As a government contract researcher and business owner, Larissa works internationally as a policy consultant, trainer, and public speaker. She recently launched her own social enterprise, Future Ancestor Services, which provides speaking, training, research and community services focused on achieving climate justice and equity by applying the concepts of future ancestry and ancestral accountability. Larissa is recognized as a Top 30 Under 30 in Sustainability, an award-winning ribbon skirt artist and researcher, a passionate land-based learner, and proudly passes on Métis and Jamaican ancestry to her daughter, Zyra. Read more about her on our website.
How does policy relate to and help address climate change?
Larissa: Upon completion of my undergraduate degree in June 2018, my aspirations fell in the field of Indigenous and environmental law. I proceeded to work for the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Northern Development, and Mines as an Indigenous Policy Advisor. In this role I began to have a deep appreciation for how policy and law interact in the energy sector. This appreciation grew to a preference leaning towards policy for how responsive it was to the urgency the energy sector needs to change to curve climate change. I engaged and networked in events such as the Youth 7 G7 Summit, the G7 Oceans and Energy Ministerial Meetings, the Clean Energy Ministerial Meetings, and several energy and climate change summits and conferences. Through these experiences, my preference for policy was affirmed. With the guidance of prominent mentors working in energy policy and law, I have realigned my personal goals accordingly.
What sparked your interest in FutureXChange?
Larissa: As a 2019-20 Action Canada Fellow, I recently participated in a two-week study tour to the Yukon where our program focused on climate change, Indigenous collaboration, and public policy. I had the opportunity to engage with Indigenous community leaders and the natural resource extraction sectors through discussions, interviews, and land-based learning. This experience highlighted unique challenges and equally as important, unique strengths, of Northern Canadian communities. My understanding of climate change in Canada, and of the possibilities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous collaboration and partnership, was significantly impacted. I have been eager to share this through my public speaking and through articles I am contracted to write, most recently for the Canadian Science Policy Centre. I now find myself seeking opportunities to expand and build off this learning experience, and to become more familiar in how Northern Canada can inform and lead climate change policy.
What does climate action look like to you?
Larissa: I am committed to addressing climate change through a systemic approach. In recognizing that the gross majority of climate change accelerants are produced by corporations, and the policies allowing corporations to do so, I commit to shaping the minds and habits of those who can influence those practices. Furthermore, climate action must inspire others to follow suit. With that understanding, I seek to empower others to do the work that I do in creating policy and speaking to audiences who need the voices of young Indigenous, Black, disabled, LGBTQ2S+, and other underrepresented populations.
In Canada, climate action should be developed and guided using the frameworks of the TRC Calls to Action, the MMIW Inquiry Report, and UNDRIP. My research is currently focusing on how these frameworks have and are being used in the energy sector, and I share this through public speaking and workshops for youth.
Larissa’s Project
Fresh from the Inuvik exchange and inspired by the cross-sectoral and cross-generational collaboration of the FutureXChange cohort, Larissa delivered a keynote speech on November 19th, 2019 at Inside Education’s 2019 Calgary Climate Change Summit on the topics of diversity and Indigenous representation in climate change action. Ninety of the 92 grade seven students and teachers left the audience feeling they experienced an improved ability to tackle climate change with action that leads to climate justice and equity. Based on their feedback, using teachings about future ancestry to frame responsibility to climate change action resonated deeply with teachers and students.
We are amazed by the hard work, critical thinking and compassion Larissa brings to her work. We can’t wait to see what she achieves in the future, both with Future Ancestors and in her other endeavors.