Raven Reshapes and Transforms the World

RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs) is a ” non-profit charitable organization that provides financial resources to assist Aboriginal Nations within Canada in lawfully forcing industrial development to be reconciled with their traditional ways of life, and in a manner that addresses global warming or other ecological sustainability challengers.”

Their small staff is situated in Victoria BC on unceded Lekwungen and Coast Salish traditional territories.  RAVEN’s vision for Canada is”a country that embraces the ancestral laws of Indigenous Peoples and their equitable access to the justice system within a thriving natural habitat.”

RAVEN does this by raising legal defense funds to assist First Nations in expensive legal battles to “enforce their rights and title to protect their traditional territories.”  This levels the playing field against corporations with deep pockets who are often supported by provincial and federal governments.

RAVEN works in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples to provide public education programs to foster a greater understanding of indigenous rights and governance.

In December, I got an email that celebrated the successes of 2016.  This colourful graphic captures the spirit of their work and so I share it here with you.

In January I got an email saying that their year-end fund raising campaign had been responded to by over 350 people in the amount of $48,000.  In addition to this the 100 member Circle of Allies who give monthly ongoing support for their core programs had been joined by 45 more people.

RAVEN has ambitious goals for 2017.  The email reads:

“This year we’re taking on some major challenges. We’ve committed to raise $250k to help First Nations in the Peel Watershed take on the Yukon Government. We’re joining forces with northerners to stand up to Petronas in a campaign to protect wild salmon. Together with five First Nations, we intend to help them stop the TransMountain pipeline and tankers project by launching Pull Together: the People vs. Kinder Morgan. Our initial goal? $500,000.“

This is how thousands of non-Indigenous Canadians are putting reconciliation into meaningful action, by standing with Indigenous people who are protecting the land that we all share. 

Northwest Coast First Nations tell the story of the Raven who stole the light from an old man who had locked it in a box to keep it for himself.  Raven went into the dark and tricked the giant into giving him the light and then this trickster shared it with the whole world.

In one RAVEN email,  supporters were likened to this raven who was "wiling to face down some very dark places -- only to bring forth the light."  This ancient story is being retold right now, in a new way.