Written By Maine Youth for Climate Justice | Full Article
This teach-in covered two of MYCJ’s 2024 Legislative Priorities: Wabanaki Self-Determination (LD 2007) and Wabanaki Studies in Maine Public Schools (LD 1642). We were joined by Amara Ifeji, Policy Director with Maine Environmental Education Association, and Jasmine Lamb, PhD student at the University of Maine and Passamaquoddy citizen.
Jasmine Lamb is a member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point and a current PhD Student at the University of Maine. Jasmine has worked in the space of environmental justice for Wabanaki communities since 2021 and founded the Sipayik Resilience Committee to increase tribal members’ access to energy efficiency and renewable energy technology and to increase climate resilience.
Amara Ifeji is a National Geographic Young Explorer and internationally awarded non-profit leader in climate and environmental justice. As the Director of Policy with the Maine Environmental Education Association, she leverages grassroots advocacy to advance state and federal policy solutions. She served as the lead coordinator for Maine’s first Climate Education Summit, mobilized a youth-led movement that spearheaded Maine’s $2+ million climate education program, and serves on the Maine Climate Council as the governor-appointed Youth Representative.
Calls to Action
From the Wabanaki Alliance:
On February 26 at 10am, the Maine Legislature’s Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on LD 2007 — the bill to restore the Wabanaki Nations’ inherent rights to self-determination.
In order to right the State of Maine’s denial of Wabanaki sovereignty, we are asking for your help. The Wabanaki Alliance is gathering as much written testimony as possible in support of this bill. Demonstrating robust support throughout Maine will make an impact on the legislators we need to sway, without drawing out the hearing for too long with hours of in-person testimony.
Will you write testimony in support of fairness and justice for the Wabanaki? It could take just a few minutes and we’ll walk you through the process.