working with and supporting Indigenous communities in the future.

Panelists will discuss barriers in the funding space, the potential of new finance models, and their vision for investing in healthy landscapes and communities in the future. We will shine a light on what these funding solutions could look like to support Indigenous autonomy and access on the land, two-eyed seeing and co-creation, nature-based solutions, ethical space, and reconciliation.

We hope that you will join us in ethical space.

Clint Jacobs is Anishinaabe from Bkejwanong (Walpole Island First Nation) on the north shore of Lake St. Clair. He is the Supervisor of Nin.Da.Waab.Jig (Walpole Island Heritage Centre) and works with a team that implements numerous initiatives relating to conservation, natural heritage education, habitat stewardship & restoration, food sovereignty, and environmental research. Clint is an Indigenous Scholar at the University of Windsor; and co-instructs field courses with Western University and University of Windsor.

Brandon Doxtator is a bear clan member from the Oneida Nation of the Thames who has worked for his Nation since 2018 as the Environmental Consultation Coordinator. His work with Oneida has focused on increasing capacity and resources for the nation to participate and assert their inherent duty to the protection of their traditional territory. Last year Brandon was elected as a councilor to the Oneida Chief and Council for his 2nd term. His council portfolios include infrastructure and economic development. Brandon is passionate about working with youth, nation building and protecting mother earth for the next 7 generations and beyond. You can usually find Brandon in his garden talking with the bees or volunteering at a local community event enjoying a good laugh.

Emma Young is an Anishinaabekwe who lives and works in Deshkan Ziibiing. She has been working as the Senior Environment Officer out of the Treaties, Lands and Environment Department since 2017. Emma's work is grounded in the responsibility to caretake the lands and waters of the Great Lakes Basin; the Treaty and Traditional territory of Deshkan Ziibiing. This work includes advocating for Deshkan Ziibiing’s environmental jurisdiction and rights with both government and non-government organizations while seeking opportunities for meaningful collaboration.

A multi award winning social innovator, André Vashist has 20 years of experience in community wellbeing and transformations and is a facilitator of multi-stakeholder collaborations that are working towards social and ecological justice. André is a Collaborationist work on various projects, including: Carolinian Canada - supporting the development of southern Ontario’s only conservation finance coalition, on Libro Credit Union's Board of Directors, and previous Director of Social Innovation at Pillar Nonprofit Network. Co-designing solutions to shared challenges is where André likes to infuse his magic, and thrives in cross-sectoral partnerships between government, academic, arts, business, finance and nonprofit organizations.

Aronhiaies Herne is a public speaker and ceremonial conductor who grew up in the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation, he was selected a National Aboriginal Role Model at the age of 16, where he traveled to communities across Canada and spoke to youth about culture and language. Throughout the years Aronhiaies has been invited to numerous public speaking engagements, in his community, throughout Haudenosaunee territories, and across the US and Canada, speaking on areas such as cultural awareness sensitivity and preservation. Aronhiaies is also an avid story teller learning, reciting and teaching many stories and legends of his Mohawk people to his community members. When Aronhiaies was 19 years old he was condoled as a traditional Mohawk Sub chief where he sits and councils with the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs under the Tehanakarine title. Today Aronhiaies continues to work with his community teaching stories and legends in hopes of preserving the Kanienkeha ways of life.

Samantha Whiteye is a community leader from Eelūnapéewi Lahkéewiit. She is very passionate and dedicated to her work within Southern Ontario and the Indigenous Communities she actively serves. Samantha comes from grassroots immersed experiences which she utilizes her lived experience and understandings to create space, advocate and lead conversations centering on Truth and Reconciliation. Leading with an ethical two eyed seeing approach Samantha demonstrates leadership as a changemaker in the environmental sector.

Samantha is very knowledgeable and connected to her Lunaapeew/Lenape culture as she continuously weaves the medicine and teachings into her work and daily lifestyle. She is also passionate about ancestral seed sovereignty and hopes it helps build bridges back to identity for her people.

Over the past year Samantha has worked closely with Carolinian Canada Coalition and continues her work in a new role as Indigenous Leadership Director to help shift the narratives in conservation.

Join us virtually in ethical space, to set intentions on how we would like to revive relationships with one another while working to restore our shared home.

What is Seeding Relationships to Heal the Land Virtual Forum Event Series?

Part of Shifting the Paradigm Forum, this series amplifies Indigenous and diverse voices to inspire action and support Indigenous peoples and allies. It offers conversations around Two-Eyed Seeing, and the ethical space between Indigenous and colonial knowledge.

In this space, we will respect and understand more clearly what important role each of us has in healing the land and climate action work, and we will set collective intentions for moving forward hand-in-hand. 

In Shifting the Paradigm we will focus on how organizations and other allies can support by creating spaces for conversations around Two-Eyed Seeing, and the ethical space between Indigenous and colonial knowledge – we will work towards aligning perspectives and values.

Registration for each event is $50 with sliding scale. Save when you purchase all Forum Series Events, or become a Carolinian Canada Member and save even more - Join Today.

Funds raised through ticket sales help to equitably pay our speakers, and to support Carolinian Canada's Indigenous Leadership program.

Please use the sliding scale to pay what you can if you are BIPOC and don't have the means to attend, or if you would like to pay more to assist others to attend.

Carolinian Canada acknowledges that we live on the traditional territories of many nations including the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee, the Lunaapeew, the Wendat and the Mississauga; and the rights and treaties of the many, diverse Indigenous people who live here now.

We commit to the teachings the Two Row Wampum and the One Dish One Spoon Wampum; and our duty to reconcile, learn more and create safe spaces for Indigenous and non-indigenous perspectives to meet and discuss the issues that matter to everyone.

Carolinian Canada is supported financially by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, 3M, WWF-Canada, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Greenbelt Foundation, City of London, London Community Foundation, Pillar Non-Profit Network, many partners and donors.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD TO YOUR NETWORK

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