Guest Blogger: Yessica Rivera Belsham, Executive Director, Ollin.ca
2020 marks Ollin’s 5th year of organizing Earth Day Kingston in Kingston, ON. Ollin is an grassroots organization focused on empowering individuals, communities and organizations to connect by development and delivery of festivals, events, individual and community teachings through the use of arts and culture. Through drumming, singing, dancing, creative arts and teachings, Ollin develops and delivers meaningful sessions, workshops, events, and arts projects that reflect inclusion, diversity, unity, equity and community engagement with Mother Earth through authenticity, and open heart and open mind.
The annual Earth Day Kingston celebrates Mother Earth, its elements, and ancestors with an inclusive and creative community gathering on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee: Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Earth Day recognizes a collective responsibility to promote harmony with nature and Mother Earth to achieve a balance among the economic, social, and environmental needs of present and future generations.
Not only does 2020 mark Ollin’s 5th year of organizing Earth Day Kingston, it also marks the 50th anniversary of the International Earth Day. According to Earthday.org, 1970 launched a “wave of action, including the passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States. Earth Day continues to hold major international significance: In 2016, the United Nations chose Earth Day as the day when the historic Paris Agreement on climate change was signed into force”.
We are grateful that the City of Kingston has approved our submission for the Proclamation of Earth Day in the City of Kingston which includes:
Whereas Earth Day is a national and international call to positive action for all citizens to join a global effort to protect the environment; Earth Day inspires people to connect with nature and build strong communities; and
Whereas all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment; and
Whereas the City of Kingston acknowledges the importance of Earth Day as a reminder of our community's connection to the planet and our responsibility to preserve and protect our environment; and
Whereas a sound natural environment is the foundation of a healthy society; and
Whereas Earth Day is celebrated annually to recommit to the goals of a healthy environment as a peaceful, just and sustainable worlds; and
Whereas the importance of Earth Day has grown as the potential impacts of climate disruption, species decline, and reliance on non-renewable energy supplies have come into sharper focus; and
Whereas local communities can be drivers of building a healthy society by addressing issues such as energy use, transportation, waste prevention, and environmental quality; and
Whereas in addition to the annual Earth Day on April 22nd, the City of Kingston acknowledges that truly Earth Day is Every Day.
The first Earth Day Kingston Celebration started in 2015 as a grassroots initiative run/hosted by Ollin with a focus on connecting to Mother Earth in a community celebration on Earth Day through the power of the drum, the heartbeat of Mother Earth with the Ollin Drum Circle (formerly known as Kingston Drum Circle). With the drumming we always connect and honour the spirit of the drum; the life given from the animal for the hide, the wood of the tree, the water, the sun, our ancestors, and our communities.
Each year the celebration has been successfully growing with more supports, partnerships, and collaborations, especially the Kingston National Indigenous Peoples Day Committee, the former Canadian Mental Health Association Kingston Branch, Kingston Thunder Women, Sustainable Kingston, Kingston Latino Association, Kings DON Taiko, Ballet Aztlan Mexico and more.
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, instead of the public gathering/celebration planned to take place at Belle Park on Montreal Street in Kingston, ON, this year Théo Paradis and myself, Yessica Rivera Belsham, will be livestreaming on April 22nd at 4PM with interactive livestreaming of drumming and singing songs from across Turtle Island and around the world. The livestream will be happening at www.facebook.com/ollin.ca1 This livestream on Earth Day will be in part of the National Arts Centre/Centre national des Arts & Facebook Live's "Canada Performs". Although online drumming and singing will be an unfamiliar and new experience for us, we are looking forward to connecting with people all across Canada through the livestream. We have sure missed drumming in community because COVID-19 has impacted the public gatherings.
Earth Day is truly every day. Every day to do support or join the land protectors, the water walkers, and the millions of people around the world caring for the earth while in connection with the generations before and ahead of us.
“We are the guardians of the territories, of the rivers, of the continuity of life.” — Ana Maria Hernandez, land defender and director of grantee partner Consortio Oaxaca, a coalition of feminist activists in Mexico.
The former Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Kingston Branch was a partner of Ollin and in addition to helping provide space for programming and store over art supplies and drums/percussion from around the world, they have helped Ollin’s three biggest events (Earth Day Kingston, Worlds Indigenous Peoples, and Dia de los Muertos Kingston Community Celebration of Life). CMHA Kingston Branch closed in March 2020 and Ollin is still navigating on building new partnerships in the community to continue programming.
For more information on how to connect to Ollin please visit www.facebook.com/ollin.ca1
Yessica Rivera Belsham, Executive Director
Ollin.ca
OllinKingston@gmail.com
613-770-4522