Toronto – April 16, 2024 – April 22 was designated as “International Mother Earth” day by the UN General Assembly in 2009. It recognizes that the Earth and its ecosystems are our home, and that it is necessary to promote harmony with nature and the Earth.

The term “Mother Earth” reflects the interdependence that exists among human beings, other living species and the planet we all inhabit.The UN issued a statement saying that: “International Mother Earth Day promotes a view of the Earth as the entity that sustains all living things found in nature. Inclusiveness is at the heart of International Mother Earth Day; fostering shared responsibilities to rebuild our troubled relationship with nature is a cause that is uniting people around the world.”

For Indigenous peoples worldwide, every day is a day to celebrate our relationships with the land, air, water, plants, and animals. The wellness of the home we share and all those who live in it are connected.  Indigenous knowledge and land stewardship can help us all learn practices to sustain and restore the delicate balance of these systems and address environmental issues like climate change, deforestation, food security, and conservation.

Every day is a good day to thank Mother Earth and explore healthy, Indigenous-led, and land-connected knowledge, technology, systems, and relationships. Many action-based environmental movements are rooted in firsthand experiences of the degradation of local ecosystems by Indigenous peoples whose unbroken connection to Mother Earth has survived many challenges.

Educate yourself on environmental issues via UFCW’s webCampus courses such as Canada’s Environmental Record and Our Environment: Welcome to the Issues.