Mission Statement

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KI Lands and Environment Unit

To preserve and protect the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug's (KI) Homelands from environmentally destructive human activities through the following purposes:

1.  promoting the preservation and protection of the KI Homelands;

2.  promoting the principles of KI indigenous land use and occupancy; 

3.  supporting KI in the development of economic activity that is sustainable and in accordance with the principles of KI indigenous land use and occupancy; 

4.  promoting and sponsoring KI in the defense and protection of the environment within KI Homelands;

5.  sponsoring and encouraging research and publication of educational materials with respect to the fish, animals, forest, water, land and others within the KI Homelands, and the sustainable relationship between KI government and the natural environment;

6.  to network with other organizations and enlist their support in pursuit of our purposes; 

7.  to work with appropiate levels of government in support of the protection of KI Homelands; 

8.  to solicit funds or monies, to receive or acquire and hold gifts or donations to be used solely in the furtherance of the aforesaid purposes.

Philosophy
 
Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) have their own philosophies that reflect and reinforce our relationship with the natural world. It starts with recognition that all life is within a circle, including people. Because we are within the same circle, we must be careful in reaching decisions that affect the circle. Our decision will travel around the circle and impact on the future generations to come. We have a responsibility to ensure that the future generations can look back at us and say that our decisions today have not caused harm to them in the future.
It is the common belief of KI that the world and universe are made of four (4) elements: fire, earth, air (breathe), and water. The fire is the gift from the sun to the people, the earth is referred to as mother earth caring for her young such as animals, land and human beings; air is the sacred element that acts like a bridge between this earth and universe; and water is the source of life - as the water breaks, the child is born.
KI have a genuine understanding of how nature and life work. These four (4) elements described are necessary for nature and life to work together within the cosmos structure as characterized in the world-view of KI.  KI use these physical elements as beliefs and symbols to remind themselves of the sacred life that they are part of, and has the mandate from the Creator to assume custodianship of the elements in order to maintain the sacred balance of life.
The Creator or Keeshaymanitou is present in the cosmos structure of the entire of life and is a source of four elements. The four elements intermingle capably of proper balance. That balance, then forms the structure and fills the life of all things. All four elements form different levels of life into conditions of matter. To modern KI, fire refers to all light and heat, earth to all solids, air to all gases and water to all fluids.
The Keeshaymanitou gave KI the right and responsibility to use and care for the sacred elements of fire, earth, air and water which are inherent in all manifestations. This right and responsibility has its spiritual foundation from the beginning, now and will exist in what is yet to come.
KI teachings and customary laws must be recognized by non-Aboriginal partners to address environmental problems in relation to lands and resources in order to achieve harmony and balance in Kitchenuhmaykoosib Homelands.

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