Terra Informa

Terra Informers Sonak Patel and Elizabeth Dowdell take us on a tour of the River Valley history, following global trends in the local sphere of Amiskwaciy or "Beaver Hills", otherwise known as Edmonton, Alberta. The River Valley was not always the lush park we think of today. In fact, it's gone through many transformations! We hear the voices of Amber Paquette, historian laureate of Edmonton, and Dr. Dwayne Donald, associate professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. Paquette and Donald provide fresh perspective on the braided pathway of the River Valley from gathering place to trading post to smelly town to the "ribbon of green" we know and love today. Throughout its many transformations, the Edmonton River Valley has always been an important meeting place and true local gem. Download program log here. ★ Support this podcast ★

In a 2012 piece, Annie Banks speaks with Erin Konsmo of the Native Youth Sexual Health Network, an organization by and for Indigenous youth that works within the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice across the United States and Canada. Oftentimes pollution is thought of as impacting the land and the water but what about the impacts that pollution, industry, contaminants and environmental degradation have on nearby communities and individuals and their sexual and reproductive health? And why is this critical for environmentalists to learn more about? What is environmental violence and how are communities defining, responding to and resisting environmental violence? Chris Chang-Yen Phillips spoke with Sierra Jamerson during a live taping at the St. John’s Institute of Edmonton in 2013. Sierra Jamerson was born into a family of talented leaders and gifted musicians, and she’s been performing professionally since the tender age of eleven, singing traditional Black Gospel, jazz, sou

We are exploring the relationship between queer people and the natural environment. This week we are going to share with you an interview that Terra Informer Elizabeth Dowdell held with Kevin McBean. Kevin will share with us his experience as a gay man, an outdoor enthusiast, and a member of the board of directors of Camp Maskepetoon.A few queer members of the Terra Informa team had the chance to reflect on their relationship with the environment and their identities as sexual minorities. For some of us, urban spaces can bring comfort and familiarity. Seeing a rainbow sticker or a trans flag in businesses or as part of urban art is a reminder that this is our space too. But what happens when we explore the natural environment? We tend to still think of the environment as a very heteronorNmative space, but we need to actively work to change that and you’ll get to hear Kevin’s perspective on how we can do just that! Program Log★ Support this podcast ★

This week the Terra Informa crew discuss the 2019 film, The Whale and the Raven, directed by German filmmaker Mirjam Leuze. In the heart of British Columbia's coastal Great Bear Rainforest, whale researchers and Gitga’at Nation community members share the screen with their non-human kin, orcas and humpback whales, whose homewaters are also a proposed liquefied natural gas tanker route. Terra Informers Elizabeth Dowdell, Curtis Blandy, Skylar Lipman, and Andrea Miller discuss resistance, the integration of Indigenous knowledge with scientific knowledge and technology, respect in our relationships with the natural world, and the cinematic beauty of kelp forests. Watch the film’s trailer here, and stream the full movie on Amazon Prime Video. Download the program log here.★ Support this podcast ★

This week Terra Informa debuts a new show format we're calling a 'News Roundup'. Very original title, no? We do in-depth coverage and a little bit of Terra Informa opinion-piece on major environmental news headlines from Alberta. Listen to find out why we wanted to make these specific news episodes, and learn about changes in Alberta Parks and public land management, the suspension of environmental monitoring requirements for the Alberta energy sector, and what the new Critical Infrastructure Defense Act means for local environmentalists looking to demonstrate their dissent through public protest.Speaking of public protest, in response to Black Lives Matter demonstrations taking place across the United States, Canada, and many other countries, we take some time in this episode to connect the dots between environmental issues and systemic oppression. Here is a list of Anti-Racist Environmental Resources we compiled and used in this episode, and as part of our ongoing learning.Program Log★ Support this podcast

June is Bike Month in Edmonton and lots of other cities, so we're bringing you the right content for the season! On this episode Terra Informer Curtis Blandy talks to Bike Edmonton Executive Director Chris Chan and LuGr Enterprises Founder Luke Grayston. Chan talks about his inspiration for, and experiences of, cycling in Edmonton. Grayson gives us the lowdown on Beet 55, an innovative deicer used to keep roads safe for winter cycling.Program Log★ Support this podcast ★

Find the program log here.Email us at terra@cjsr.com or reach out to us on our socials below!★ Support this podcast ★

Download the program logEmail us at terra@cjsr.com or reach out to us on our socials below!★ Support this podcast ★

Download program logWe are still all working from home so audio quality in this episode varies. ★ Support this podcast ★

Download program log.★ Support this podcast ★

This week on Terra Informa, we revisit a great episode from our archives that originally aired on May 5, 2019. In this episode, Sofia Osborne interviews Dr. Carolyn Sale, an associate professor in the department of english and film studies at the University of Alberta, who taught a course on Shakespeare and ecological crisis. Then hear Terra Informer Sydney Karbonik read a paper she wrote about storytelling and environmental activism.★ Support this podcast ★

This week on Terra Informa, we revisit a beloved episode from our archives that originally aired on March 18, 2019. This episode's format is a round-table discussion, in which the each member of the team brought something different to the table- something related to The Unseen Environment. Mysterious. Charlotte Thomasson and Amanda Rooney brought together a handful of Terra Informer's for a discussion about mysterious natural events, Nematodes, paleoburrows, and so much more.Additionally, Ben Hollihan talks about a news story for this week: how grocery stores are struggling to adapt to COVID-19. ★ Support this podcast ★

This week on Terra Informa, we revisit discussions some of the world’s big problems, like climate change and antimicrobial resistance, and how the communication of information about them can either be motivating or discouraging.In June 2019, Terra Informer Dylan Hall interviews PhD Candidate Scott Mitchell on a presentation he delivered at the 2019 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences on the story of antimicrobial resistance, what this ‘apocalypse’ has in common with climate change, and how the public isn’t always getting the message.Additionally, Terra Informer Curtis Blandy gives a run-down of how our team is socially isolating during this COVID-19 pandemic. ★ Support this podcast ★

Just like the gendered impacts of the covid19 crisis are getting little media attention, environmental issues that predominantly affect women are not talked about enough. This week on Terra Informa we revisit an episode that features headline news, research, and audio from an event organized last April (2019) by then-Terra Informer Sydney Karbonik. The event was called Menstruation Innovation, and tackles environmental impacts and alternatives for a greener period.★ Support this podcast ★

At Terra Informa, we know that climate change affects us all... and that includes the vast range of conspiracy communities. Worried about how our changing climate is going to affect the flat earth, or Bigfoot's habitat? Well, this week, we're broadcasting straight from the center of the hollow moon to bring you the F-A-C-T-S.For maximum impact, listen to this episode on April 1st. ★ Support this podcast ★

Have you ever thought about the connection between the dank memes you consume and the process of decolonization? Or about how the power of meme to restructure or recreate the reality we know? For this week's episode, Terra Informer, Carter Gorzitza, got to sit down with Nigel Henri Robinson (@nazoonigel), to discuss his own meme practice and the deeper context behind memes that slap.

This week on Terra Informa, we discuss the issues surrounding the Coastal Gas Link Project, that is being proposed to run through Wet’suwet’en territory in northern British Columbia. We give you a background on what the CGL project is and the current timeline surrounding its development, why this pipeline project is being opposed, actions of solidarity with Wet’suwet’en occuring around the world, and how the conflict has been being covered by the media.In this episode, we feature audio from the occupation by the youth for Wet'suwet'en at the Victoria legislature in Lekwungen territories and an interview with Jessica Mayhew. Thank you to Takaiya Blainey, Kolin Sutherland, Saul Brown, Jessica Mayhew, and all other Indigneous youth fighting for a livable future. To stay up to date and informed follow @gidmtencheckpoint and @tapiocastarch on Instagram, or the hashtags #alleyesonwetsuweten and #shutdowncanada. You can also find more information about donating to Indigenous folks on the frontlines on websites like

Sarah Connor and Michael James with the Rebel Life Project shared their presentation at the October 2019 Change for Climate Talks with three simple, but not so easy steps for managing climate grief. Their advice:  Figure out your purpose. Eat, sleep, and exercise. Make a plan We’ll hear from Terra Informers Sonak Patel, Andrea Miller, and Elizabeth Dowdell as they share thoughts on the talk, put this advice into practice, and cope with climate grief. If you're feeling climate grief, visit our website for a list of resources related to this episode.★ Support this podcast ★

This week on Terra Informa we share the second part of an interview with Eriel Deranger, co-founder and Executive Director of Indigenous Climate Action, where we talk about what it means to live in relation to each other and the environment.In Reject Teck Part 1: Who is Teck?! we shared background on the mining company Teck Resources Ltd and Eriel explained why the proposed Frontier Oilsands Mine should be rejected. Just before we aired that episode on February 25th, the RejectTeck campaign tasted sweet sweet victory.Sort of.Teck rejected itself in a letter published February 23, where it removed it's application for environmental approval.While that project has been shelved, the interview we share with you today is deeply relevant because it covers themes that include the ongoing way we approach resource projects, the environment, and each other across this country. Eriel is organizing and campaigning about more than one oilsands mine. Indigenous Climate Action is an Indigenous climate justice organization.

This week on Terra Informa we share the first part of an interview with Eriel Deranger, Executive Director and co-founder of Indigenous Climate Action, one of the organizations behind Reject Teck. Reject Teck a grassroots campaign challenging the Teck Frontier oilsands project and the Canadian government, that has made headlines at COP25, Fire Drill Fridays, and in other news. Eriel has a lot of knowledge to share about the Teck project, the larger resource development process in Canada and Alberta, and organizing to protect the environment and take climate action.Update: As of February 23, 2020, the Teck Resources Ltd has withdrawn the Frontier mine project from the environmental assessment approval process.★ Support this podcast ★