Supporting 'Land and Peoples'

Supporting ‘Land and Peoples’

This August’s lunch was itself a follow-up to a similar event two summers ago when team officials including CEO Tod Leiweke and Vice President of Community Engagement and Social Impact Mari Horita invited Native leaders together to brainstorm how the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena (both unnamed back then) could best support and engage our Native community.

Over frybread tacos, kale salad and quinoa succotash, the main objective of the gathering was to share and receive feedback around various initiatives the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena have been working on to engage with and amplify the stories and voices of Native peoples.

In the same space where Kraken General Manager Ron Francis learned via NHL lottery that Seattle would be picking second overall in this summer’s amateur draft, leaders from Salish tribes and other Native organizations met recently for a lunch and an inclusive dialogue.

Following the 2019 lunch, the Kraken hired members of Pyramid Communications' Indian Country group to help put ideas and aspirations into action, and to do so in a way that centered the voices of the Native community. Among the outcomes was the crafting of a Land and Peoples Acknowledgement, developed over six months, with input from a number of Coast Salish Tribal leaders, including Leonard Forsman, chairman of the Suquamish Tribe since 2005.

Forsman urged the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena to add “Peoples” to what is typically a land acknowledgement.

“It was just a suggestion,” Forsman said at the recent lunch, smiling among his peers.

But Forsman’s addition clearly resonated.

Andrea Wilbur-Sigo was the first speaker at this month’s lunch, a Native American master carver and active member and educator of the Squaxin Tribe. Wilbur-Sigo is one of seven Native artists hired in connection with the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena. She discussed her commission from the NHL franchise to create a welcoming art piece at the entryway of Kraken Community Iceplex.

Wilbur-Sigo’s work will feature seven large paddles (representative of seven generations of ancestors and the next seven future generations, plus the traditional canoe journey) and one hockey stick (“the eighth generation,” says the artist, and, yes, she did make a connection to tentacles).

Everyone venturing to see the Kraken practice or to skate themselves or partake in so many other planned activities at the new training center will see the paddles and stick.

“When I was approached about this job,” said Wilbur-Sigo, “the first thing that got may attention was climate pledge aspect [of carbon-zero Climate Pledge Arena]. That is exactly part of our daily thoughts and activity. It is not something we teach our kids in a classroom. They have a responsibility to know [about caring for the planet]. I try to do that with my art.”

Wilbur-Sigo started her five minutes of sharing by presenting her ancestry, naming several tribes and pledging she is “doing my best to represent all of you.” She was happy to report her view of progress, noting Tulalip Tribes artist Ty Juvinel is creating a piece for inside the Kraken Community Iceplex.

“Twenty-five years ago, it was hard to get Salish work out there [in public spaces],” said Wilbur-Sigo. “Fifteen years ago I am not sure our work was understood … Now we’re here and these pieces are going up [the Iceplex opens to the public in September].”

Juvinel’s carving will present his interpretation of the Kraken’s secondary anchor brand mark and it will hang in the hallway inside the Kraken Community Iceplex.

“We are putting our heritage up,” Juvinel said when presenting at the luncheon. “In our own voice and words … I can’t be more proud of this team. The Kraken wants the meaning to come through. It’s more than symbolic gesture.”

In presenting the Land and Peoples' Acknowledgement, on display via large screen for the U-shaped table of leaders to see while enjoying that lunch from Off the Rez Truck and Café, Horita echoed Ty’s comment about symbolism.

“So often these statements are performative and perfunctory,” said Horita. “People say and hear the words without understanding what they mean or why they’re being said.

“The words are just the starting point. It is our job to ensure they have real impact, for our Native community and for those of us not in the Native community who have so much to learn.”

Here’s the statement the leaders were reviewing and discussing:

Land and Peoples Acknowledgement Statement

The Seattle Kraken acknowledges that we are on the homelands of the Coast Salish peoples, who continue to steward these lands and waters as they have since time immemorial. We recognize Washington’s tribal nations and Native organizations, who actively create, shape and contribute to our thriving communities.

The Seattle Kraken are committed to doing our part to engage with, and amplify the voices of, Native peoples and tribes.

“The statement needs a call to action,” said Temryss Lane, Lummi Native and director of Pyramid’s Indian Country practice. “We have the opportunity to extend this message beyond [from Climate Pledge Arena and Kraken Community Iceplex] to digital spaces. One priority is to engage Native youth.”

Both the Kraken and One Roof Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena, are committed to creating opportunities to engage in skating and hockey on and off the ice.

“We are working to get young people to the rinks,” said Eric Pettigrew, Kraken VP of Government Relations and Outreach, during a presentation about youth hockey and figure skating programs that will provide access and equipment to kids as needed. “We intend to more than just develop hockey players.

“We ultimately want to help develop good people who know what happened before them and who will work hard to move the next generation forward.”

Denise Stiffarm, an inaugural One Roof board member who served many years in a similar role with Chief Seattle Club, said she the luncheon’s “intentions and action to engage blew me away.”

“From the first gathering I had an appreciation for the thoughtfulness on how to involve the Native community,” said Stiffarm, a partner at Pacifica Law Group, an enrolled member of the Gros Ventre (A’aninin/White Clay) Tribe of Montana and an active Urban Indian community member here in town. “Native people are still very present and the Acknowledgement exposes that Native people are here.”

“I am excited to see the involvement with the youth [Native and all BIPOC], to really invest the time and resources. There are so many urban Natives in Seattle from all around the country.”

Lawrence Solomon, chairman of the Lummi Nation, started the luncheon with a song that moved every person in the space.

“These songs are not just songs,” said Solomon. “They are prayers in our hearts for our communities and a prayer in hearts for Mother Earth. It is called ‘Survivor’s Song.’ "

Solomon translated the Lummi lyrics for the group: “My highly respected people … we come from the survivors of the Great Flood … we come together my Indian people and stand strong … I am a survivor of the Great Flood.”

“I felt great emotion with that blessing,” said Tod Leiweke, introducing the luncheon’s purpose. “We want our fans to feel the same thing at each and every home game.”

Ty Juvinel, for one, looks forward to NHL action at Climate Pledge Arena. He is a long-time hockey fan and a regular at the Western Hockey League Everett Silvertips games.

Seattle is such a big sports town,” said Juvinel after the day’s event winded down. “We know that from the 12th man. It’s going to be an amazing NHL town too.”

Minorities are ‘key partners’ in saving planet’s biodiversity – UN expert

Under a UN-backed global biodiversity framework draft agreement, countries have agreed to protect 30 per cent of the planet and restore at least 20 per cent by 2030.

While acknowledging that the plan is essential to conserving biodiversity, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and environment, David Boyd, warned that it “must not be achieved at the expense of further human rights violations against indigenous peoples and other rural people”.

Draft of the #post2020 global #biodiversity framework plan to preserve and protect nature must be amended: “Leaving human rights on the periphery is simply not an option” if we are to ensure the future of life on our planet – @SREnvironment.

👉 https://t.co/b8zadjyQMU#ForNature pic.twitter.com/Sk3lPQNpEe — UN Special Procedures (@UN_SPExperts) August 19, 2021

He said that special attention must be paid to indigenous peoples, people of African descent, local communities, peasants, rural women and rural youth – none of whom is adequately prioritized in the current draft plan, despite recent improvements.

Natural partners

These individuals and groups “must be acknowledged as key partners in protecting and restoring nature”, Mr. Boyd said. “Their human, land and tenure rights, knowledge, and conservation contributions must be recognized, respected, and supported.”

The independent rights expert, who was appointed by and reports to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, cautioned against what he called “fortress conservation” approaches that aim to restore “pristine wilderness” where no humans live.

This approach has had devastating human rights impacts on communities in these targeted areas, the Special Rapporteur insisted, including on indigenous peoples and other rural dwellers.

“Leaving human rights on the periphery is simply not an option, because rights-based conservation is the most effective, efficient, and equitable path forward to safeguarding the planet”, Mr. Boyd said, before urging Member States “to put human rights at the heart of the new Global Biodiversity Framework”.

Biodiversity Framework

The call came ahead of a UN biodiversity summit, known as COP15, which is to be held virtually in October and in-person next April in Kunming, China.

At that time, representatives of 190 Governments will seek to finalize the UN Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

The draft text released in July highlighted the need to address threats to biodiversity, human well-being and the future of life on Earth, while seeking to establish a “world living in harmony with nature” by 2050.

Maintaining that the Framework agreement does not go far enough to preserve and protect nature and its essential services to people, Mr. Boyd urged States to make rights-based approaches obligatory to conserve, restore and share the benefits of biodiversity, including conservation financing.

“It is also imperative that the Framework acknowledges that everyone, everywhere, has the right to live in a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, a right which includes healthy ecosystems and biodiversity”, he said.

Healthy biosphere

Expanding on his report to the General Assembly last October, “Human Rights Depend on a Healthy Biosphere”, Mr. Boyd unveiled a policy brief calling for a more inclusive, just and sustainable approach to safeguarding and restoring biodiversity.

The document outlined the human rights costs and limited efficacy of so-called exclusionary conservation, where local people are viewed as threats to natural ecosystems and kept away.

Special Rapporteurs work on a voluntary basis. They are neither UN staff nor paid for their work.

Peoples Natural Gas offers Pittsburghers of all backgrounds a career path

click to enlarge Corrosion Specialist Kerry Swietlicki, Peoples

click to enlarge Monica Alston - Manager, Operations Construction & Administration

As one of Pittsburgh’s largest employers with more than 1,500 employees in Western Pennsylvania, Kentucky and West Virginia, Peoples Natural Gas strives to make an impact in the Pittsburgh community. That takes shape in the services they provide, but also in the effort they have made to be one of the most stable, secure employers in the area for Pittsburghers of all backgrounds.Peoples has made a commitment to their current and future workforce and company culture by promoting diversity, equity and inclusion among their employees and future hires. They also offer continuous training, hold importance to proper working conditions, create opportunities for employees to grow in their fields and to develop a career path.Peoples looks to represent the diversity of Pittsburgh in everything they do. From entry-level roles to upper management, they strive for people from all backgrounds and walks of life to be a part of the Peoples family. “It is so very important to hire, train and promote diverse employees within Peoples. The ability to share and educate each other on the nuances and characteristics we demonstrate at work improves our combined efforts,” said Monica Alston, Manager, Operations Construction & Administration. Peoples is actively offering and searching for residents within the City of Pittsburgh to apply for these roles, and they offer help to guide you in being a successful part of their team.One of the things that separates Peoples from other companies is the active commitment to training and making sure their employees develop and thrive within their roles. They provide extensive on-the-job training that allows employees to feel comfortable performing their jobs. This training also encourages those in Pittsburgh who may not have an entire resume full of relevant work experience to still feel comfortable applying!These are just some of the reasons why Peoples employees often settle into a stable and long-lasting career with the company. Between the extensive training, the competitive pay and benefits, and the active and ongoing promotion from within by current employees, it’s no wonder that many employees have been members of the Peoples family for more than two decades.So if you’re looking to be a part of your community and work in a role that offers growth potential, look for Peoples. As Manager of Construction Operations John Walko says, “We provide gas service to a diverse community. If we hire from within those communities, we get employees who take pride in their work. Our employees need to come from all walks of life. As a manager of a large work group at Peoples, I get to see the benefit of having a strong, diverse work group that strives to reach common goals. I have an appreciation for all employees who work together, share values and put in the effort to accomplish tasks as a team.”With that in mind, Peoples is looking for more new employees from within the City of Pittsburgh to join the ranks. These entry-level positions, like the currently open Fitter/Laborer positions in Gibsonia, Kittanning and Wilkinsburg, provide training, stability, and competitive wages and benefits to those who take on the role. With multiple openings available, including many field positions around the city, Peoples Natural Gas has an opportunity for you!For more information about Peoples Natural Gas open positions, visit their career page here