Creating a vision for the environment

The Kahnawake Environment Protection Office (KEPO) wants to hear from you as part of its long-term goal to create a roadmap for the community in protecting Kahnawake’s lands, waters, animals, and plants.

“It’s not KEPO’s vision, it’s the community’s vision,” said Teina Te Hemara, environmental projects coordinator at KEPO.

KEPO has launched a survey for community members to share their environmental priorities, and alongside information collected at consultation kiosks and events, data will be used to create a Community Vision for the Environment document, which will inform KEPO’s programming going forward.

“What that vision will be is what the community tells us is important to have,” Hemara said. “We want to see what the common things are that seem to be important to people, and then go back and talk to the community and ask, does this reflect what you think should be in this vision? And then we can start to think about ways that we can bring that vision to life.”

The survey includes questions about what community members think is important to include and how they would like to see language and culture reflected in the finished roadmap.

“We want to be going out and talking with people about the importance of cultural practices and knowledge, medicines, animals, waterways, how we can keep the community safe, and how that’s been part of the culture that’s already existed here for generations,” Hemara said.

The Community Vision for the Environment will be the first of its kind, and Hemara is hoping to engage as many community members as possible, so that the finalized plan is as reflective as it can be of the opinions in the community.

“Maybe some people think that they don’t have things to say about the environment, but everybody does, and everybody’s got some valuable input and insight into this,” she said. “We want it to be something that not only comes from the community, but something that people feel like belongs to them as well.”

As well as trying to reach large numbers of community members, Hemara said it’s also a priority to speak with a broad range of people.

“We want to make sure we’re reaching different members of the community, like elders for example, who might not always go to events, or young people who are very interested and engaged with the environment, but don’t get to vote in things,” Hemara said. “We want to make sure they have input.”

Data collected will inform KEPO’s work and the work of the Kahnawake Environment Advisory Committee, bringing to life key themes and tangible projects that community members mention in the consultation process.

The survey will stay open for the foreseeable future, with no specific deadline for responses. Hemara said that KEPO is hoping to have the Community Vision for the Environment completed by summer or fall at the latest.

Community members who would prefer to give feedback in another format than the survey can contact Hemara directly at 450-635-0600 or by email at [email protected].

“If you want us to come and talk to you either as an individual, as a family group or as an organization, just reach out to us, or come and have a chat,” Hemara said.

The link to the survey can be found on KEPO’s social media channels.

[email protected]