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Eeyou Itschee (James Bay, Québec)

Misria

Since 1972, Eeyou Itschee, a territory east of James Bay, has been terraformed by the largest hydro-generation system on the planet, led by HydroQuébec and the Government of Québec. A territory 2/3rds the size of France has been diked, dammed, its rivers redirected, and criss-crossed by electrical transmission lines to the South and to the US. Due to the high levels of mercury released by the forests flooded for reservoirs the size of Belgium, health authorities recommend eating no more than two fish from the rivers each month. Fluctuating spring river levels led to the drowning of tens of thousands of Caribou. Learning only from newspapers, the resident Eenouch came together and negotiated the first land claims agreement in Canada, surrendering about 99% of their territory for promises of economic development. 50 years on, a settler-colonial geography, reinforced by a complex sociolegal framework, contain and constrain spatial relations in and of Eeyou Itschee through constant processes of renegotiation and reparation for land with money. Our research focused on a survey of the ways the science literature represents the region and its features. Our research ties with this territory are strongly linked to Nemaska, an Eenouch hamlet 2 days drive north of Montreal that was expropriated but managed to relocate and rebuild their community. Today, a lithium (spodumene) mine is being developed nearby. The community fears the impacts. However, the Nemaska band council approved the project due to the economic benefits it might bring. For more information: https://www.spaceandculture.com/2023/10/31/eeyou-istchee-old-nemaska/ 

 

Source

Shields, Rob, Cheryl Arnston, Nicholas Hardy and Juan David Guevara-Salamanca. 2023. "Eeyou Itschee and settler colonial terraforming." In 4S Paraconference X EiJ: Building a Global Record, curated by Misria Shaik Ali, Kim Fortun, Phillip Baum and Prerna Srigyan. Annual Meeting of the Society of Social Studies of Science. Honolulu, Hawai'i, Nov 8-11.

Eeyou Itschee (James Bay, Québec)

Misria

Since 1972, Eeyou Itschee, a territory east of James Bay, has been terraformed by the largest hydro-generation system on the planet, led by HydroQuébec and the Government of Québec. A territory 2/3rds the size of France has been diked, dammed, its rivers redirected, and criss-crossed by electrical transmission lines to the South and to the US. Due to the high levels of mercury released by the forests flooded for reservoirs the size of Belgium, health authorities recommend eating no more than two fish from the rivers each month. Fluctuating spring river levels led to the drowning of tens of thousands of Caribou. Learning only from newspapers, the resident Eenouch came together and negotiated the first land claims agreement in Canada, surrendering about 99% of their territory for promises of economic development. 50 years on, a settler-colonial geography, reinforced by a complex sociolegal framework, contain and constrain spatial relations in and of Eeyou Itschee through constant processes of renegotiation and reparation for land with money. Our research focused on a survey of the ways the science literature represents the region and its features. Our research ties with this territory are strongly linked to Nemaska, an Eenouch hamlet 2 days drive north of Montreal that was expropriated but managed to relocate and rebuild their community. Today, a lithium (spodumene) mine is being developed nearby. The community fears the impacts. However, the Nemaska band council approved the project due to the economic benefits it might bring. For more information: https://www.spaceandculture.com/2023/10/31/eeyou-istchee-old-nemaska/ 

Shields, Rob, Cheryl Arnston, Nicholas Hardy and Juan David Guevara-Salamanca. 2023. "Eeyou Itschee and settler colonial terraforming." In 4S Paraconference X EiJ: Building a Global Record, curated by Misria Shaik Ali, Kim Fortun, Phillip Baum and Prerna Srigyan. Annual Meeting of the Society of Social Studies of Science. Honolulu, Hawai'i, Nov 8-11.

Tanio, N_EnviroEd Collaborative_organization

ntanio

EEC is the writing team for 10Strands,  CCEJ project for 8th grade curriculum.

EEC is organized as a collaborative (initially they were made up of over 75 organizations that include School District representation) with a board of trustees (13 members). Mary Walls, who is on a 10S writing team, is the chair of this org. In addition they have an Advisory Board. Their website lists 13 sponsors and 3 "grantors' including SoCal Edison. They describe themselves as a grassroots alliance.

The EEC seems to have officially started in Feb 2015 with their first EEC Symposium although planning meetings began in 2014 following the Stanford University Collaborative Impact Model.

Tanio, N_EnviroEd Collaborative_initiatives

ntanio

The EEC offers piad workshops--their most recent on in Winter 2022 features Mary V and Mary Walls (Board Chair of EEC) as Workshop leaders on Land Acknowledgements and Decolonializing educaiton.

The EEC's websites lists many resources (organizations, guides) focused on Environmental; Agricultural, Professional development

In addition, they sponsor a bilingual art/writing and video contest annually seemingly for school age children. Recent topics include: Air and Justice (2021); Water & Water Justice (2022)

Tanio, N_EnviroEd Collaborative

ntanio

Mission statement:  Creating a sustainable and just future through environmental learning experiences for all.

They execute their mission through funding, policy and program resources In Riverside and San Bernardino Counties

In addition they envision communities where a) every person can experience nature everyday; b) teachers and envied providers have resources; c) enviro literacy is an essential component of child development