The Yinka Dini Resurgence Alliance: A Community Proposal
Date
2017-06-05
Authors
Lewis, Carla
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This community governance project is intended to be an intermediary between
knowledge and action. Indigenous governance and leadership require that our ideas
move into the realm of action to better our lives as Indigenous peoples: to become
healthy families and strong Indigenous nations. In short, decolonization and healing
requires mobilization. Over the years, I have been daydreaming about creating an
organization in Wet’suwet’en territory where we can conduct grassroots projects that
contribute to the resurgence of our culture, our values, and our presence on the land. I
have witnessed the degradation of our lands even in my short lifetime, and it must be
stopped. I have spent many years learning about colonization, globalization, and the
impact these things have had on our peoples’ minds and homelands. I hold so much pain
in my heart when I see the impacts of insatiable consumption on Indigenous peoples, on
starving children, and our lands that are stripped clear of life and covered in a humanmade
wig of concrete and tree farms. I seek to build a better understanding of the world
and how we can create a Wet’suwet’en resurgence where the modalities of our traditional
society, laws, and values show us a way of life that does not compromise our humanity
and our place in nature.
Description
Keywords
alliance, indigenous, governance, leadership, nations, decolonization, healing, mobilization, territory, culture, values, grassroots, colonization, globalization, homelands, resurgence, traditions, spirits, teachings