by no means there yet: centring the voices of black, indigenous, and youth of colour climate activists in ontario
abstract
this critical qualitative inquiry delves into the experiences of black, indigenous, and youth of
colour activists involved in the climate justice movement. semi-structured narrative interviews
were conducted with 15 black, indigenous and youth in ontario, aged 18 to 29, engaged with a
climate justice organization for a minimum of six months. utilizing timeline mapping and semistructured interviews, participants highlighted pivotal life events shaping their justice-oriented
values. two overarching themes emerged: 1) deliberately unheard? conveying the challenges
encountered by bipoc youth climate activists, and 2) empowering echoes: nurturing identity,
shaping communities, and forging new pathways for bipoc youth leaders. early connections
to the land, familial influences, and the land back movement significantly informed participants'
activism, emphasizing the need for intersectional environmentalism. amidst experiences of
racism within the movement and the predominant whiteness of youth protests, bipoc youth
navigate a diverse range of climate emotions and advocate for leadership opportunities and
dedicated spaces for youth to foster intergenerational knowledge transfer. the study calls for
systemic change and concludes with recommendations to enhance climate justice education in
schools, offering insights to inspire future generations for a more equitable and sustainable
future, especially for the most vulnerable of peoples.