Renowned journalist and author Tanya Talaga was on The Narwhal's board for six years, and stewarded it as chair in her last term, which ended recently.
Photo: Supplied by Tanya Talaga
I’ve watched The Narwhal doggedly report on all the issues that feel even more acutely under threat today — including the autonomy and sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples, which is once again being thrown to the wayside. It’s why I’m a member — and why I hope you’ll join me
If you’re feeling a tad off-balance these days, know that you’re not alone. You probably wince at the suspecting words in headlines: tariffs, trade war and 51st state — that’s right, the colonization of … Canada.
Believe it or not, we’ve seen this film before. Indigenous folks have long dealt with colonial powers that have sought to destroy these lands and the humans who steward them. And we know the current rhetoric, amid a federal election with the highest of stakes, largely ignores what we’ve navigated for over 150 years.
“Build more fossil fuel pipelines! Extract all the minerals under precious carbon-storing muskeg! Loosen all restrictions!” — these calls could grab us from one crisis and catapult us into another. Reactionary decisions, that don’t take into account the country that future generations of Canadians will inherit, serve nobody.
This is why in-depth reporting by The Narwhal — the lone newsroom in Canada entirely dedicated to deep, thoughtful independent journalism on the natural world — matters so much. And this April, they need your help to meet an ambitious goal:adding 400 new monthly or yearly members to keep this work going.
I was on the board of The Narwhal for six years, and in my last year, I stepped in as board chair. I’ve watched this team doggedly report on all the issues that feel even more acutely under threat today — including the autonomy and sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples, which is once again being thrown to the wayside.
When you take a step back, the writing is clear on the wall. It’s about the land. It’s about the water. And it’s about all the natural resources that keep our world running. All that coupled with the climate crisis we’re facing is whiplash-inducing, no doubt — parts of Los Angeles were only razed to the ground about … 10 weeks ago. Remember that?!
But in these uncertain times, one thing is steady: The Narwhal’s reporting that helps me make sense of the chaos, and reminds people across the country of what’s at stake for our natural world.
As my tenure has finished as board chair, I urge you all to do one small thing today:become a member of The Narwhal. No figure is too big or small: will you be one of 400 readers who joins for any monthly or yearly amount they can afford?
Here at The Narwhal, we do journalism differently. As an independent non-profit, we’re accountable to you, our readers — not advertisers or shareholders. So we measure our success based on real-world impact: evidence that our reporting influenced citizens to hold power to account and pushed policymakers to do better.
Our stories have been raised in legislatures across the country and cited by citizens in petitions and letters to politicians.
Take our reporting on Alberta’s decision to allow cougar hunting in parks, which was cited in an official ethics complaint against the parks minister. And, after we revealed an oil and gas giant was permitted to sidestep the rules for more than 4,300 pipelines, the BC Energy Regulator started posting the exemptions it grants publicly.
This kind of work takes time, money and a lot of grit. And we can’t do it without the support of thousands of readers just like you.
Here at The Narwhal, we do journalism differently. As an independent non-profit, we’re accountable to you, our readers — not advertisers or shareholders. So we measure our success based on real-world impact: evidence that our reporting influenced citizens to hold power to account and pushed policymakers to do better.
Our stories have been raised in legislatures across the country and cited by citizens in petitions and letters to politicians.
Take our reporting on Alberta’s decision to allow cougar hunting in parks, which was cited in an official ethics complaint against the parks minister. And, after we revealed an oil and gas giant was permitted to sidestep the rules for more than 4,300 pipelines, the BC Energy Regulator started posting the exemptions it grants publicly.
This kind of work takes time, money and a lot of grit. And we can’t do it without the support of thousands of readers just like you.
We’re fighting for our right to report — and your right to know. Stay in the loop about our trial against the RCMP and get a weekly dose of The Narwhal’s independent journalism
We’re fighting for our right to report — and your right to know. Stay in the loop about our trial against the RCMP and get a weekly dose of The Narwhal’s independent journalism
