Raven Respecting Aboriginal Values And Environmental Needs

GRASSY NARROWS FIRST NATION (Grassy Narrows):In June 2024, Grassy Narrows filed their legal case against Canada and Ontario over the mercury contamination of the English-Wabigoon River in northern Ontario which they rely on.The lawsuit is based on the Ontario and Canadian governments' failure to act in a way that upholds Treaty 3. Treaty 3 includes protecting Grassy Narrows' right to fish, hunt, and practice their culture while restoring their Anishinaabe way of life and wellbeing, as it is nearly impossible to have meaningful rights when your ecosystem is contaminated by mercury.

HEILTSUK NATION (Heiltsuk):Heiltsuk is taking Kirby Corporation (an oil shipping company), Canada and British Columbia to court. The case focuses on the damages arising from the catastrophic Nathan E. Stewart spilling of toxic fuels into Heiltsuk's marine harvesting areas.This case has the potential to set a precedent in the awarding of damages relating to the impact of and damages to cultural practices of a First Nation. Currently, damages are only awarded if they impact the economic livelihood of commercial fishers. ...continues on Schedule OHEILTSUK NATION (Heiltsuk) - continued:Heiltsuk completed their own Indigenous-led environmental impact assessment report (EIA), where Heiltsuk laws and knowledge ground the methodology and content of the report.

1. BREATHING LANDS (Expenses - $82,374): The names given to the vast peatlands of Ontario's north are "Yehewin Aski and "Bakitanaamowin Aki", meaning the Breathing Lands. It's an incredibly powerful evocation of the life-giving role of a vital ecosystem that has sustained Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial. Successive settler governments have run roughshod over Indigenous Peoples' Treaty No. 9 rights for over a century. A coalition of several Nations have taken Canada and Ontario to court to press for co-jurisdiction in Treaty No. 9 territory, giving them greater decision-making power over resource extraction projects on their lands. They expect Canada and Ontario to file their Statement of Defence soon. This case has the potential to set a precedent on the interpretation of Treaty No. 9. It focuses on the role of oral promises in the agreements enshrined with the Treaty. 2. GITXAALA NATION (Gitxaala) (Expenses - $61,966): In September 2023, Gitxaala Nation received a favourable decision in their case over British Columbia's (BC's) archaic Mineral Tenure Act. The case initiated an overhaul of B.C.'s online mineral tenure system, giving over 200 First Nations more say over how and where their lands are used for mining. Although Gitxaala celebrates this victory for mining justice, the B.C. Supreme Court also found that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) has no force under law in B.C. Gitxaala is appealing this aspect of the judgement to ensure that B.C. courts interpret the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) as creating justiciable rights. 3. KABAOWEK FIRST NATION (Kabaowek) (Expenses - $58,372): Kebaowek First Nation is challenging a decision of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) in court to protect the sacred Kichi Sibi (Ottawa River) from a nuclear waste disposal facility proposed by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL). In February 2025, Kebaowek First Nation received a decision from the Federal Court that was overwhelmingly positive for protecting the Kichi Sibi (Ottawa River) and advancing UNDRIP in Canadian law. CNL has appealed this decision and Kebaowek is preparing for another hearing. 4. WET'SUWET'EN NATION (Wet'suwet'en) (Expenses - $32,288):Two Houses of the Likhts'amisyu (Fireweed) Clan are pressing ahead with their case that aims to confront Canada's inaction to address the ongoing threat of climate disaster. However, Canada filed its second motion to strike the claim, which, if successful, would prevent the case from being heard in court. Likhts'amisyu members and leadership are opposing this motion to strike, enacting their own responsibility, under Wet'suwet'en law, to protect future generations from the effects of climate change. Currently, their next court date is scheduled for August 21, 2025, in Vancouver, BC. 5. INTERVENOR FUND (Expenses - $26,594)In 2022 RAVEN launched a new "Intervenor Fund" to allow Nations and Indigenous organizations to participate in and influence litigation without bearing the full cost of legal challenges. 6. OTHER PROGRAMS (Expenses - $31,256)RAVEN continued to work with various Indigenous nations on smaller legal projects.