from the amazon to canada

 

from the amazon to canada: why i still believe we must speak up

(I need to edit a bit, but posting now)

Proud of the people who keep fighting for the land, the water, the people and the future.

I remember when I first became interested in environmental destruction in the Amazon. I read Savages by Joe Kane, a book about the struggle of the Huaorani people in Ecuador against oil companies threatening their ancestral lands, forests and way of life.

That book stayed with me. It opened my eyes to what was happening to Indigenous communities and the natural world in the name of oil and money. .

I remember thinking that if enough of us spoke up, we could stop it. If people understood what was happening, surely we could make a difference.

How naive I was about the power of money, politics and corporate interests.

I have learned that speaking up does not automatically stop destruction. Awareness does not always lead to action. And even when people fight for years, the forces working against them can be enormous.

But I have never stopped caring.

a dream of the amazon

I always wanted to travel to the Amazon with my camera. I wanted to photograph everything — the incredible colours, the wildlife, the forests, the rivers and the people. I wanted to see it for myself, not simply read about it or look at photographs taken by someone else.

I wanted to witness that extraordinary world and share it through my photography.

I may never get there. Mexico has been the closest place I have found to that dream, but right now, even getting back there is difficult.

There is sadness in having dreams that circumstances may never allow us to fulfil. But loving a place, caring about its people and standing up for its future should not depend on whether we can afford to visit.

We can care from wherever we are.

i love canada, too

I love Canada. That does not mean I cannot see the damage being done here.

Our forests, rivers, coastlines, salmon, orcas and communities all need protection. Indigenous peoples continue to fight to have their rights, knowledge and relationships with their territories respected. Housing, clean water and the basic dignity of human beings should never be treated as expendable.

I have spent years using my art, photography and writing to draw attention to the things I believe matter. My Water Is Life paintings are part of that commitment. Mermaids, whales, otters, waves, forests — these are not simply subjects to paint. They represent the living world we depend on.

I cannot solve every problem. I cannot personally stop every pipeline, oil spill or act of environmental destruction. But I can refuse to pretend that these things do not matter.

And I can keep speaking up.

remembering shane pointe

I also want to remember Siem Te’ta-in (Shane Pointe), the respected Musqueam Elder and Coast Salish Knowledge Keeper, who passed away on April 8, 2026.

Shane generously shared his teachings with communities, schools and institutions throughout British Columbia. One of the teachings associated with his work was Nutsamaht — “We are one.” His words reminded people of the connections between human beings, our ancestors, the land, the water, the sky and all living things. .

We need to remember people like Shane, not only for what they taught us, but for the responsibility those teachings leave in our hands.

I also remember the words “Class Action Lawsuit.” To me, they represent the importance of people coming together to seek accountability when individuals or communities believe they have been harmed by powerful institutions. Legal action can take years, and bringing a case does not guarantee justice, but collective action can give people a way to have their voices heard.

Shane's teaching that we are one is a reminder that we should not have to face every struggle alone.

why i am still proud

Today, I am thinking about Brazil, the Amazon and everyone who continues to defend the natural world and the rights of the people who have lived in relationship with it for generations.

I am thinking about Canada, too. Loving our country should mean wanting it to do better. It should mean asking difficult questions, protecting what is precious and holding those in power accountable.

I am proud of people who stand up, even when the odds are against them. I am proud of artists, photographers, writers, knowledge keepers, community members and ordinary people who refuse to look away.

I once thought that speaking up would be enough to change the world.

I understand now that it is not that simple.

But silence will not make the problems disappear, either.

I still have my camera, my paintbrushes and my words. I still have dreams, even if some of them remain out of reach.

And I still believe that every living thing matters.

Nutsamaht. We are one.

Water Is Life. Protect the land. Respect the people. Keep speaking up.

— Tina Winterlik / Zipolita

#WaterIsLife #AmazonRainforest #IndigenousRights #ShanePointe #Nutsamaht #EnvironmentalProtection #Canada #Brazil #FightBackWithArt #WarriorUpWithArt