Zac Whyte

Cultural Survival 's 2025 Indigenous Community Media Fund is now open! This initiative funds projects that strengthen Indigenous identity and worldview, and is prioritizing projects focused on environmental justice and climate change. Funding ranges from $8,000 to $12,000 USD 📆 Deadline: January 26, 2025 All the details ⬇️

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I want to say out loud that several of these folx are my most trusted collaborators, others are new leaders to our shared network. But ALL are experts in this space who usually teach longer (more costly) courses and private client programs. This is a low time/cost commitment that will pay you MAX dividends. How to join a board? What’s the commitment of time and expectations? Going beyond “governance” rules, because many real people (not just the wealthy, powerful or ‘connected’), join a small charity or nonprofit board to support a vision, a cause, a community or leaders they believe in…so how can you be not just productive but a GOOD board member? Join these experts and get the scoop.

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A good resource to keep at hand.

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The ‘new ease of filing’ provisions of Bill C-59 open the door to expensive, distracting, frivolous lawsuits that do nothing to advance the energy transition. I’m fascinated by the environmentalists who like to attack fossil fuel producers for GHG emissions. They create about 20% of the GHG emissions, while consumers create about 80%. We should not accept that making false claims in any industry is acceptable. However, Bill C-59 introduces murky criteria for judging claims, which could lead to frivolous lawsuits from the anti-oil and natural gas industry crowd.

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These days, how often do you hear that 85% of Canadians agree on *anything*? And yet, when it comes to restoring and protecting our increasingly vulnerable grasslands, wetlands, farmland, and forests -- measures that benefit #climate and #ecosystems, while also delivering huge economic dividends -- almost all of us are all in. https://lnkd.in/eP7iASmT Nature United released this report just ahead of the COP16 #biodiversity talks and COP29 climate summit. Let's hope those grindingly slow, process-driven meetings deliver what we need them to. But meanwhile, how about shifting our national and provincial politics so we can get done the things we need to, rather than falling back into the usual intergovernmental wrangles about why we think we can't? Yah, I know all the reasons it won't happen tomorrow. But a guy can dream, and this report gives us all lots of reasons to set an ambitious target, then get out there and demonstrate how widely it's supported.

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Something that’s become clear very quickly at #INC4 - the need for a more balanced representation of independent science and Indigenous knowledge at the INC-4 negotiations. A report from Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) shows that the total number of fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists registered is 3X greater than the 58 independent scientists from the Scientists’ Coalition for An Effective Plastic Treaty and 7X greater than the 28 representatives of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eucyw4Ms — #globalplasticstreaty The Ocean Foundation

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"The antidote to despair is to act." This is rewilding. 💚🌍🦁 Since learning about rewilding and joining the Global Rewilding Alliance, I'm constantly inspired by the people and organizations part of the movement. Kristine Tompkins’ vision, words, and actions are profoundly moving and motivating. Whether you're already familiar with rewilding or not yet, I highly recommend watching this 12-minute TED Talk, Rewilding Beyond Borders. It’s packed with wisdom and a compelling reminder that we must act together to create a wilder, functional world. "The first step in saving nature is the rewilding of our own minds." 💫 Tompkins Conservation Rewilding Argentina Fundación Rewilding Chile #rewilding #globalrewilding #sustainability #actnow #biodiversity #rewildinghope #hopeintoaction #conservation #tedtalk

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Yes! North American cycle network success stories are so necessary. Check this out and ICYMI, Here's my recent conversation with Roy Symons P.Eng. about his passion for this work: https://lnkd.in/gWXp98iG

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Honoring Urban Indigenous Identity When we talk about Indigenous identity, the spotlight often falls on rural or remote communities. But as someone deeply connected to the Indigenous experience, I can’t help but think about the many voices that go unheard—those of urban Indigenous people. Living in a city doesn’t mean being disconnected from our culture. Urban Indigenous people carry traditions, language, and stories with them. They form vibrant communities that adapt and thrive, despite systems that often render them invisible. Yet, urban Indigenous populations are frequently left out of policy decisions and reconciliation efforts. Why? Because stereotypes persist. Because there’s an assumption that culture doesn’t belong in cityscapes. But here’s the truth: culture lives wherever we take it. Reconciliation must include all Indigenous people—those in rural communities, remote areas, and urban centers. It’s not about where we live; it’s about honoring who we are and the rich, evolving identities we carry. Let’s challenge the narratives. Let’s make space for urban Indigenous voices in policy, representation, and reconciliation. Because every Indigenous story matters. How can we do better? #IndigenousIdentity #UrbanIndigenous #IndigenousVoices #Reconciliation

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Tourism in Alberta is booming with more visitors coming to the province than ever before, and Indigenous tourism is key to this success. To support increased demand for authentic, Indigenous-led tourism experiences, Alberta’s government has made the largest commitment to Indigenous tourism in the province’s history, directing $8.85 million to Indigenous Tourism Alberta over six years. Authentic, Indigenous-led experiences that share the stories of the land and vibrant cultures of Indigenous Peoples draw visitors from around the world to Alberta, providing economic opportunities for communities province wide. By continuing to invest in Indigenous tourism and supporting the development of authentic Indigenous experiences, Alberta’s government is positioning the province as a premier destination for travellers worldwide. 

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Proud of the work I got to do on the Community Futures Network of Canada Pre-Budget Submission for #Budget2025. 🍃 The Community Futures Program offers locally delivered support to rural entrepreneurs through a 267 office network across Canada. They provide a unique opportunity to deliver adaptive local support, including in response to natural or economic disasters. The recommendations are: 1) Protect Support for Rural Entrepreneurs Prevent disruptions in service delivery and safeguard $1.8 billion in capital to support entrepreneurs by providing additional inflation-indexed operating capital to the Community Futures Program for five years, beginning with $34.73 million in 2025-2026. 2) Modernize Program Design to Better Serve Entrepreneurs Modernize the Community Futures Program Terms and Conditions to serve the diverse needs of Canada’s rural entrepreneurs and communities. 3) Mobilize the Community Futures Network to Deliver Enhanced Support Capitalize on the success of the CFP by further leveraging the 267 CFO network to deliver transformative support to rural communities. 📄 Read the full submission here: https://lnkd.in/g2gA2d8s

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Thank you for sharing this article Freya - such wisdom, foresight and common sense condensed in one article. It's so exciting to finally see indigenous leaders getting the attention we so desperately need for the western world to wake up. The essence of their message for us in the west is skilfully summarised in this interview and one paragraph stood out as being particularly relevant to the growth obsessed tourism sector: "These cosmovisions are not theories, they cannot be presented in a literary work or in a document because they represent a way of being in the world. A collective way of living. If we were to answer in one sentence, it would be: We must learn to live with only what is necessary. In the children’s story The Jungle Book, all the creatures in the forest talk. At one point, the bear says to the boy that lives in the forest, ‘Only what is necessary, only what is necessary.’ It is beautiful because children understand what is necessary, but adults often do not. When we become adults, we go beyond the limits of what is necessary; we think we can force the Earth to give us what we want, not what it can sustainably provide. The phrase ‘only what is necessary’ is the first thing we will have to relearn. We have drawers to store everything we do not need. Maybe the first step is to imagine a world without drawers." Thank you Ailton Krenak and Local Futures.

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$375 million to support Indigenous-led stewardship, conservation, and economic development across the Northwest Territories - the largest single investment in Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship to date in NWT. 👏 👏 👏

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For more than 20 years, I’ve been helping Ontario journalists find sources and cover municipal stories. In that time I’ve also been criss-crossing the province to deliver many hundreds of media and social media training sessions. In recent years, I’ve have had to start by asking, “What local media remains?” While the answers vary tremendously, we know that: ➡️ Ontario is no longer covered by media. Only parts of it are. ➡️ There are huge gaps between ‘news islands’. ➡️ The number of news islands continues to shrink. We are down to about twelve. ➡️ This has tremendous implications for our democracy, and in particular, the strength of democracy in the hundreds of municipalities that are not covered. Democracy depends on a well-informed public being able to discuss and debate policies using commonly known facts. ➡️ Municipal governments tend to miss having informed reporters who ask challenging questions. Governments don’t mind being challenged. They are used to being yelled at. Responding to wild conspiracies, rumours, and fantasy is MUCH harder, far more time consuming, and kind of soul destroying. At the OSUM Conference we will look at what the decline of media means, and what can be done to support the media that’s left (and rising from the ashes of traditional media). Personally, I will giving my thoughts on how municipal governments can adapt to this ongoing change, and what they can do to maintain a well-informed electorate.

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MAKING TREATIES - Truthful history of treaty making in Canada - documentary - On the making of our modern Indian treaties - presenting an emotional and personal approach to the outcomes of the modern treaty process in Canada. Profiles on First Nations blend with input from resource developers and governments as the program weaves our tale of land ownership and forecasts our economic future. By presenting a balanced perspective, native and non-native alike, and by educating a concerned public, we may begin to build the very needed bridges and the dialogue that must exist for all societies to coexist in Canada. The program is a must-see for all audiences. Broadcast: Global Television. (Info - richard@firstnationsfilms.com) https://lnkd.in/g__hDbh

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#culturalawareness means understanding that there is no such thing an an "Indigenous" perspective, an "Indigenous worldview". First Nations, Inuit and Metis have distinct histories, governance systems, and cultures. And nations and communities, likewise do not always agree. The current situation regarding Bill C-53 is a case in point. Here is a Metis perspective. https://lnkd.in/em4yrQVR

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🌍 The Indigenous Navigator has made significant strides in expanding its reach and impact in 2023. In the past year, the geographic coverage has expanded to 30 countries, involving over 222 community surveys and publishing valuable data on Indigenous Peoples' rights and development. Critical to advancing Indigenous Peoples rights has been participation in, and presentation of, cases during international events such as the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and COP28. These spaces have been instrumental in advocating for Indigenous rights globally. Through collaborative efforts with our consortium partners, we're developing new indicators on climate change, biodiversity, and due diligence, further enhancing our framework's capabilities. You can read a little more about our international work in 2023 in IWGIA - International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs's the #IndigenousWorld2024 report. https://bit.ly/3V50zu6/ // https://lnkd.in/dXj_6bbd 🌿 #IndigenousNavigator #GlobalAdvocacy #HumanRights #DataForGood

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