Episode 32- The Criminalization of Indigenous Land Defenders in Canada —

Our Truth Part one, Chief Na’Moks and Jesse Stoeppler

WHAT

This is part one of a four part series on the criminalization of land defenders

across Canada, highlighting firsthand experiences and legal injustices.

WHO

Chief Na’Moks is a Hereditary Chief of the Tsayu (Beaver Clan), one of the five

clans of the Wet’suwet’en Nation. The traditional name he carries is thousands

of years old and, as part of their matrilineal society, was also held by his

grandmother—who wore the very same regalia he wears today. The role of a

Hereditary Chief carries the sacred responsibility of protecting the 22,000 square

kilometers of Wet’suwet’en territory, a duty grounded in ancestral law that has

remained unchanged both before and after colonial contact.

As a vocal and respected leader, Chief Na’Moks has brought international

attention to the violations of Wet’suwet’en rights in the context of unconsented

resource development. He has spoken at the United Nations Headquarters in

New York and Geneva, sharing his people’s message about the militarized role

the RCMP plays on their territory. Since 2019, he has appeared in nearly 100

media interviews, both print and broadcast, denouncing what he describes as a

campaign of state-backed harassment, surveillance, and discrimination.

Jesse Stoeppler proudly calls the Skeena Watershed home. After completing a

degree in Europe he returned to start a family and raise two future leaders

amongst the peaks of the beautiful Bulkley Valley. Mentored by Hereditary Chief

and Matriarch Yaga’lahl (Dora B. Wilson) he embraces Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en

culture and has been actively participating in title & rights and Clan governance

as a member of Wilp Spookwx (Lax Gibuu / Gitumden). As a Project Manager for

a multi-million trust fund, Jesse was able to lead the way in establishing

comprehensive community planning, land use management and create his

community's Indigenous economic development.

MUSIC

Song: Signal To Noise

Composer: Scott Buckley

Website: https://youtube.com/user/musicbyscottb

License: Free To Use YouTube license youtube-free

Music powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com

Episode 31 - Saskatchewan Waterwalk: Carrying on the Legacy of Josephine Mandamin Baa, with Waasekom Niin

WHAT

Saskatchewan Waterwalk: Carrying on the Legacy of Josephine

Mandamin Baa

WHO

Waasekom Niin is Turtle Clan Anishinaabe from Saugeen First Nation and

the Kettle & Stoney Point First Nations on the southeastern shores of Lake

Huron.

He is an avid paddler, having led 4 ceremonial canoe journeys throughout

the Great Lakes to raise awareness about Water, Climate Change, and

Indigenous sovereign responsibilities. His journey began in response to the

Waterwalks, where he has been a protector and Eagle Staff carrier on 7

Walks.

Waasekom is known for starting Picking Up the Bundles Canoe Journey,

Niwiijiiwok Doodemak (Gathering of Clans), the Great Lakes Petition,

Gganoonigonaa Zaagigan (The Lake is Speaking to Us), and most recently

the Elegy of Ancestors.

MUSIC

Song: The Epic Hero

Composer: Keys Of Moon

Website: https://www.youtube.com/c/keysofmoonmusic

License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0) https://

creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

Music powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com

Episode 30 - Part 3, Decolonization of Our Diets and Reclaiming Traditional Foods,

with Dr. Kevin wâsakâyâsiw Lewis

WHAT

Food sovereignty traces back to our original teachings, to learn about the

connection between the land and our food supply and connection to

community through traditional foods. Decolonizing our diet means

incorporating traditional foods to preserve and nurture our mind, body and

spirit and eliminate diseases that have long impacted Indigenous peoples.

WHO

Kevin wâsakâyâsiw Lewis - Dr. Kevin wâsakâyâsiw Lewis is a Nêhiyaw

(Plains Cree) instructor, researcher and writer from Ministikwan Lake Cree

Nation in Treaty 6 Territory.

Dr. Lewis has worked with higher learning institutions within the Prairie

Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in the areas of Cree

Language Development and Instructional methodologies. His research

interests include language and policy development, second language

teaching methodologies, teacher education programming, and

environmental education.

For the past 15 years, Dr. Lewis has been working with community schools

in promoting land and language-based education and is the founder of

kâniyâsihk Culture Camps, a non-profit organization focused on holistic

community well-being and co-developer of Land-Based Cree Immersion

School kâ-nêyâsihk mîkiwâhpa.

MUSIC

Song: Flowing Energy

Composer: Keys Of Moon

Website: https://www.youtube.com/c/keysofmoonmusic

License: Creative Commons (BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/

licenses/by/3.0/

Music powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com

Episode 29 - Part 2, Decolonization of Our Diets and Reclaiming

Traditional Foods, with Dr. Kevin wâsakâyâsiw Lewis

WHAT

Food sovereignty traces back to our original teachings, to learn about the

connection between the land and our food supply and connection to

community through traditional foods. Decolonizing our diet means

incorporating traditional foods to preserve and nurture our mind, body and

spirit and eliminate diseases that have long impacted Indigenous peoples.

WHO

Kevin wâsakâyâsiw Lewis - Dr. Kevin wâsakâyâsiw Lewis is a Nêhiyaw

(Plains Cree) instructor, researcher and writer from Ministikwan Lake Cree

Nation in Treaty 6 Territory.

Dr. Lewis has worked with higher learning institutions within the Prairie

Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in the areas of Cree

Language Development and Instructional methodologies. His research

interests include language and policy development, second language

teaching methodologies, teacher education programming, and

environmental education.

For the past 15 years, Dr. Lewis has been working with community schools

in promoting land and language-based education and is the founder of

kâniyâsihk Culture Camps, a non-profit organization focused on holistic

community well-being and co-developer of Land-Based Cree Immersion

School kâ-nêyâsihk mîkiwâhpa.

MUSIC

Song: Journey To The Stars

Composer: Savfk

Website: https://youtube.com/savfkmusic

License: Free To Use YouTube license youtube-free

Music powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com

Episode 28 - Part 1

Decolonization of Our Diets and Reclaiming

Traditional Foods, Jared Qwustenuxun Williams

WHAT

Food sovereignty traces back to our original teachings, to learn about the

connection between the land and our food supply and connection to

community through traditional foods. Decolonizing our diet means

incorporating traditional foods to preserve and nurture our mind, body and

spirit and eliminate diseases that have long impacted Indigenous peoples.

Jared Qwustenuxun Williams - is a passionate Indigenous Foods educator

who spent much of his youth with his late grandmother, immersed in

Salish culture. After Qwustenuxun graduated from culinary arts, he spent a

decade working in restaurants across Vancouver Island before deciding to

move back home to Quw’utsun to take the role of Elder’s Kitchen Manager

at Cowichan Tribes. After more than a decade of cooking for his elders,

Qwustenuxun now works as an Indigenous foods educator, writer, and

consultant. Most recently, Qwustenuxun was nominated for and won

several Canadian Online Publishing Awards; he was also nominated for the

2022 BC Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Award and led the first smoked

salmon project conducted by the First Nations Health Authority. That

proved that traditional salmon smoking techniques are safe and effective

for food preservation. When he is not working on furthering Salish food

sovereignty, Qwustenuxun spends his time with his wife and children on

their small hobby farm in Quw’utsun.

MUSIC

Song: Chill Day

Composer: Lakey Inspired

Website: https://www.youtube.com/LakeyInspired

License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0) https://

creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

Music powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com

Episode 27

Water is sacred Tu' de'gha' Conference Part 2

WHAT

August 1st to 3rd in 2024, Keepers of the water partnered with

Kátł’odeeche First Nation and the Canadian Association of Physicians

for the Environment (CAPE), to hold the Water is Sacred Conference,

in Katlodeeche First Nation.

The conference looked within First Nations communities for guidance

from traditional knowledge Keepers, for direction and solutions for

watershed management within their territories. Keepers of the Water

offers our support in uplifting Traditional Indigenous Knowledge as

the path forward for solutions to fossil fuel-driven climate change

chaos.

WHO

Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Na’Moks, also known as John

Ridsdale, is a prominent figure known for his role in defending the

Wet'suwet'en Nation's hereditary governance and territorial rights.

Chief Na’Moks is the highest ranking chief of the Tsayu clan, and Chief

Knedebeas, the highest ranking chief of the Gilseyhu clan and House

Chief of the Unist’ot’en

MUSIC

Song: Good Day To Die

Composer: Miguel Johnson

Website: https://www.youtube.com/channel/

UCenTwNA8ioN37RD7bfNSUpA

License: Creative Commons (BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/

licenses/by/3.0/

Music powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com

Song: Good Day To Die

Composer: Miguel Johnson

Episode 26

Water is Sacred Tu' de'gha' Conference Part 1

WHAT

August 1st to 3rd in 2024, Keepers of the water partnered with

Kátł’odeeche First Nation and the Canadian Association of Physicians for

the Environment (CAPE), to hold the Water is Sacred Conference, in

Katlodeeche First Nation.

The conference looked within First Nations communities for guidance from

traditional knowledge Keepers, for direction and solutions for watershed

management within their territories. Keepers of the Water offers our

support in uplifting Traditional Indigenous Knowledge as the path forward

for solutions to fossil fuel-driven climate change chaos.

WHO

Jesse Stoeppler is a Gitxsan land steward, co-executive director of the

Skeena Watershed Coalition and Deputy Chief of the Hagwilget First

Nation.

Stoeppler believes that mobilizing this traditional knowledge will benefit his

community’s economy and the environment. “Throughout thousands of

years of human history, someone has faced the same problems our

communities are facing now and has found a solution,” says Stoeppler.

“Our future is in our past. Our people saw value in the hazelnut and

practiced stewardship of the land. The flora and fauna in the area were

able to thrive in that environment. Understanding this can support food

sovereignty in our communities.”

MUSIC

Song: Embrace

Composer: Sappheiros

Website: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ZVHXQZAIn9WJXvy6qn9K0

License: Creative Commons (BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/

licenses/by/3.0/

Music powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com

Episode 25 - Indigenous Bear Teachings - Jeff Wastesicoot, part 3

What - In numerous Indigenous cultures, the Bear, or Muskwa, holds

profound significance. Numerous narratives and teachings delve into

the importance of bear wisdom, medicines, and lodges. The bear

imparts many lessons through its way of life, with courage standing

out as one of the most significant teachings. Join Keepers of The

Water as Jeff Wastesicoot explores Bear teachings…

Who - In episode 25 we hear Jeff Wastesicoot is currently an adjunct

professor with the University of Mantioba. He currently serves on the

thesis committee that guides the research to the candidates, as they

explore spirituality and laws as they relate to Nehiyew (Cree)

governance.

Jeff continues to dedicate much of his time to helping people

overcome personal challenges through ceremonies, traditional

medicines and counseling. He has dedicated his life to the

preservation of the Nehiyew language and culture. Jeff recognizes the

spirit within the tongue, as he interprets the parables within the

Nehiyew language. He is recognized in the acknowledged among the

First Nations community as a spiritual leader and traditional healer.

The stories told to him in the Nehiyew language through ceremony

and consult with the Elders remain, and he in turn, continues to

promote this knowledge with other Nations throughout Canada. Jeff

resides in Onihcikiskwapiwin Cree Nation with his wife Shelly, their

children and Charlie.

Music -

Song: Way Home

Composer: Tokyo Music Walker

Website: https://www.youtube.com/channel/

UC3lLfvhpPGtwd5qD25cMDcA

License: Free To Use YouTube license youtube-free

Music powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com