Vision for Justice and Sustainability

A world that I want to live in is one that balances justice and reconciliation, with ecology in respect to environmental sustainability through a compassionate lens. Values that are associated with my vision for this future would be rooted in equity regarding the distributional, procedural, and recognitional pillars of justice for all parties involved; wildlife and humans alike. At the most basal levels of equity, indigenous communities deserve to have at the bare minimum a seat at the table to make their voices heard that have long been suppressed and neglected. Moreover, introducing the consultation of indigenous communities would only be a step in the right direction, contingent on the notion that their point of view is not only acknowledged but valued as well. This will require a cultural shift rooted in compassion and require the re-building of relationships that have been strained for so long. While I don’t think we will ever be able to truly rectify the the suffering inflicted onto indigenous communities, our actions even today pour salt into their wounds that doesn’t foster equity amongst all, especially on lands that weren’t ours to begin with. There is an inherent inequity in the distribution of ownership on a myriad of fronts in regards to ecology, so the fact that we are lacking on a procedural and recognition front shows the lack of respect on a humane level that still exists today. I believe that equity must be built on a foundation of trust, respect, and the willingness to learn and grow alongside these communities with compassion for each other and the planet that we occupy together. Interventions at the most basic level would include increased representation in positions that are heard by policy makers. This could be to increase the number of seats in the federal council to increase indigenous voices in politics. By having all parties voices at the table, including ingenious peoples, social activists, environmental specialists we have the capacity to foster policy that is well rounded on multiple different fronts. Not only can we approach change differently in the future, but it is also our responsibility to rectify wrongdoings of the past. For example, there was no consultation of the indigenous peoples when re-introducing sea otters into their communities. While the damage has been done, it is our responsibility to approach them and see what can be done now to ensure they are heard with any future decisions or how to rectify the consequences of these unfiltered actions. The ultimate goal being to save our planet and live in a state of harmony and equity amongst each other can be achieved by approaching communication through compassion and mobilizing initiatives together with equal valuation of all perspectives. #UnleashValues