Wearing orange and feeling red

We are privileged and grateful to work from the unceded territory of the Coast Salish people, the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish Nations. A short walk from our North Vancouver office is the Squamish village of Ustlawn where there is a heartbreaking collection of children’s shoes on the steps of the community chapel. We, like most are horrified at the historical and continued systemic violence perpetrated against Indigenous Peoples. As a team and a company, we stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples and are exploring ways we can activate our support for action.

When we talk about climate change solutions, the reality is that the values, teachings and – in some places like Canada – rights of Indigenous Peoples are a critical component of the solutions we all need. So not only has Indigenous wisdom and prosperity been maligned since the beginning of the colonial era – but in the climate era, Indigenous Peoples have taken a disproportionate role in the solutions. Take, for instance, old growth logging in BC where the Fairy Creek deferral was granted only at the request of the Pacheedaht, Ditidaht and Huu-ay-aht First Nations. We ALL benefit from governments upholding indigenous rights. Now more than ever there’s an opportunity to converge wisdom from the past with new ways of thinking ... to lift up those who have been oppressed while creating a more sustainable, just future for everyone. If the last week in the Pacific Northwest has taught us anything, it's that the climate crisis is here now. — with more than 59 temperature records broken and an estimated 500 deaths in BC alone. The wisdom of our Indigenous peers is as important as ever.

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