Please join WECAN from April 17 - 22 as we head to New York City to advocate at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) twenty-second session and organize events and actions concurrent with the Forum. The theme for this year explores how Indigenous communities and rights intersect with human health, planetary and territorial health, and climate change. 

We will host events virtually and in-person highlighting the rights and solutions of Indigenous women leaders. More details below! 

IN PERSON - Indigenous Women Upholding Indigenous Rights and Knowledge, and Leading Climate Solutions

Wednesday, April 19, 5:00 - 8:00pm ET

Church Center of the United Nations

777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017

REGISTER HERE!

Please join us for this important event, held parallel to the UNPFII, to hear from global Indigenous women leaders on the impacts of fossil fuels, deforestation, and the climate crisis in their communities and how they are implementing solutions, practicing traditional knowledge systems, upholding Indigenous rights, and advancing policies and practices of care and climate justice.

Panel 1: 5:00 - 6:15PM 

Speakers to date, more to be announced soon:

• Ruth Łchav’aya K’isen Miller (Curyung Tribe of Dena’ina Athabaskan) | Indigenous Climate Activist, Turtle Island/USA
• Yasso Kanti Bhattachan (Thakali) | Founding Member and the Vice Chair of the National Indigenous Women’s Forum (NIWF), Nepal
• Majo Andrade Cerda (Kichwa) | Youth leader of the Kichwa People of Napo, Land is Life’s Latin America Program Assistant, Ecuador
• Moderation and comments by Osprey Orielle Lake, WECAN Executive Director

Panel 2: 6:30 - 7:45 PM

Speakers to date, more to be announced soon:

• President Whitney Gravelle (Bay Mills Indian Community)| President and Executive Council Bay Mills Indian Community, Chair of the Department of Interior’s Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee and Commissioner on the Michigan Advisory Council on Environmental Justice, Turtle Island/USA  
• Xiye Bastida (Otomi-Toltec)| Co-founder and Board, Re-earth Initiative, Turtle Island/USA
• Michelle Woodhouse (Métis) | Water Program Manager, Environmental Defence, Turtle Island/Canada
• Moderation and comments by Osprey Orielle Lake, WECAN Executive Director

Masks are strongly encouraged for this in-person event, and will be available at the event. 

Please help share this event with your communities and networks using the links below!

• Reshare on Twitter
• Reshare on Instagram
• Reshare on Facebook
• Share the Facebook Event Page

VIRTUAL - Uplifting Women Human Rights Defenders

and Advancing the Escazu Agreement

Thursday, April 20, 11:30 - 1:00 p.m. New York City Time

REGISTER HERE!

Latin America is one of the deadliest regions for environmental land defenders. In 2021, Global Witness reported that 200 land and environmental defenders were killed for their activism – with over two-thirds of killings taking place in Latin America. Combined with entrenched colonial and patriarchal policies, individuals threatened are oftentimes Indigenous peoples and women environmental and human rights defenders (WEHRDs) fighting for the protection of their communities and territories.

During this virtual event, women environmental and human rights defenders, policy makers, and feminist advocates will highlight the challenges women in all of their diversity face in securing human and Indigenous rights, gaining access to information, public participation, access to justice and protecting land, territories and communities in the context of implications and opportunities women have as part of the Escazú Agreement.

Grassroots, regional and international organizations will share their calls to action for ensuring women and human rights, and the protection of biodiverse regions in Latin America and the Caribbean, while also advocating for the implementation of the Escazú Agreement for women. This event is a formal side event of the Escazú COP2, taking place separately but concurrently with the UNPFII. In both instances, we are committed to ensuring the voices of Indigenous women leaders are at the forefront of these important international forums and discussions.

Since 2018, WECAN has been advocating for the ratification and implementation of the Escazú Agreement.  Learn more about our advocacy efforts here.

VIRTUAL - Indigenous Women from North America Defending Biodiversity, Human Rights, and our Global Climate

Thursday, April 20 - 1:00 - 2:30pm ET

REGISTER HERE!

During this virtual event held in parallel to the UNPFII, Indigenous women leaders will address a variety of topics, highlighting how Indigenous women are leading efforts to uphold Indigenous rights and sovereignty, including the right of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) with the aim of advocating to global governments and financial institutions that respecting Indigenous knowledge, ways of life, and FPIC, and the right to say “no” to continued extraction, is paramount to addressing the global climate and environmental crises. Speakers will also present solutions grounded in Indigenous knowledge and expertise for protecting and defending communities and Mother Earth.

Speakers include:

• Eriel Tchekwie Deranger (Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation) | Executive Director of Indigenous Climate Action, Canada
• Tara Houska (Couchiching First Nation) | Tribal Attorney and Founder of Giniw Collective, Line 3 pipeline Resistance Leader, Turtle Island, USA
• Dr. Crystal A Cavalier, Ed.D, MPA (Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation) | Co-Founder, 7 Directions of Service, Turtle Island, USA
• Monique Verdin (Houma Nation) | Director of The Land Memory Bank & Seed Exchange, Organizer with Another Gulf is Possible, Turtle Island, USA
• Jannan J. Cornstalk (Citizen of Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians) | Director Water is Life Festival, Turtle Island, USA
• Moderation and Comments by Osprey Orielle Lake, WECAN Executive Director

Globally, over 80% of remaining biodiversity is stewarded by Indigenous peoples, however Indigenous communities continue to experience rampant violations of rights and sovereignty, and threats of extraction and destruction to their territories. Within this context Indigenous women specifically are facing rising threats of violence as they take action.

The UNPFII is a vital international forum for Indigenous women facing various violations; threats to their very survival; the destruction of their territories; and the effects these egregious actions have on communities, water, forests, and the global climate. The forum and parallel events are a key opportunity to have their voices, responses, calls to action, and solutions heard by the public, media, and government representatives. 

WECAN is as dedicated as ever to supporting frontline women at critical international events and advocacy opportunities, like the UNPFII, because we know that the leadership of Indigenous women is more essential now than ever as we face the need for rapid transformative action and urgent implementation of policies and programs that support a healthy and equitable future. 

On Earth Day please join us during Live from Earth, a worldwide online gathering highlighting innovators helping to solve global environmental challenges.

We are honored that Osprey Orielle Lake, WECAN Executive Director will be presenting alongside global leaders including Vandana Shiva, Fawn Sharp, Pat McCabe, Atossa Soltani, Justin Winters, Leila Salazar-Lopez, and more.

Learn more about the event and

see the full schedule here!

The Indigenous Women’s Treaty Alliance, facilitated by WECAN, met with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to raise vital concerns with the agency around Treaty rights, Indigenous and human rights and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and concerns about water protection and harms to the global climate as it relates to the expansion of the Line 5 pipeline in the Great Lakes region of the United States as well as the current Line 5 operating 20 years past its planned life expectancy.

This meeting builds on work since 2022 to engage with government agencies to stop this pipeline before it ever reaches the point of construction. For more details about our ongoing advocacy, please see our website here.

WECAN is also inviting individuals and organizations to join us in urging Canada to stop misusing the 1977 Transit Pipelines Treaty which has been used to keep the current Line 5 pipeline in service 20 years past it's planned life expectancy.

Learn more and sign the letter by April 24 here: http://bit.ly/3nrVpLm

Recently, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced that it is delaying a key step in its review process of the proposed Line 5 oil pipeline replacement project. 

Policy Coordinator (full time)

Staff Position

Rolling Acceptance, Open until Filled

The Policy Coordinator will work remotely, with the guidance of WECAN’s Executive Director, to coordinate ongoing policy campaigns. This will include conducting research, analyzing policy strategies, writing reports and educational materials, and supporting WECAN campaigns and coalition building to push forward progressive policies within a climate justice framework.

This role will include work within WECAN’s fossil fuel resistance and divestment campaigns,

advocating for governments and financial institutions to stop fossil fuel expansion and deforestation. This work will also include advocating for policies that implement human rights and Indigenous rights, and supporting ongoing policy work through various coalitions uplifting feminist climate policies. Learn how to apply and read the full description here.