Indigenous Guardians Endowment Fund
On Valentine’s Day 2023 the Healthy Headwaters Lab launched the Indigenous Guardians Endowment Fund. With gratitude and in partnership with our lab’s Ode’imin Indigenous Knowledge Circle.
Ode’imin means Heart Berry in Anishnaabemowin (the Ojibwe language), which is also the strawberry fruit. We are grounded by the wisdom that this Circle shares with us and the amazing relationships that have emerged.
We always knew that the work HHL would pursue was not just science but also a more ethical, kinder, reciprocal process. Over the years we have critically explored how we could do more for our partners, acknowledging the relational, long-term labour required to sustain good work, training and other activities aligned with or stemming from our work. It’s clear that what is required is long-term investment in the future generations.
Simply put: The land, water and future generations need Indigenous guardians; Indigenous guardians need YOU!
We are honoured to announce our next great initiative in support of Indigenous stewards and future generations. After years of journeying with communities actively engaged in stewarding land and water, our team at the Healthy Headwaters Lab has been committed to identifying and removing barriers to training, capacity strengthening and mobilization of resources. Working with youth, especially the Bkejwanong Eco-Keepers from Walpole Island First Nation and emerging Indigenous leaders from across Turtle Island has been the greatest honour, privilege and teacher. At the same time, the awakening of non-Indigenous communities to the history of Canada’s residential schools and other colonial traumas including climate change, biodiversity losses and widespread ecosystem degradation has led people to our lab, the work of our team and like-minded groups as meaningful bridges to connect restoration, conservation and reconciliation. As we continue to grow our efforts to decolonize and Indigenize our approach to science, a key limitation has always been steady and flexible funding that can be equitably accessed and directed to individuals, training, scholarships and other forms of support in a way that honours culture, spirit and self-determination. Hence, with support from the University of Windsor’s Advancement Office and Faculty of Science, the Healthy Headwaters Lab is proud to launch the Indigenous Guardians Endowment Fund, an investment-based approach to funding future projects and initiatives.
How does it work?
Anyone can make a donation for any amount, for themselves or on the behalf of others simply by visiting the link here. All donors will receive a charitable tax donation receipt.
Kicking things off:
To kick things off, we have directed all overhead and unused funds from 2022 and Dr. Catherine Febria will direct all proceeds from all speaking invitations to this grant. As soon as the fund reaches $25,000 CAD, we will have secured enough capital to invest into a funding portfolio that will operate in perpetuity. Managed by the University of Windsor’s Board of Governer’s Investment Committee, the fund abides by the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing. There is no overhead to the University.
How will funds be directed?
Currently the grant is jointly administered by Dr. Catherine Febria, Clint Jacobs and Candy Donaldson who together guide HHL, Walpole Island Land Trust and Ode’imin HHL’s Indigenous Knowledge Circle, respectively. In the initial years, we will direct the funds towards training programs for youth, provide research and stewardship jobs, and co-fund community projects and collaborations. We will fund other requests as they arise, such as sponsoring Indigenous knowledge keepers to attend and present at conferences and workshops of their choosing by helping cover costs of travel and registration which are often prohibitive. Wherever our researchers and decision-makers are coming together, we will use these funds to facilitate representation by Indigenous youth, stewards and leaders at any event, table or conference to ensure that Indigenous representation becomes the norm. Overall we aim for flexibility and transparency. We will publish an annual report on how the funds are used and the success stories and lessons learned that will emerge.
How can you get involved?
Help us reach our $25,000 target as soon as possible.
DONATE NOW at the link in our profile and reamplify!
Thinking of a gift for a loved one ? DONATE NOW.
Want to do more?
Journey, grow and learn with us. Check out our lab website, Follow us for updates & support our partners. There are a growing number of other initiatives across Turtle Island including a newly announced federally-funded Indigenous Guardians Program. Stay tuned!
Chi-miigwech & Maraming salamat!
