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Decolonize Your Education

With the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, it’s become apparent that we as a society have long avoided the views and feelings of those who do not fit the ideals of our country’s colonial mindset. 

This needs to change. So, we’ve compiled this list of a few of our favorite books, podcasts and films made by BIPOC for you to read, watch, listen, and learn from!

Podcasts:

Books  (Nonfiction): 

  • So You Want to Talk About Race By Ijeoma Oluo
  • The Skin We’re In By Desmond Cole
  • Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race By Reni Eddo-Lodge
  • Indigenous Relations By Bob Joseph and Cynthia F. Joseph
  • Broken Circle By Theodore Fontaine
  • From Where I Stand By Judy Wilson-Raybould
  • My Conversations with Canadians By Lee Maracle
  • Life Stages and Native Women By Kim Anderson
  • Halfbreed By Maria Cambell
  • A Mind Spread out on the Ground By Alicia Elliott
  • Pourin’ Down Rain By Cheryl Foggo 
  • Resolve By Carolyn Parks Mintz and Andy and Phyllis Chelsea
  • Seven Fallen Feathers By Tanya Talaga

If you have children, you can find a list of indigenous books for young children on the Calgary Reads’ website. Here is a list of local bookstores that may have these noteworthy books available.

Movies / Documentaries / Films:

  • The Condor and The Eagle –  by Sophie & Clément Guerra
  • nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up By Tasha Hubbard
  • Ice Breakers By Sandamini Rankaduwa
  • Ninth Floor By Mina Shum
  • The Color of Beauty By Elizabeth St. Philip
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The Impacts of Climate Change on Marginalized Communities

Infrastructure

Low-income countries such as Brazil, Bangladesh, India, and those within the sub-Saharan African region as well as island populations seen in and around New Guinea, Indonesia, and the Caribbean,  are just some of the nations that are considered “low-income” or “developing” and consist of mainly brown and black populations. These nations are more vulnerable to climate variability as climate change is correlated to the increased magnitude and frequency of extreme weather events. Typically, low-income countries do not have the strongest adaptive capacity or mitigation measures. This reduced capacity is due to a multitude of factors that relate to the lack of financial and technological resources they cannot afford to develop. Developed or higher-income countries, such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and many Western and European nations, are in better positions to afford the adaptation and responses to climatic changes (Mirza). Understanding the socio-economic constraints of developing nations can assist in our understanding of how the local populations will be affected by climate change and how best to ensure effective climate justice can be implemented according to the needs and circumstances of each nation.

Agriculture/Economy

Many developing countries have growing industries that are predisposed to heat and climate variability sensitivity. These industries like agriculture and energy are threatened by and have felt the effects of, the upwards trend of global annual temperatures rising. Many developing nations are dependent on the Earth’s natural resources, which result in a higher dependency on industries like agriculture. With the increased variance in weather patterns, severe events, and increased global temperatures, water shortages, soil degradation, and soil/water contamination is a large threat to these industries (Mendelsohn). 

“The Stern Report on the Economics of Climate Change predicts that by 2100, in South Asia and Sub Saharan Africa, up to 145–220 million additional people could fall below the $2-a-day poverty line, and every year additional 165,000–250,000 children could die compared with a world without rapid climate change.”

When the local soil undergoes degradation, crop yields are reduced and this causes more food scarcity, on top of this, nutrient-deficient soils create nutrient-deficient foods and contribute to nutrient deficiencies and malnutrition in the local populations (St.Clair and Lynch).

Disease and Death

Global temperature increases have the potential of increasing the number of people at risk of malaria to more than 150 million people (5% globally) as well as dengue (another mosquito-borne disease) which has seen an upwards trend in transmission rates over the past few decades (“Statistics on Climate Change”).  Insect and water-borne diseases have a larger impact on developing countries compared to developed countries, leaving them at a disproportionately higher risk of death due to increased exposure of disease and lack of access to services and healthcare. Pollution-caused health effects and deaths are also higher in developing countries. The graphic shows how generally climate change affects human health, however, developing countries are disproportionately affected by these adverse health effects.

Racism

White supremacy is a contributing factor to climate change and is the reason why many developing countries are being disproportionately affected by climate change and related issues. Companies that outsource labour and extraction efforts, with respect to varying levels of intention, are aware of their role in white supremacy. Western, or predominately white, nations do not have to bear the brunt of the adverse effects of the processes they are outsourcing from developing nations. The workers are oftentimes exploited for cheaper labour and surrounding communities are in close proximity to waste disposal and treatment sites that are not regulated, to which many developed nations send their waste to as it is much cheaper comparatively (Marbury; Park). While the Basel Convention treaty is in place to prevent this from happening, it is not legally binding.

What can we do now?

The climate crisis is intrinsically connected to institutionalized racism and the lives of people of colour across the globe. Climate change is a “wicked problem” and it will take solutions from multiple angles to solve it. 

  • It’s important to not only educate yourself but also your peers. We must break down barriers of understanding and begin to examine the intersections of the climate crisis. 
  • Racism permeates every aspect of our culture and society, from our education systems to the overarching capitalist institutions, and everything in between. It’s important to recognize this and equip yourself with the knowledge you need to help bring about change.
  • On an international scale, we must recognize simple petitions will not be effective. However, locally and nationally pressuring government bodies and mobilizing the people to enact policies and programs to dismantle institutions that disproportionately impact communities here, may prove more effective leading to international action. 
  • Refer to our post on how marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by climate change and lack of inaction here in Canada to start!

Bibliography

  • Marbury, Hugh J. “Hazardous Waste Exportation: The Global Manifestation of Environmental Racism Notes.” Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law, vol. 28, no. 2, 1995, pp. 251–94.
  • Mendelsohn, Robert. “The Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture in Developing Countries.” Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research, vol. 1, no. 1, Routledge, Dec. 2008, pp. 5–19. Taylor and Francis+NEJM, doi:10.1080/19390450802495882.
  • Mirza, M. Monirul Qader. “Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events: Can Developing Countries Adapt?” Climate Policy, vol. 3, no. 3, Taylor & Francis, Jan. 2003, pp. 233–48. Taylor and Francis+NEJM, doi:10.3763/cpol.2003.0330.
  • Park, Rozelia S. An Examination of International Environmental Racism Through the Lens of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes. p. 53.
  • “Statistics on Climate Change.” MGH Institute of Health Professions, 21 June 2018. www.mghihp.edu, https://www.mghihp.edu/academics-schools-departments-school-nursing-about/statistics-climate-change.
  • St.Clair, Samuel B., and Jonathan P. Lynch. “The Opening of Pandora’s Box: Climate Change Impacts on Soil Fertility and Crop Nutrition in Developing Countries.” Plant and Soil, vol. 335, no. 1, Oct. 2010, pp. 101–15. Springer Link, doi:10.1007/s11104-010-0328-z.
  • Denchak, Melissa (2018). Flint Water Crisis: Everything You Need to Know
    https://www.nrdc.org/stories/flint-water-crisis-everything-you-need-know
  • Petition Against Nestle stealing Indigenous water https://www.change.org/p/nestle-canadian-stop-nestl%C3%A9-from-stealing-water-from-indigenous-communities?use_react=false
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Racial Minorities & Climate Change

At a local scale

Arctic and Subarctic Indigenous Peoples:

Here in Canada, it is the arctic and subarctic that are most affected by climate change. This has changed the Inuit peoples’ relationship with the land profoundly. The melting of sea ice and permafrost, rise of ocean levels, increased acidification, erosion, and extreme weather all impact the Inuit peoples’ abilities to harvest, travel, reside and recreate on their homelands. Being cut off from traditional activities has also left many suffering with their mental health, and feeling like they’ve lost a part of their identity.

These changes in the natural environment have had severe impacts on local infrastructure, threatening the stability of homes, and public infrastructure, such as buildings and roadways.

This amplifies the social inequalities that these communities are already facing. 

For example, in Tuktoyaktuk, a coastal hamlet in the north of the  Northwest territories, sea ice is melting at exponential rates. This is causing the ocean levels to rise, eroding the coast. This coastal erosion is posing threats to homes and other buildings near the water.

Boil-Water Advisories

We can see in Canadian policy that environmental racism against indigenous communities is persistent. For example, the lack of action to ensure that there is access to clean water for all indigenous communities is exceptionally apparent. There are over 100 different cases of boil-water advisories that have been persistent for decades across Canada, most notably might be Shoal Lake 40, as they have been under a boil-water advisory since 1977 and are currently awaiting completion of their new water treatment plant that is projected to be finished in December 2020 (Canada Has 1838 Drinking-Water Advisories – ProQuest; “Drinking Water Advisories|Measures the Number of Communities under Drinking Water Advisories”). While water advisories impact many communities across Canada, indigenous communities are disproportionately affected due to the minimal attention and lack of systemic change. 

While the government has made changes to eliminate some of the many boil-water advisories across Canada, the national risk score of the water quality (1-10 with 10 being the most dangerous) still remains high and nearly unchanged. And just because an Indigenous community doesn’t have a boil-water advisory in effect, doesn’t mean that they have good healthy water either (Gerster & Hessey, Why some First Nations still don’t have clean drinking water — despite Trudeau’s promise, 2019).

Black Communities and Climate Change:

In Canada, the Black community, in particular, is greatly threatened by climate change in terms of both its environmental and political implications. Historically speaking, individuals of African descent were herded into communities that possessed inherent disadvantages — they were established in areas without proper infrastructure. These disparities mean a lack of sufficient economic and political resources to effectively shield the communities from severe natural disasters as well as their abysmal results.

Additionally, numerous communities border forests. Dry spells brought on by climate change would not only result in decreased productivity, but could end in devastating forest fires. 

For example, Black Nova Scotian municipalities such as North Preston and Cherry Brook border forests. They simply do not have the tools to prevent mass economic casualties resulting from climate change, nor do they have the means to constructively heal their communities after the fact. 

At a Global Scale

In general, the world’s poorest communities live on more fragile land, meaning that their homes are more vulnerable to the consequences of more extreme weather patterns, rising sea levels and other natural events caused by climate change. When their livelihoods are destroyed, this pushes them even further into poverty. 

More intense weather also creates climate refugees, those who are without a home in their own countries and are very vulnerable. 

Studies in the United States have said that low-income communities are more likely to be in close proximity to a hazardous waste site and exposed to higher levels of pollution. 

And because of a lack of resources, these communities have a harder time rebuilding their communities after a natural disaster or storm.

Bibliography:

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The Problem with Bill 1

How this bill targets Indigenous peoples and minorities of Alberta

“Essential infrastructure”, according to Bill 1 includes pipelines, oil sites, provincial highways, railways and many more. 

Many of the “essential infrastructure” areas listed are already private property, industry or government owned facilities; meaning many of these areas are already illegal to trespass and protest on (including hydro developments, power plants, oil sands, etc.) Listing these already known areas in the bill helps to bury the new information. 

Listing railways as “essential infrastructure” is a response to the solidarity protests nationwide that involved railroad blockades in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs refusing consent to the Coastal GasLink pipeline. 

The blockades were non-violent and were only aiming to shut down Canada, in order to have their voices heard. However, these blockades across Alberta, specifically in Edmonton, were an ‘inconvenience’ to the UCP government because they couldn’t continue with the pipeline and business as usual. 

In order to ensure the pipeline can be built (without consent) on Wet’suwet’en territory with less protests, the UCP government has simply decided to claim railways as “essential infrastructure” under Bill 1 to enforce consequences like arresting without a warrant. 

Bill 1 states:

“The land on which essential infrastructure is located, and any land used in connection with the essential infrastructure, is deemed to be part of the essential infrastructure.”

Which means:

1. The government can deem what they want to be essential infrastructure 

2. The land the government wants to use for essential infrastructure for pipelines they can deem to be illegal to gather and protest on. Even if it is within indigenous territory.

Bill 1 prohibitions are:

(1) No person shall, without lawful right, justification or excuse, wilfully enter on any essential infrastructure.

(2) No person shall, without lawful right, justification or excuse, wilfully damage or destroy any essential infrastructure.

(3) No person shall, without lawful right, justification or excuse, wilfully obstruct, interrupt or interfere with the construction, maintenance, use or operation of any essential infrastructure in a manner that renders the essential infrastructure dangerous, useless, inoperative or ineffective.

These prohibitions basically explain that you cannot trespass onto essential infrastructure and private property and damage it- which is already illegal. So once again they are trying to hide the deeper meaning with already common knowledge. However, with the new definition of essential infrastructure it means now more places (including railways) are prohibited from being used in protests. And Indigenous land can be deemed “essential infrastructure” kicking people off their land, and making it illegal to enter their own land.

These prohibitions basically explain that you cannot trespass onto essential infrastructure and private property and damage it- which is already illegal. So once again they are trying to hide the deeper meaning with already common knowledge. With the new definition of essential infrastructure, it means now more places (including sidewalks) are prohibited from being gathered on and therefore used in protests. And Indigenous land can be deemed “essential infrastructure” kicking people off their land, and making it illegal to enter and use their own land.   

Offenses, penalties and arrests:

A first offence can result in a fine of $1000 and up to 

$10 000 or can result in an imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both. 

“A peace officer may arrest, without warrant, any person the

peace officer finds on essential infrastructure

This means:

Not only can you be fined and arrested for peacefully protesting on or near whatever the UCP determines to be essential infrastructure, but a large fine that many underprivileged people cannot afford to pay will be given. This once again demonstrates how this bill is intended to target Indigenous people.

This bill is a scare tactic meant to keep Indigenous people silent and afraid, making the government’s invasion into their land easier. 

Bill 1 infringes on the rights and freedoms of Canadians and is unconstitutional. The government wants to silence Indigenous peoples making it harder for them to defend their land and practice their rights to peacefully protest and voice their concerns. 

The UCP government is concerned with building this pipeline to fuel a dying oil & gas run economy through exploiting Indigenous people and their land and instilling fear. Does this sound like a government for the people?