Collaborative on Health and the Environment :: Interview with CHE Partner, Shawna Larson

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Interview with CHE Partner, Shawna Larson

Shawna Larson Photo Environmental Justice Program Director, Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT)

Steve Heilig: Tell us your own background and how you came to do the work you do.

In 1994 I was hired on at the International Indian Treaty Council where I was exposed to both environmental work as well as international work as it applies to indigenous peoples and from there my interests grew and helped me on my path to the Indigenous Environmental Network and Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) where I work now as the Environmental Justice Program Director.

What is the primary mission or goal of your organization?

ACAT is a statewide organization established in 1997 and dedicated to achieving environmental health and justice. Our mission is to assure justice by advocating for environmental and community health. We believe that everyone has the right to clean air, clean water, and toxic-free food. We work to eliminate the production and release of harmful chemicals by industry and military sources; ensure community right-to-know; achieve policies based on the precautionary principle; and support the rights and sovereignty of Indigenous peoples. ACAT has four program areas: Military Toxics and Health; Northern Contaminants and Health; Pesticide Right-to-Know; and Water Quality Protection.

Have there been any recent striking developments in your work?

At the end of 2005 ACAT hosted a CHE conference in Alaska where we started to build the Alaska network. So far the interest is growing and we are happy to see some of Alaska's 200 plus Tribes getting involved in this work.

What lessons have you learned in pursuing your goals?

Rules to live by - do not assume responsibility where you have no authority, don't do other peoples organizing - things my mother-in-law taught me - very invaluable!

What do you see as the biggest need in environmental health and the greatest obstacle to that goal?

Our biggest need in environmental health as I see it is to break down the barriers between western science and western health. In Traditional knowledge Indigenous peoples know that we are all connected, the land and our health. Our biggest obstacle would be to get the western educated folks who are in charge at the state or government levels to understand this concept.

Do you have any comments/suggestions regarding CHE itself?

CHE has been particularly useful in helping us to broaden our Tribal and community networks in the area of health and the environment and I think that we in Alaska can serve as a model on how CHE can better serve rural communities.

What's new with your organization?

We are always busy but recently we are working on a study looking at lead levels around the Red Dog mine up north in Alaska. In Alaska we have the worlds largest lead and zinc mine and there are 3+ native communities which are currently being impacted so we are working on looking at the connection between health and the environment.

(This interview is a re-post from 2006)

Posted: 31 August 2006

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