Earth Day 2022: Invest in Our Planet

Earth Day 2022 Tree sapling help in cupped hands

As we approach Earth Day on April 22, 2022, many educators wonder how to explore and discuss the annual theme with learners. The past few years have been quite tumultuous here on Earth. Many of us reflected and rethought our day-to-day lives in a globalized world amid lockdowns, quarantines, and uncertainty. The theme for Earth Day 2022 is “Invest in Our Planet.” This article will explore ideas for integrating this theme and Earth Day into your teaching. 

How will you celebrate Earth Day 2022 with your learners, and more importantly, how will you teach them to invest in our planet 365 days a year? Keep reading for some Earth Day 2022 inspiration!

The Seventh Generation Principle

We can encourage learners to invest in our planet by shifting our perspectives and exploring Indigenous ways of knowing and being in the world. Eurocentric worldviews tend to value the planet’s resources only as sources of economic gain. This worldview does not consider the consequences of using resources in this way. Indigenous worldviews have a different perspective on resource management. One Haudenesonee teaching is the Seventh Generation Principle. This teaching asks us to consider the effects of our actions on ourselves and the seven generations that will follow us. It includes our relationships with other humans and the natural world. Many Indigenous worldviews do not see humans as separate from the natural world.

Researchers found that Indigenous-managed lands have the highest levels of biodiversity of vertebrate species. Partnering with Indigenous communities is essential for ensuring the survival of diverse species. Invite learners to imagine Earth’s appearance if more people understand and follow the Seventh Generation Principle. Have them gather their thoughts in artistic or written expression and share them with the community for Earth Day.

How can we talk about the climate crisis and still have hope?

The climate crisis is already upon us, but it is never too late to do as much as we can. It’s important to be truthful with learners, but it can be hard to present these facts and then motivate them to take action. If you are looking for a way to present the facts and spread hope, something that truly inspired me during the pandemic was The Year the Earth Changed. This documentary shares so many uplifting stories about the effects of a global lockdown on our planet. Throughout the 48-minute run time, I lost count of how many times I said, “Wow!” 

After watching, consider asking learners if human actions negatively affect wildlife or other humans in their communities. What steps can we take to mitigate these effects? Perhaps your learners can write letters to local politicians, create awareness campaigns or even organize a peaceful protest.

How can I encourage learners to “invest” in our planet?

Investing in our planet can seem like something reserved for governments and large corporations. Large organizations may have more economic power, but individuals are not powerless against climate change. We can start thinking about food waste, the length of supply chains, and green energy. Remind learners that individual choices impact ourselves and those who follow us. Instilling these values and empowering learners to pressure governments and corporations is a huge step in the right direction. Governmental and organizational leaders are often disconnected from Indigenous communities. They have not decolonized their Western corporate mindset. They often see environmental concerns as a cost to operations. Raising awareness at the individual level can help create change. Partnerships with Indigenous communities are opportunities to prosper and save our planet simultaneously. 

Learn From Indigenous Knowledges

Encourage learners to invest in our planet by exploring Indigenous ways of knowing and being. While lots of information is available online, the best way to learn about Indigenous communities is by connecting with them! Consider inviting local Indigenous community members to speak with learners or visiting a local cultural centre. Suppose you’re unsure how to connect with an Indigenous community. In that case, reach out to your local Friendship Centre to help create relationships and learn the correct cultural Protocols.  

Invest in Indigenous communities. Partner with them and amplify their voices. That is a meaningful way to celebrate Earth Day. It is also an action we can carry forward daily on a meaningful journey toward reconciliation and protecting our planet.

How will you encourage learners to invest in our planet? Will you be connecting with Indigenous communities? We’d love to hear your stories. Please share them with us here!

Earth Day and Beyond: Our Water

On April 22, people across the world will celebrate Earth Day. There will be demonstrations, guest speakers, and schools may encourage learners to have a trash-free day or bring a plant home.

While these are worthwhile activities, we can and should do more. We can do more every day. We cannot only care for our environment on Earth Day.

Water Protectors

For years, Indigenous women have been telling us about the state of our water. They have warned us about the pollution leaching in by accident or dumped on purpose. They have warned us about disrupting the flow of water across this land. Indigenous women have asserted their right to clean drinking water and advocated for more than 100 communities still under boil water advisories.

Women’s Connection to Water in Indigenous Worldviews

Women have a close connection and relationship with water in many Indigenous worldviews. They often take on the role of caretaker or protector. This is why women often spearhead movements like Idle No More and Mother Earth Water Walk.

Traditional Knowledge

In her article “Aboriginal Women, Water and Health: Reflections from Eleven First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Grandmothers,” Kim Anderson speaks with Grandmothers from different Nations across Turtle Island. Many of the women she speaks with talk about how water can be seen as the life-blood of the Earth. Just as our bodies have veins and arteries which carry blood, the rivers and streams carry water through the land. Most of the Earth’s surface is water, just as our bodies are mostly water. We can form reciprocal relationships with water. The Grandmothers’ Traditional Knowledge tells us that water will take care of us if we take care of it. Water can provide humans with food, hydration, transportation, medicine, and other necessities. But water cannot just keep giving without us offering something in return. We need to take care of it, keep it clean, and thank it for helping us.

Water is not a resource. It is our sibling.

Clean Water Advocacy

In the following resource, created in collaboration with Seven Generations High School, we hear Laura Horton from Manitou Rapids talk about her own advocacy journey for clean water.

Water Is the Basis of All Life

As Laura tells us, water is not replaceable. Once the water we have is gone, it will be gone forever. The water Laura is protecting is the basis of life on our planet. Animals and plants all need water to live. They need water to support their habitats and for drinking. When this water is not clean, plants change beyond recognition or die, and animals leave to find cleaner water sources. If the animals can’t leave, they mutate or carry poisons in their bodies that affect others higher up on the food chain, including humans.

As pollution affects our waters, we have to be more careful about our food choices, especially fish. We need to add more and more chemicals to our water to make sure it is drinkable. Finally, when the water becomes too polluted to drink, we need to bring water in from other parts of the country, which creates its own toll on the environment.

Take Action to Protect Our Waters

So, based on the Traditional Knowledge of these women, what can we do to protect our waters? We can walk for them. We can pray for them. We can lay down tobacco for them. We can raise our voices for them.

Above all, we can take action in our own lives to get to know the waters around us and to clean them up.

  • Organize clean-ups every spring and fall.
  • Connect with Water Walkers and Elders in or near your community.
  • Take part in demonstrations and protests year-round that advocate for our water.
  • Walk along the waterways in your community to form your own relationship.
  • Commit to reducing your household waste permanently, a little bit at a time.

That should be our goal this Earth Day and every day.