Creative Journal #4 -- Environmental Racism

Environmental racism is a topic in which I feel very invested in.  I'd go as far to say that it's the branch of environmentalism that I like to explore the most.  I think it's due to the fact that it seems to cause the most discomfort, as it touches upon two things that people tend to shy away from.  When we were starting our Action Learning Group Projects, I watched a documentary called Tipping Point: Age of the Oil Sands, which focuses heavily on the tar sands of Alberta, and how they are affecting the Aboriginal population who live downstream of the project (specifically those in Fort Chipewyan).

I actually used this documentary during my internship and it sparked a whole lot of conversation.  I had a number of students who were for the tar sands, and a number who weren't.  It was really interesting to see their perspectives of the topic.

In my (very crude) drawing, I have the Keystone XL pipeline going through the Wood Mountain Reserve -- near Assiniboia.  My best friend is from that reserve, and when the Keystone XL talks were going on, if my memory serves, the pipeline would be going right near his old stomping ground.  This was something that irked the both of us.  Usually he's not very invested in his Aboriginal heritage, but this was something that got to him.