Terra Informa

Terra Informers Sonak Patel and Elizabeth Dowdell take us on a tour of the River Valley history in Amiskwaciy or "Beaver Hills", otherwise known as Edmonton, Alberta. After recapping Part I of this topic, the episode delves into themes of cultural values, Indigenous displacement, and respect for both our natural spaces and each other. We hear the voices of Amber Paquette, historian laureate of Edmonton, and Dr. Dwayne Donald, associate professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta as they uncover their hopes for the future of the River Valley.

Download program log here. 

Terra Informers Sonak Patel and Elizabeth Dowdell take us on a tour of the River Valley history, following global trends in the local sphere of Amiskwaciy or "Beaver Hills", otherwise known as Edmonton, Alberta. The River Valley was not always the lush park we think of today. In fact, it's gone through many transformations! We hear the voices of Amber Paquette, historian laureate of Edmonton, and Dr. Dwayne Donald, associate professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. Paquette and Donald provide fresh perspective on the braided pathway of the River Valley from gathering place to trading post to smelly town to the "ribbon of green" we know and love today. Throughout its many transformations, the Edmonton River Valley has always been an important meeting place and true local gem. 

Download program log here. 

In a 2012 piece, Annie Banks speaks with Erin Konsmo of the Native Youth Sexual Health Network, an organization by and for Indigenous youth that works within the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice across the United States and Canada. Oftentimes pollution is thought of as impacting the land and the water but what about the impacts that pollution, industry, contaminants and environmental degradation have on nearby communities and individuals and their sexual and reproductive health? And why is this critical for environmentalists to learn more about? What is environmental violence and how are communities defining, responding to and resisting environmental violence?

Chris Chang-Yen Phillips spoke with Sierra Jamerson during a live taping at the St. John’s Institute of Edmonton in 2013. Sierra Jamerson was born into a family of talented leaders and gifted musicians, and she’s been performing professionally since the tender age of eleven, singing traditional Black Gospel, jazz, soul and R&B music. Part of that talented family of hers is in the Tahltan Nation in British Columbia. You might have heard of the Sacred Headwaters in Tahltan territory. It’s the origin point for three powerful rivers that run through British Columbia—the Stikine, the Skeena and the Nass. When the oil and gas industry tried to start mining in the area, Sierra’s family was at the forefront of Tahltan resistance.
.
Download our program log.

We are exploring the relationship between queer people and the natural environment. This week we are going to share with you an interview that Terra Informer Elizabeth Dowdell held with Kevin McBean. Kevin will share with us his experience as a gay man, an outdoor enthusiast, and a member of the board of directors of Camp Maskepetoon.

A few queer members of the Terra Informa team had the chance to reflect on their relationship with the environment and their identities as sexual minorities. For some of us, urban spaces can bring comfort and familiarity. Seeing a rainbow sticker or a trans flag in businesses or as part of urban art is a reminder that this is our space too. But what happens when we explore the natural environment? We tend to still think of the environment as a very heteronorNmative space, but we need to actively work to change that and you’ll get to hear Kevin’s perspective on how we can do just that!

Program Log

This week the Terra Informa crew discuss the 2019 film, The Whale and the Raven, directed by German filmmaker Mirjam Leuze. In the heart of British Columbia's coastal Great Bear Rainforest, whale researchers and Gitga’at Nation community members share the screen with their non-human kin, orcas and humpback whales, whose homewaters are also a proposed liquefied natural gas tanker route. Terra Informers Elizabeth Dowdell, Curtis Blandy, Skylar Lipman, and Andrea Miller discuss resistance, the integration of Indigenous knowledge with scientific knowledge and technology, respect in our relationships with the natural world, and the cinematic beauty of kelp forests. Watch the film’s trailer here, and stream the full movie on Amazon Prime Video.

Download the program log here.

This week Terra Informa debuts a new show format we're calling a 'News Roundup'. Very original title, no? We do in-depth coverage and a little bit of Terra Informa opinion-piece on major environmental news headlines from Alberta. Listen to find out why we wanted to make these specific news episodes, and learn about changes in Alberta Parks and public land management, the suspension of environmental monitoring requirements for the Alberta energy sector, and what the new Critical Infrastructure Defense Act means for local environmentalists looking to demonstrate their dissent through public protest.

Speaking of public protest, in response to Black Lives Matter demonstrations taking place across the United States, Canada, and many other countries, we take some time in this episode to connect the dots between environmental issues and systemic oppression. Here is a list of Anti-Racist Environmental Resources we compiled and used in this episode, and as part of our ongoing learning.

Program Log

June is Bike Month in Edmonton and lots of other cities, so we're bringing you the right content for the season! On this episode Terra Informer Curtis Blandy talks to Bike Edmonton Executive Director Chris Chan and LuGr Enterprises Founder Luke Grayston. Chan talks about his inspiration for, and experiences of, cycling in Edmonton. Grayson gives us the lowdown on Beet 55, an innovative deicer used to keep roads safe for winter cycling.

Program Log

Find the program log here.

Email us at [email protected] or reach out to us on our socials below!

Download the program log
Email us at [email protected] or reach out to us on our socials below!

Download program log
We are still all working from home so audio quality in this episode varies.