Indigenous Collaboration & Acknowledgement

Indigenous Teachings must come FIRST when learning about Environmentalism: The Indigenous medicine wheel represents balance and interconnectedness, aligning deeply with my work as an environmental educator. During Emma's time on Six Nations reserve, she learned from the prolific artist and scholar Santee Smith about art's intrinsic connection to nature, which reinforced her understanding of how traditional Indigenous knowledge and environmental stewardship are intertwined. Her academic journey at the University of Toronto has focused on Indigenous issues, and she strongly supports Indigenous self-governance under sections 25 and 35 of the Canadian Constitution. Following the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), The Fourth R addresses the urgent need to recognize Indigenous land and culture rights that simultaneously promote planetary health. While we are not Indigenous, we carry profound respect and scholarly understanding of these perspectives. The Fourth R will continue to share their understanding of reconciliation and contribute to the promotion of rights for Indigenous people across Turtle Island.
Calls to action are made clear under UNDRIP, so if you haven’t taken a look at the document yet, please take some time to do so. 

PERFORMANCE AT HUU-YA-AHT FIRST NATIONS 2025
Our performance on Huu-ya-aht First Nations (British Columbia, Vancouver Island) was an incredible experience
and marked a milestone for the company. As an environmental science and arts group, we align
with Indigenous sovereignty and seek to bridge gaps between these ideologies whenever
possible. Our performance on Huu-ya-aht territory was putting this concept into practice.