Call for Sessions opens September!
Thursday, May 11
11:30–12:30
Toronto I & II
Free livestream on Zoom Webinar - Follow "Join" link shortly before event
For over a decade, I have been working under the climate change umbrella, being privileged to have started this learning journey in my own Community of Georgina Island First Nation, and I continue to be privileged and grateful to work with many other Indigenous Communities and Peoples as well as non-Indigenous organizations and people in undertaking this work. Through these many opportunities I have learned a great deal not only about climate change but also about the intimate connection that Indigenous Peoples, including myself as an Indigenous women, hold to that in which sustains us all, our collective Mother, Mother Earth. I have also learned the importance of sharing this knowledge with others. I will share some of these opportunities as well as several key concepts that I have come to know which are not well known, acknowledged or appreciated within the western colonial constructs that we currently use to guide this work. These are concepts in which I have grown to understand as an Anishnabe Kwe (First Nations women) working in this field and through the voices of our Elders, Knowledge Holders and Ancestors, and am of the belief, are fundamental to adapting to our changing climate.
Kerry-Ann Charles is a member of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, a proud mom of two boys and has been a team member of Cambium Indigenous Professional Services (CIPS) since 2017 as the environment partnership coordinator.
Kerry-Ann was proud to serve her community for over 17 years in various capacities including a term as councilor, by-law development and implementation, waste management, housing, water, transportation, education, and childcare. During her last 10 years of service, she was the environment coordinator and led the establishment of the Environment Department. She also led—in partnership with the Climate Risk Institute (formerly known as the Ontario Center for Climate Impacts and Adaptation Resources)—the development of the Georgina Island First Nation Climate Change Adaptation Planning Framework. This framework uses Traditional Ecological Knowledge as the foundation for climate change planning. Stemming from this work, she has worked with her community, as well as a number of other communities, in the development of climate change adaptation and implementation plans and continues to do so in her position at CIPS.
She has had great success in initiating and building relationships with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous environmental and other organizations, developing partnerships to coordinate and carry out various environmental activities with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners as well as promoting education and Community involvement in all environmental initiatives within all sectors of society. As a result of this work, Kerry-Ann has gained international recognition and has been asked to speak across Canada, in the U.S. and in Mexico on Indigenous perspectives on environmental initiatives. Most recently she was asked to speak at COP27 as the Indigenous Lead for the Commission for Environmental Cooperation. Kerry Ann’s wide range of career experiences give her a unique perspective that can be very valuable when assisting others wishing to find their balance of operations and carrying out of their environmental responsibility.
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