• Alongside the responsibility of holding people accountable and calling out what they see as unjust, I think that there's also an element of hope with artists, even when we're maybe a little bit melancholic, or even when we're in heavier periods in our lives, the act of creating denotes hope, because why would you create something if you didn't believe that it was going to lead to something? Why would you put energy into something if you didn't hope that it would nurture either a change or a feeling of belonging or something that'll bring people together and that will create a sense of community?

My conversation with Emily Marie Séguin, a Franco-Ontarian 2-spirited performer, musician, theatre creator and visual artist of settlers and Anishinabe descent who creates work to recognize those who walked before her, and to support those who will after her. I wanted to speak to Emily because she is member of Éclore, a collective that builds bridges between artistic, environmental and activist communities, bringing people together and building hope for a fairer, more sustainable future. I had already spoken with Léa Vandycke, about Éclore, in episode 164 of balado conscient, and so Emily is about to tell us, in English, the story of Éclore from her point but she will also talk about her own work and vision as an indigenous artist, such as her G’zaagiin maleńki – I promise you a forestproject. I also had a French language conversation with Emily, see balado conscient épisode 168.

Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI

Action points

• Discover the mission of Éclore and how it fosters collaboration between artists, scientists, and activists.
• Explore the role of art in advocating for social causes, environmental protection, and Indigenous sovereignty.
• Learn about Emily’s project, G’zaagiin maleńki – je te promets une forêt and its goal of connecting young people with the sounds and importance of nature.
• Understand the significance of Indigenous voices in land-based solutions for a just and sustainable world.
• Gain actionable steps for artists and cultural workers to engage in advocacy and support grassroots movements.

Story Preview

Imagine a world where art, environmentalism, and activism intertwine, creating a tapestry of hope for a sustainable future. Emily Marie Séguin, a passionate Two-Spirit artist, shares her journey of bridging these worlds through her work with Éclore and her dedication to honouring the land.

Chapter Summary

00:00 The Duality of Art: Accountability and Hope
01:23 Introducing Emily Marie Seguin
03:44 The Birth of Éclore: A Collective for Change
07:15 Art as a Reflection of Nature
11:43 Taking Action: Empowering Artists and Cultural Workers

Featured Quotes

• The act of creating denotes hope, because why would you create something if you didn’t believe that it was going to lead to something?
• I think that the fight towards a more just and sustainable world, especially in a land-based context, needs to include Indigenous voices.
• Without hope, we wouldn’t do anything, we wouldn’t act, we wouldn’t continue to fight.

Behind the Story

Emily’s involvement with Éclore stems from a deep-seated passion for plants, nature, and advocating for social justice. Inspired by the vision of Éclore's founders, she joined the collective to help build a community that serves as a resource for artists and fosters conversations across diverse disciplines, all united by a common goal of protecting the land and promoting sovereignty.

*

END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa). 

It’s my way to give back.

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish free ‘a calm presence' Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.

Your feedback is always welcome at [email protected] and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.

Share what you like, etc

I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on July 8, 2025