Embark Sustainability Society

Lived Realities of the Climate Crisis
2026-03-19 14:00 - 18:00 (America/Vancouver) | SUB Ballroom – SFU Burnaby, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada
Lived Realities of the Climate Crisis

Our Grandmother the Inlet: A Special Screening with Filmmaker Kai George

Date & Time
Thu, Mar 19th, 20262:00 PM – 6:00 PM PDT

Location
SUB Ballroom (5th. floor)

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In the face of the climate crisis, colonial systems continue to extract from lands and waters while marginalizing the very communities who have stewarded them for generations. Climate change is not an isolated environmental issue, but a justice issue rooted in dispossession, erasure, and unequal responsibility.
Join us for an afternoon of learning, reflection, and shared conversation as we gather for a screening of Our Grandmother the Inlet (2023) by filmmaker Kai George, followed by a facilitated discussion and food. Together, we will explore:

Indigenous voices in the climate crisis: youth leadership, cultural resurgence, and art as resistance in the face of ongoing colonization.
Relationality in practice: understanding land and water as living relations, not resources.
What climate equity requires: confronting colonial histories and building collective responsibility toward reconciliation and climate justice

Let’s connect storytelling, film, and dialogue to the broader struggle for climate equity!

Land Acknowledgement
Embark Sustainability’s work takes place across the unceded homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛw̓əm (Kwikwetlem), q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo, and Tsawwassen Nations. We greatly encourage our community members to reflect on the lands they are tuning in from; learn whose lands you occupy through native-land.ca.

AGenda

2:00PM | Doors Open for Registration
2:20PM | Appreciation & Gifting Ceremony
2:30PM | Land Acknowledgement by Rebecca Ballard
2:40PM | Introduction & Opening Remarks from Kai George
3:10PM | Break
3:20PM | Film Screening
3:35PM | Discussion Panel
4:10PM | Break & Food Service
4:50PM | Teach in & Letter Writing: Dredging the Inlet
5:50PM | Closing Remarks

ABOUT THE FIlm
Delving into the ancestral lineage of the George family, the film explores the significance of [Kai] and Ta7a’s deep connection to water, revered in the Tsleil-Waututh Nation as their oldest grandmother and the birthplace of creation.

ABOUT THE FACILITATORS
Kai (Kayah) George (she/they)Kai is an Indigenous filmmaker, activist, and student from the Tulalip and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Her work blends storytelling, environmental advocacy, and cultural revitalization. She co-wrote, directed, and produced Our Grandmother the Inlet (2023), which received an honourable mention for Best Canadian Short at the Vancouver International Film Festival and won the Trickster Award at SFU’s Skoden indigenous film festival. Kayah is currently co-directing a National Geographic-funded educational documentary series on orcas and matriarchy with Danielle Khan Da Silva. Recognized in Globe and Mail and named one of Corporate Knights’ “30 Under 30” sustainability leaders in Canada, she continues to work in film and activism. Alongside filmmaking, she studies Linguistics and Psychology at Simon Fraser University.

ABOUT EMBARK’S ANNUAL CLIMATE EQUITY EVENTS
Every spring, the students of Embark’s Climate Equity Collective organize one large event as part of our Climate Equity programming to wrap up the school year. It aims to bridge students and the wider community in meaningful conversation and collective action towards climate equity.

Event Accessibility
Embark Sustainability events are free and open to Embark members which includes Simon Fraser University undergraduate and graduate students, as well as Embark Associate Members. For this event, you will have to register with your active SFU email.
This event will be held indoors at SFU Burnaby in the SUB Ballroom (located on the 5th floor of the SUB). Accessibility details to note include:

The fifth floor of the SUB is accessible via elevator and hosts accessible washrooms, including a single-stall all gender washroom.
We aim to host a scent-free space. Please refrain from wearing scented products in attendance of this event.
Unfortunately, we cannot provide ASL interpretation at this time. However, we can provide a copy of the facilitator’s script.
Sturdy, armless chairs will be available for those looking to sit during this event.
Attendees are free to opt in and opt out of activities as suits their needs throughout the event, including exiting and re-entering the event space.

We aim to make our events accessible to as many of our community members as possible. If we can take further action to make this event accessible to you, or if you have any questions, please contact our Director of Engagement, Marie, at engagement@embarksustainability.org.

Community Agreement
By registering to attend this event, you are agreeing to be respectful when listening to and communicating with others, and be mindful of the space you are taking up amongst your peers.
Embark Sustainability does not tolerate violence or aggression against others on the basis of race, ethnicity, place of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or ability. Please also refer to people using the introductions they provide and do not assume pronouns/gender/knowledge based on someone’s name or appearance.
If these agreements are broken by someone, we will have to ensure the safety of our community members by removing them from the event.

Questions
If you have any questions about this event, please contact our Climate Equity Coordinator, Rebecca, at climate@embarksustainability.org.

Register for this event
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Climate Policy Workshop: Adaptation and Frameworks
2026-05-11 17:00 - 18:30 | The Embark Studio, SUB 1310 - 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada
Climate Policy Workshop

LEARN ABOUT LOCAL CLIMATE POLICY ADAPTATION AND FRAMEWORKS

Date & Time
Mon, May 11, 20265:00PM – 6:30PM

Location
Embark Studio (SUB 1310)

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About the event
Join Embark Sustainability and facilitator Aryan Sharifi for an engaging climate policy workshop! Featuring interactive activities and snacks, this event will explore the adaptation measures and frameworks utilized in the Greater Vancouver Area, British Columbia, and Canada.

Land ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This event takes place on the unceded homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and kʷikʷəƛw̓əm (Kwikwetlem) Nations.

ABOUT THE FACILITATORS

Aryan Sharifi (he/they)

Meet Aryan
Aryan Sharifi is a third-year Bachelor of Arts student, majoring in Political Science. He is interested in climate change politics, both nationally and internationally, and is passionate about advancing climate justice through community involvement and engagement.

Event Accessibility
Embark Sustainability events are free and open to Embark members which includes Simon Fraser University undergraduate and graduate students, as well as Embark Associate Members.
This event will be held indoors at the Embark Studio, room #1310 of the SUB Student Union Building (SUB), SFU Burnaby. Please review the following accessibility details:

Attendees are free to opt in and opt out of activities as suits their needs throughout the event, including exiting and re-entering the event space.
The event space is wheelchair accessible.
All-gender and wheelchair-accessible restrooms are located on the same floor.
We welcome all gender identities and expressions.
We provide access to a quiet space for personal meditation, reflection, or prayers.
The event space is a tree nut and peanut-free zone
The event space is a scent-free zone.
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide ASL interpretation at this time.

We strive to make our events accessible to as many of our community members as possible. If you have accessibility needs you’d like to share, please contact our Director of Engagement at engagement@embarksustainability.org.

Health & Safety
Participants who register are agreeing to release Embark Sustainability Society from any liability related to COVID-19. Masks are optional but encouraged.

Community Agreement
By registering to attend this event, you are agreeing to be respectful when listening to and communicating with others, and be mindful of the space you are taking up amongst your peers.
Embark Sustainability does not tolerate violence or aggression against others on the basis of race, ethnicity, place of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or ability. Please also refer to people using the introductions they provide and do not assume pronouns/gender/knowledge based on someone’s name or appearance.
If these agreements are broken by someone, we will have to ensure the safety of our community members by removing them from the event.

Questions
If you have any questions about this event, please contact Embark Sustainability’s Director of Engagement at engagement@embarksustainability.org.

Register for this Event
get reminders & event details now
