THE GOOD PLACE
A Sustainable, Indigenous Future
The Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources partners with Indigenous communities to help manage environmental challenges and support sustainability initiatives with future generations in mind.
By Kate Rae
(Top) The recently opened greenhouse in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, built with the support of the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources, will provide the community with fresh produce. (Above) Shianne McKay. | PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE CENTRE FOR INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
THE PROJECTS OFFERED by the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) include teaching youth how to recycle, providing warm winter clothing to Indigenous children doing outdoor education, and safely removing derelict cars from remote Northern communities. And although the projects are diverse, they have one important thing in common — they connect Indigenous communities and organizations with the resources they need to achieve their goals. Since its creation 30 years ago by First Nation Chiefs from across Canada, the Winnipeg-based non-profit has supported over 450 projects in collaboration with more than 300 Indigenous nations. One of CIER’s current projects is Energy InSites, a building retrofit program that reduces energy consumption and emissions in Indigenous communities. “It's a really exciting initiative, especially because there are a lot of buildings in communities [needing] maintenance or retrofitting to increase energy savings,” says Shianne McKay, CIER senior project manager. Another significant ongoing project is the development of a new greenhouse in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, just west of Lake Manitoba. It’s a crucial step to help advance the community's goal of achieving food sovereignty.
“They eventually have dreams of becoming large enough that they can support other communities in the region.”
“They want to produce enough fresh vegetables and fresh greens for their community, for the elders, for the people like single parents or people that are on low-income assistance, but also some [for] their own local grocery store,” says McKay. “They eventually have dreams of becoming large enough that they can support other communities in the region.”
Currently, all of CIER’s funding is secured on a project-by-project basis. That’s something McKay would love to see change.
“We’re looking for more multi-year funding, because empowering the people with knowledge, training and skills … they'd be able to achieve anything if they were working past those limitations,” McKay says. “Colonialism and generational impact on communities are not a barrier when you surround the community with positive support, knowledge, education, training, sustainable planning and planning for the future.” CAA Visit yourcier.org to learn more or to donate.
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(From left) The recently opened greenhouse in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, built with the support of the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources, will provide the community with fresh produce; Shianne McKay. | PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE CENTRE FOR INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
(From top) The recently opened greenhouse in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, built with the support of the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources, will provide the community with fresh produce; Shianne McKay. | PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE CENTRE FOR INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
THE PROJECTS OFFERED by the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) include teaching youth how to recycle, providing warm winter clothing to Indigenous children doing outdoor education, and safely removing derelict cars from remote Northern communities. And although the projects are diverse, they have one important thing in common — they connect Indigenous communities and organizations with the resources they need to achieve their goals. Since its creation 30 years ago by First Nation Chiefs from across Canada, the Winnipeg-based non-profit has supported over 450 projects in collaboration with more than 300 Indigenous nations. One of CIER’s current projects is Energy InSites, a building retrofit program that reduces energy consumption and emissions in Indigenous communities. “It's a really exciting initiative, especially because there are a lot of buildings in communities [needing] maintenance or retrofitting to increase energy savings,” says Shianne McKay, CIER senior project manager. Another significant ongoing project is the development of a new greenhouse in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, just west of Lake Manitoba. It’s a crucial step to help advance the community's goal of achieving food sovereignty.
“They eventually have dreams of becoming large enough that they can support other communities in the region.”
“They want to produce enough fresh vegetables and fresh greens for their community, for the elders, for the people like single parents or people that are on low-income assistance, but also some [for] their own local grocery store,” says McKay. “They eventually have dreams of becoming large enough that they can support other communities in the region.”
Currently, all of CIER’s funding is secured on a project-by-project basis. That’s something McKay would love to see change.
“We’re looking for more multi-year funding, because empowering the people with knowledge, training and skills … they'd be able to achieve anything if they were working past those limitations,” McKay says. “Colonialism and generational impact on communities are not a barrier when you surround the community with positive support, knowledge, education, training, sustainable planning and planning for the future.” CAA Visit yourcier.org to learn more or to donate.