Ta’Kaiya Blaney; Today’s Activist for Environmental Change
Environmental and indigenous peoples’ rights are two areas of activism that are often seen overlapping in protest movements. Why this occurs is due to a variety of reasons dealing with spiritual views and land ownership rights. According to The Natural Resources Defense Council, “They must work to safeguard their natural resources and serve as stewards of the environment—often putting their lives on the line.” Protection of indigenous land is often overlooked by national governments and easily taken advantage of by big business looking for a quick profit with little regard toward the sacred views these individuals hold towards the land they inhabit. The numbers of environmental and…show more content… The actions that she and others take to protect their land, people, and culture not only affect the individuals belonging to an indigenous group, but all of us living on this earth as well. Environmental activists are looking towards the future, seeing the effects of our selfish actions today. In this paper, I will include information on Ta’Kaiya’s youth to show the factors that influenced her as a child, her early activist years and the work she participated in, and her current endeavors. By showing how Ta’Kaiya’s youth, gender, and race have not been enough to discourage her, I hope that the obstacles she has endured for the sake of her cause inspire others to become advocates for not only the environment and oppressed peoples, but other areas of activism as…show more content… “She has spoken at United Nations conferences, environmental events, and classrooms across Canada and internationally,” (http://www.takaiyablaney.com). She has been utilizing her public speaking talents as well as her haunting singing voice to move her audience since the young age of 10. According to Mike Hager of the Globe and Mail, she began training with her vocal coach, Aileen De La Cruz, at eight years old, and they have worked together to compose original protest music. She is well known for attending events and rallies in traditional Tla’Amin dress and her trademark cedar bark hat and performing her original
