For all the glittering office towers that you might be used to seeing in Toronto and Vancouver, Mining has a dark history, and — you’ll discover, a controversial future. We’ll travel from the earliest days of colonization, fuelled by gold rush-style plunder, to the toxic era of uranium mining that contributed to the Manhattan Projects’ development of the nuclear bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and to today, where hunger for critical minerals continues to drive colonialism deep into the heart of Indigenous lands: in Canada, and around the world. 

After centuries of exploitation, the drive to get-rich-quick is baked into Canada’s DNA, with extractive industries still given preferential treatment by the government. Despite a lot of talk about reconciliation - allocation of resources is still very much done without proper consultation or consent of the Peoples who have stewarded these lands and waters since time immemorial. 

We’re going to start the series by looking at how mining actually begins. Even today, anyone with a laptop and $25 can stake a claim without even bothering to inform the First Nation whose territory they’re staking. We take a deep dive to look at how Gitxaała Nation dealt with illegal discharge of tailings from the Yellow Giant gold mine - a project that Gitxaała said from the beginning they did not want. After the company devastated Banks Island’s salmon-rich creeks and near-shore areas, Gitxaała decided to go to court to change the outdated and unjust Mineral Tenure Act in a case that has fundamentally shifted how mining will be done: not just on Gitxaała territory, but everywhere in B.C.

As we celebrate the landmark settlement of Cindy Blackstock's class action lawsuit, we're taking a look at kids in foster care. There are, right now, more Indigenous kids in the social welfare system than were ever at residential school at any given time. It’s a reality that has led many to observe that the foster care system IS the new residential school, for how it both pulls kids away from the land and their culture, and how it perpetuates the colonization of Indigenous families. 

Illuminating the path he's taken, that  builds power — not in spite of, but from out of — the deep well of his own struggles, HK shares about how he uses his hard-won learnings to help Indigenous youth - in the inner city, on the 'rez, and on the land. 

Fora like UN summits can be structured in very colonial ways: we are grateful to Lou Romain for weaving a tapestry of sound, grounding Indigenous teachings in birdsong, the voices of the river, and the breath of the wind. 

The more-than-human voices are the Athabasca river and various animals are recordings from he Yellowstone National Park, which share many species also endemic to the Wood Buffalo National Park. red-winged blackbird, Wilson’s snipe, warbling vireo, bald eagle, western meadow lark, common loon, savannah sparrow, and sandhill crane.

Additional music is by Holizna CC0, Soft and Furious, and Loyalty Freak through the Free Music Archive; theme music is by Luke Wallace. 

You can hear more of Louise’s work on her podcast, Circle of Voices. Listen on Spotify and Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tune-intotheworld

Now: sit back, pour yourself some tea and enjoy this guest episode from Circle of Voices and Louise Romain. 

Join host, Andrea Palframan, as she breaks down what the MTA is, and why we need to act in solidarity with Gitxaała Nation to reform mining in their territory, and all across B.C.

You'll hear from Chief Nees Hiwwas, Tara Marsden, and Jamie Kneen on this final instalment on the Gitxaała court case taking place throughout the month of April 2023.  

Donate to support the cost of the legal challenge: raventrust.com/gitxaala

It’s been a long strange journey, from the fallout of a rogue mining company who despoiled sacred watersheds in Gitxaała territory to the assembling of a coalition of diverse yet committed intervenors who, one by one, have taken the stand to denounce the casual and discriminatory way mineral claims are handled in B.C. Protecting this one salmon-rich island, on B.C.’s north coast, is important enough: but if Gitxaała and their allies win, it will change mining regulations everywhere in B.C. 

To contribute to Gitxaała's legal challenge, visit https://raventrust.com/gitxaala

As part of our work raising legal defence funds for Indigenous Nations, RAVEN gets to work with Nations like Gitxaala who are applying their own legal frameworks at the same time as expertly navigating colonial courts. Today on the podcast, we’ll hear about how those intersecting strategies come to life, from the powerhouse legal team of Ng Ariss Fong. Support this case by donating or fundraising online : https://raventrust.com/gitxaala

We'll dive into the shady world of corporate injunctions, lawsuits and prosecutions in this special bonus episode of RAVEN Debriefs, featuring guests Kai Nagata and Kris Statnyk.

We asked Terri Lynn about her story - how she became the counsel for the Haida Nation- an expert in both Canadian common law AND in the indigenous laws of the Haida people. She talks about how she brought the stories and laws which she was raised with into the courtroom when her Nation challenged powerful logging interests in the landmark Haida case at the Supreme Court of Canada. 

She also shares her perspectives on the defeat of Enbridge and on RAVEN's role in bringing together 8 Indigenous Nations to fight - and beat - the tar sands pipeline and tankers project.

Today’s show features the magnificent Terri Lynn Williams Davidson in conversation - and in song. Music on this episode is by Terri Lynn, Bill Henderson and Claire Lawrence, and  is from their latest album, “Grizzly Bear Town” available on iTunes, Spotify and Soundcloud. 

Turner combines a botanists’ understanding of classification and an ethnographers’ attunement to human culture. Here, she  reveals the intricacies of interspecies dynamics that form the basis of Indigenous People’s deep affinity to the lands and waters. 

Just as his Nation embarks on an historic Title Action to assert Indigenous sovereignty over traditional territories that were never ceded through treaty, Jensen is involved in practicing, teaching and breathing life into Secwepemc hunting traditions. Grounded in Secwepemc laws that were taught to him by his uncles and grandfather, Jensen is bringing those traditions forward by teaching new generations of Indigenous - and non-indigenous - people about  stewardship practices grounded in reciprocity and respect. 

The type of knowledge that Ed Jensen speaks about as a hunting guide and carrier of Secwepmec traditions is part of the evidence being gathered to form the basis of the Title case: proving that aboriginal ownership of, and jurisdiction over, lands and waters pre-dates colonization relies on oral histories like the ones Jensen is carrying. 

Jensen’s work involves not only carrying and passing knowledge, but in creating artistic and functional hunting tools based on the designs of his ancestors. He’s one of the world’s pre-eminent flint-snappers; his studio in Kamloops is full of beautifully wrought spears, arrowheads, and bone-handled knives that are made entirely from natural materials. Another way that Jensen shares his knowledge is through mentorship - just as his own uncles did with him, Ed is bringing up a new generation of Secwepmec hunters, and working to change the culture of hunting from the collection of trophies, which is what it has become in mainstream, colonial society, to a practice that is about deep attunement with the land and deep relationship with the animals themselves. 

Sayers also shares her perspectives on Indigenous power generation; as President of Clean Energy BC, she is leading the wave of Indigenous solar, wind and run-of-river producers in the province.

For more on Indigenous justice, visit https://raventrust.com

Stepping into office at the height of the nation’s battle against Taseko mines, whose Prosperity Mine New Prosperity mine projects necessitated a 10 year legal battle - funded with support from RAVEN - Chief Ross also jumped into the Supreme Court challenge that ultimately led to the declaration of Aboriginal Title for Tsilhqotin - the first in the country and a groundbreaking victory that is setting the stage for a new form of Indigenous governance and relationship with Canada. 

Chief Russ Myers Ross saw his Nation through one of the most historic periods of the past century. Elected chief at just 30 years old, Ross  illuminates the struggles and joys of working for his community at a time when Indigenous sovereignty is on the rise. A must-listen: be inspired by Ross’s vision to lift people up while keeping grounded in ancestral customs and laws.