Our first Virtual Speaker Series was held on Thursday February 16, 2023, 12:30 – 2.00 PM (ET), led by Elder Myeengun Henry who considered Environmental Justice.
Speaker: Myeengun Henry
On Wednesday, February 16, 2023, the School of Social Work were honoured to have Myeengun Henry join us as the inaugural presenter for our MSW10 Speaker Series. Myeengun Henry graciously shared his teachings and learnings about Environmental Justice. His talk engaged and inspired attendees to consider and reflect upon several important ideas, including, for example:
- Earth is sacred. Indigenous peoples have traditionally kept Earth sacred, as the Earth provides everything we need to be well: water, food, medicine, air. These resources need to be shared, we need to use them with honour and respect. Nobody can own these resources; they are for us to use and share as we need them.
- Commodification. Earth and its natural resources are being commodified. Natural resources, however, are more than this, they have a life, a spirit, and they bring life to Earth. We need to be in touch with our own original stories and their meanings. We can reflect on where we came from so we know where we're going, guided by our spiritual teachings to help us change the mindset that the economy is our most important priority.
- Relationship-building. We have a relationship to our Creator and to Earth. We have an opportunity to give thanks to the beautiful things that have been provided, and this includes the land. We need to re-establish and re-build our relationship with our history, our land, and Earth. These relationships are prominent and sacred.
- Climate change. Changes in our climate and environment are costly and deadly. From Mexico and New Zealand to New Orleans, there is a shared closeness between our theories and our spiritual beings that a clean and healthy environment is needed to grow food. We can shape our way of life and our relationship with food and the environment through family and community.
- Integrity. Our integrity, our beautifulness with our Mother and to Earth, helps us to do better. Our integrity reminds us that we have a responsibility to ensure the integrity of the land, to keep it alive through treaties. We have a responsibility to have integrity and to live up to our responsibilities in the treaties.
- Teaching the next generation. We have opportunities to create a better place for future generations. The University has taken a huge step by accepting responsibility and making a commitment to decolonize, to indigenize the work that we do. We must share teachings that we need to be responsible, sustainable, and respectful to the Earth.
- Interconnectedness and wholism: Body, mind, and spirit. Each day Myeengun braids his hair and brings three strands together: body, mind, and spirit. As the braid becomes stronger, it becomes very hard to break and the longer it lasts. Myeengun thinks about longevity, and what needs to be passed to future generations.