podcast overview: a quick (~20 minute) overview of baaja (the bipartisan affordability and jobs act) and discussion about the impacts it would have if implemented on the environment, water, and indigenous cultural sites as well as indigenous rights to challenge projects that threaten those things. james speaks to natali geovia, a lawyer with the water protector league council.

my own take on all this: i personally think that everyone who values clean water owes a huge debt to indigenous water protectors, whether they know it or not. indigenous people continue to shoulder a heavy responsibility in the arena of conservation while simultaneously working to protect their own rights.

i also find it interesting that this is happening at the same time that the carney government is signaling a desire to alter their relationship with first nations. this seems to me to be tied to the same desire to fast-track the types of energy infrastructure projects that baaja would support.

the multinationals that desire the resources of turtle island are absolutely committed to their goals and recognize indigenous people as a major road block.

anyway i think this is bad. projects that involve complicated environmental or cultural issues should move slowly and these initiatives only back up my impression that it’s natives who are protecting all our interests.

and furthermore, landback!