Empowering Indigenous Leaders to Protect and Care for Their Land, Waters, and Communities
Photo Credit: To Swim and Speak With Salmon / MakeWay
In 2000, a small group of visionary changemakers and philanthropists asked: how can we foster a healthy planet and a just society? Their thinking led to the creation of MakeWay, a national charity and public foundation that supports environmental and social change initiatives across Canada. MakeWay builds strong partnerships with communities in both rural and urban areas, supporting initiatives led by local people to create meaningful change. Through these partnerships, MakeWay is building a world where nature and communities thrive.
With The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation’s support, MakeWay is strengthening Indigenous-led water conservation initiatives and the establishment of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) in British Columbia, the Yukon, and Northwest Territories. This is done by providing strategic support resources to help build the capacity of local watershed leaders – who are predominately women – and develop the next generation.
Traditional beadwork depicting the To Swim and Speak With Salmon logo.Photo Credit: To Swim and Speak With Salmon / MakeWay
The true impact of MakeWay is in its ability to empower these local leaders to drive solutions that resonate and connect with their local community. An example of this is the support MakeWay has provided to To Swim and Speak with Salmon, an initiative on MakeWay's shared platform dedicated to nurturing the leadership capacity and conservation mindset among Indigenous youth and a select few non-Indigenous youth. For Indigenous peoples, salmon are more than a food source; they are spiritual kin. Led by Kate Curtis, Jared Gonet, Paul McCarney, Nicola Rondeau, and Nika Silverfox-Young, To Swim and Speak with Salmon is helping to create a new generation of Indigenous youth who are empowered with the training, mentorship, and cultural knowledge needed to confront the complex challenges facing Pacific Salmon.
The program engages Indigenous youth from the Yukon, Alaska, and British Columbia and equips them with the skills to advocate for salmon, the personhood of rivers, and sustain humanity’s balance with the other than human kin and places – catalyzing lasting change for their communities and empowering the next generation of local leaders. There are 10 youth engaged in the program, each becoming a powerful voice for salmon, rivers, and Indigenous ways of being.
By investing in the wellbeing and knowledge of current and future Indigenous leaders, MakeWay is empowering local stewards to build a Canada where cultural knowledge and ecological science co-exist for generations to come.
