5 Indigenous Climate Activists to Follow and Support

National Truth and Reconciliation Day is a day to recognize the intergenerational harm caused by residential schools, the missing children, the families left behind, and the survivors of these institutions.


Reconciliation is a process of learning from our mistakes, learning about history, and learning about different traditions in attempts to spread awareness about the ongoing effects of colonization on Indigenous peoples and cultures. Sustainability is just one of the many areas where we can follow the guidance of Indigenous people to protect the earth and reduce our impact. From advocating against pipelines, deforestation, or water contamination, these brave, persistent and innovative indigenous climate leaders are using their platforms to inform and inspire people to take action towards bettering the planet. 


Here are 5 Indigenous climate activists to follow and support: 

Autumn Peltier | @autumn.peltier

 

Autumn is the Anishinaabe Chief Water Commissioner and is an Indigenous rights advocate from the Wiikwemkoong First Nation. She uses her platform to spread the message of the sacredness of water and advocates for universal clean drinking water since so many Indigenous communities do not have access to clean running water. Despite her young age, she has won numerous awards for her human rights activism and informed many people on the importance of water conservation. 

Quannah Chasinghorse | @quannah.rose


Model by day, environmental advocate by night, Quannah Chasinghorse is a vocal Indigenous rights leader from the Hän Gwich’in and Sicangu Oglala Lakota tribes of Alaska. She is passionate about protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil drilling and protecting Arctic communities from the devastating effects of climate change. “As Indigenous people, we don't consider ourselves separate from or more important than nature. When you grow up with a connection to the land, it's natural that you want to defend it, because it is a part of you.” 

Dallas Goldtooth | @dallasgoldtooth


Dallas Goldtooth is a comedian and a national campaigner for the Indigenous Environmental Network, a charity founded by his father that unites together Indigenous people to protect the earth. Through his climate work, he spent years fighting the development of pipelines and successfully managed to shut down Keystone XL. He is a member of the Mdewakanton Dakota & Dińe tribes.  

Ta'Kaiya Blaney | @takaiyablaney


Ta’Kaiya is a member of the Tla A'min Nation in British Columbia and is an ambassador for the Native Children’s Survival Indigenous Children Fund. At a young age she started writing and performing songs to raise awareness for Indigenous and environmental justice. She has since transitioned her message from songs into speeches and now delivers talks about environmental issues and Indigenous communities all across Canada. 

Melina Miyowapan Laboucan-Massimo | @melina_miyowapan


Melina is the Founder of Sacred Earth Solar, a Director at Indigenous Climate Action and a Climate Fellow at the David Suzuki Foundation. She is internationally renowned for advocating for climate justice, Indigenous sovereignty and women’s rights. In 2021, the Canada Climate Law Initiative recognized her as one of the 26 Climate Champions in Canada. Today, she continues to advocate for climate justice and uses her Instagram to share climate news, protest drilling and pipelines and share sustainability stories and advice. 


This is just a short list of the many trailblazing Indigenous environmental leaders who are relentlessly advocating for climate justice. From learning and honouring Indigenous sustainability practices, we can all become more conscious citizens and do our best to protect and preserve the beautiful land around us.