Cristina Ilnitchi, Media Coordinator, Climate Career Portal

Cristina IlnitchiB.A. student, Interdisciplinary Studies in Political Science, Public Health, and Gender, Race, and Social Justice

Cristina is a communicator, researcher, and advocate. With a passion for politics, story-telling, and building community, she looks for opportunities where she can help support the creation of justice-centred policy. As a student leader and working with government, she was always trying to find ways to build meaningful relationships to collaborate on progressive change. This is also what brought her to Iron & Earth and deeply connects her to the work to support a just transition for workers.

Iron & Earth was founded and operates on Indigenous land within Treaty Six Territory and Métis Region 4 in amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (in Nehiyawewin/Cree), so-called Edmonton. The home of many Indigenous Peoples including the Nehiyawak/Cree, Tsuut’ina, Niitsitapi/Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Haudenosaunee/Iroquois, Dene Suliné, Anishinaabe/Ojibway/Saulteaux, and the Inuk/Inuit.

We pay our respects to all Indigenous Peoples of this land. Through their spiritual and practical relationships with the land, a rich heritage for our learning and our life as a community has been created and maintained. We recognize that the transition to a low-carbon future must be led by Indigenous Peoples and that there will be no justice unless we acknowledge and repair our relationship with the land.

We are committed to responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and upholding the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and acknowledge that we are always learning and unlearning practices that minimize harm and lead to the development of trust between us and Indigenous Peoples across Nations and urban centers.