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With the United Nations’ targets fast approaching, it’s important to appreciate the progress made.  

That was the message given by the Hon. Bob Rae, Canada’s 25th Ambassador to the UN, during his keynote speech at the 8^th annual Together | Ensemble conference. “Unless we learn from the wisdom of our Elders, these traditions, we will not be able to pass on the concept of sustainability, regeneration and renewal,” Rae said. 

The conference was held for the second year at the University of Ģ����ý, the host institution for the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Canada. More than 345 people across Canada, from 115 different institutions, gathered online and in-person for the two-day event, which was opened with a Four Directions Ceremony led by Elder Dr. John Crier of Samson Cree Nation.  The theme was Mobilizing Local Action for Global Impact, and Indigenous communities, youth, academia, government, business and community leaders discussed progress on sustainability and the 17 (SDGs).  

The SDGs include the call for the eventual elimination of poverty and hunger, plus gender equality and sustainable communities. The 2030 Agenda, adopted by Canada and 192 other UN member states in 2015, is built around the SDGs. 

Drawing from his tenure at the UN, Rae’s keynote, Local Action for Global Impact: Why Now? underscored how community‑driven initiatives across Canada can advance national and global SDG progress. 

Rae highlighted how multiple moving parts, including collaborative action and government budgets, can make meaningful impact in the final years of the 2030 Agenda. 

Mind the gap was Rae’s advice for conference attendees. When addressing the SDGs, there needs to be a conscious awareness of how people experience polar ends of different issues. 

“Life is about relationships, not transactions... they are not to be thrown away,” he said. “They are to be nourished, cherished and appreciated. They all have a life — a beginning, a middle and an end.” 

Brenda Gunn, professor at the Robson Hall Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba, presented the keynote, Indigenous Pathways to a Sustainable Future, in which she spoke about how Canada can involve Indigenous Peoples more meaningfully in achieving the SDGs. 

“The SDGs doesn’t necessarily represent Indigenous world views ... those who are not represented do not get a vote at the UN,” said Gunn.

Indigenous Peoples are mentioned in the SDGs only six times, noted Gunn, who called on the UN to enhance Indigenous voices, including Indigenous Peoples in the process of the SDGs as rights holders and decision makers. 

The SDGs could be used as a tool for decolonization to repair and build relationships with Indigenous Peoples, said Gunn, adding the federal government needs to recognize the collective rights of Indigenous People. A step in the right direction recommended by Gunn is to meet the minimum standards of the (UNDRIP).  

The panel, Local Stories Powering Global Change, which was moderated by Dr. Kerry Black with UĢ����ý Schulich School of Engineering, featured sustainability experts and youth leaders, Disa Crow Chief, Danny Graham, Sophie Seguin-Lamarche, as well as Dr. Corrine Schuster-Wallace with the University of Saskatchewan. Panelists shared local SDG stories from their own communities. 

Crow Chief, youth leader and environmental activist from Siksika First Nation, shared her own story about how she felt angry growing up and witnessing first-hand the effects of climate change in her community. Mobilized to act, she shared how she decided to address climate and energy issues in Indigenous communities more broadly. 

The conference also featured remarks from Dr. Christine Daly, SDSN Canada co-chair; Dr. William Ghali, MD’90, UĢ����ý’s vice-president of research; Parliamentary Secretary Leslie Church; and a video introduction by Anacláudia Rossbach, economist, United Nations Under-Secretary-General, and executive director of UN-Habitat. 

Parallel paths for a sustainable future, together 

Day 2 of the conference focused on experiential activities to deepen participant learning and skills development through hands-on workshops on campus and land-based learning exchanges to UĢ����ý’s Barrier Lake Station and Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park. 

Led by Indigenous Knowledge Holders, each land-based learning exchange offered an opportunity to connect deeply with the land its stories, history and teachings, in addition to learning about the living cultures of the Îyârhe Nakoda Peoples (Bearspaw, Chiniki, Goodstoney) to the west and the Blackfoot Peoples to the east.