Biodiversity = LAND BACK: Reawakening Indigenous Sovereignty for Biodiverse Futures

The role of Indigenous sovereignty in the protection of biodiversity is frequently misunderstood and undermined by colonial frameworks that define connection to land by shareholdership and profitability. Within Indigenous worldview and cosmologies, land and life is understood through ancestrally rooted relationships as opposed to measurements of biodiversity.

In BC, extractive industrial projects such as pipelines, industrial forestry, mining, fish farms, hydro-electric dams, and commercial fisheries operate to further the colonial frontier, privatize the land base of Indigenous food and water systems, and provide capitalist solutions to the Indian problem.

Biodiversity = LAND BACK is a panel discussion hosted by youth land defenders from the west coast of so-called Canada who will be talking about frontline land reoccupation work in their ancestral territories and the legal mechanisms with which the Canadian government weaponizes to extinguish Indigenous law and sovereignty.

Panelists will discuss their frontline land reoccupation work and share how this work is aligned with their ancient lineages and stewardship responsibilities.

Where:

UQAM Amphithéȃtre (SH-2800) du pavillon Sherbrooke 200 rue Sherbrooke Ouest  Montréal (Québec) H2X3P2