According to these stats, people in Canada are active on the charitable giving and philanthropy front, with almost 84,000 registered charities, and $304 billion of total revenue (67% from government), based on the 2020 Blumbergs’ report, anyway. People of affluence are increasingly channelling their wealth into altruism, searching for avenues of personal fulfillment and legacy building, aligned with personal values and passion, using their wealth to make a positive difference in the world.
More and more, countries are looking to their wealthy class to set the pace, addressing global challenges like poverty, inequality, and climate change. Many affluent donors view philanthropy as a way to contribute to systemic change, targeting root causes rather than symptoms. Then there are the tax benefits and enhanced reputation that comes with altruism and philanthropy, of course.
In terms of philanthropy with a measurable outcome, with benefits to charitable giving that an individual can more clearly see, for more impact, there’s RAVEN. People that give money to organizations and causes like RAVEN want to see that money in action, with results that make real differences in people’s lives.
Mission
RAVEN raises legal defence funds to assist Indigenous Peoples who enforce their rights and title to protect their traditional territories in court to protect their lands, sovereignty, and ways of being. It doesn’t get more real than that. To date, over its 15-year history, RAVEN has secured 22,347 donors, including 1,300 monthly donors, raising over $24.7 million.
“Supporting the assertion of the inherent and constitutionally-protected rights of Indigenous Peoples is a powerful pathway towards reconciliation and environmental justice,” is what is said on the RAVEN website.
Photo by Jeswin Thomas/Pexels
Impact
Every campaign they have taken on, supported by altruistic giving, sets legal precedents, returning stewardship to First Peoples, advancing Indigenous rights, while also going a long way to raising awareness among the public. It sets legacy for a shared future, founded on environmental stewardship. Litigation leads to transformative, systemic change.
Over the history of the organization, RAVEN has supported 17 legal challenges and 11 legal interventions, upholding modern Treaty rights, protecting sacred lands and spiritually significant sites, defending the land from open-pit mining, and stopping pipelines.
“We dream of Indigenous rights being upheld, we dream of caretaking practices and stewardship by Indigenous Peoples being woven into Canadian law, and we dream of a world where humanity does not see itself as separate from the environment — where we are all collectively practicing ways of being that contribute to the thriving of all living things. That’s the future we believe in.”
Case studies
The RAVEN website offers up details on some of the campaigns and projects they are involved with now – examples of where donor money is going. Heiltsuk Nation is taking on Kirby, an oil shipping company, Canada, and British Columbia in court over the oil spill in 2016 that dumped 110,000 litres of diesel into the environment, contaminating key shellfish harvesting areas and critical habitat, a massive disruption to the way of life for the Heiltsuk community, their economy and identity.
Through the legal challenge Heiltsuk is taking control of the regulatory steering wheel, which would strengthen oil spill regulations along the entire Pacific coast and set a precedent for Aboriginal title to the foreshore and seabed, taking responsibility to protect their territory. A win means the B.C. and Canadian governments would be required to consult with Indigenous peoples on the environmental impact assessment following an oil spill as well as remediation efforts.
“It’s about justice for what was lost, but also sending a message: if you’re a foreign, multi-billion dollar profit company you do not have the right to put our communities, our livelihoods, our culture, and our ecosystems at risk.” Heiltsuk councillor Ayla Brown.
Photo by Stijn Dijkstra/Pexels
Another case study: Legal efforts for Grassy Narrows First Nation, taking Ontario to court over mercury contamination of a river from a pulp mill in northern Ontario decades ago, with devastating health impacts on the community there over generations due to poisoning. The legal claim shows that the federal and provincial governments have allowed the pulp mill to continue to discharge toxic wastewater into the environment. Mercury travels to the heart, central nervous system and kidneys. There are wide-ranging health impacts, including cognitive impairments, even early death. Symptoms include coughing, trouble breathing, nausea, and bleeding gums.
The goal of this legal action is to finally bring some measure of justice to Grassy Narrows so that they can protect their lands and waters, restore their Anishinaabe way of life and wellbeing, and secure their children’s health and the health of future generations.
Click here to make a donation to RAVEN.
Top image: iStock Photo
I am a 50-something Torontonian who loves everything about my city. It’s been my home, my playground, for my entire life. I went to school here. I met my wife here. I own real estate here. I love writing about the transformation of my city on the world stage, which hasn’t been anything short of dramatic. That continues on, as I write this. I write on the real estate scene. I write on travel and fashion. I like following the world of luxury watches.
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