About
Cri de Coeur, the title of this project, is a name rooted in place and history, chosen intentionally as a reference to the experience of those who have always called Minnesota home. My home and community is located on the traditional, ancestral and contemporary lands of Indigenous people. This land holds great historical, spiritual and personal significance for its original stewards, the Native nations and peoples of this region.
The arrival of Voyaguers during the fur trade, and subsequent colonialism, involved denying Native people sovereignty and access to land and resources, and the forcible removal of communities from their lands and homes. In one example among many, four Dakota bands signed treaties at Mendota and Traverse des Sioux, Minnesota, in the summer of 1851, relinquishing nearly all Dakota territory in Mni Sota Makoce, “The Land Where the Waters Reflect the Clouds.” They did so in response to the withholding of rations, the threat of violence, enforced starvation, the killing of game and the destruction of agriculture. Acknowledging and addressing this history, among many other examples, is a core element of the "just transition" on climate action.
Cri de Cœur means “a cry from the heart; a heartfelt or sincere appeal." It’s a phrase that demonstrates the meaning of advocacy, which harnesses individual power to create shared awareness and collective action. This project focuses on how advocacy on climate can - and must - manifest within our own sphere of influence.
In this series, Cambray Crozier interviews leaders - from chefs, to bankers, to polar explorers - who share their insights, experiences and reflections about their approach to advocacy: how they wield influence, build coalitions, communicate and share knowledge, and work to facilitate civic engagement.
We take a close look at some of the personal skills needed to be effective in the role of a “change agent” so each of us can bring about actual positive change for sustainability.
New episodes are released monthly.