Join us to hear Vanessa Gray (Anishinaabe kwe, Aamjiwnaang First Nation) who will be speaking about the report she co-wrote for Yellowhead Institute titled “Data Colonialism in Canada’s Chemical Valley: Aamjiwnaang First Nation and the Failure of the Pollution Notification System”. This special report describes the permission-to-pollute system in Chemical Valley and how industry is manipulating data that they provide to Aamjiwnaang First Nation as a form of data colonialism.

Exploring these types of questions around the interface of issues of power, data and modern-day colonial practices the talk will be followed by a roundtable discussion facilitated by Manuhuia Barcham (Emily Carr Interaction Design faculty) where we will explore related issues around Indigenous data sovereignty and the central role it can play in our work at ECU.

This event is jointly hosted by ECU Library and the ECU Research Office.

Refreshments provided for those attending in person.

Presenter Bios

Vanessa Gray is the Co-Director of the Environmental Data Justice Lab. She is an Anishnaabe kwe from Aamjiwnaang First Nation. As a grassroots organizer, land defender, and educator, Vanessa works to decolonize environmental justice research by linking scholarly findings to traditional teachings.

Manuhuia Barcham teaches Interaction Design at Emily Carr. He is New Zealand Māori and his hapū (clans) are Ngāti Hori and Ngāti Hineiwaerea.