Join Dr. Tim Takaro and Natasha Ivkov in this workshop about building a stronger anti-TMX movement through student-led advocacy, collaboration, and direct action!

About the event

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) refers to Burnaby Mountain as Lhuḵw’lhuḵw’áyten, “where the bark gets peeled in spring.” The name is derived from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw word for arbutus tree, lhulhuḵw’ay, which comes from lhuḵw’ (peel) and means “always peeling”. When we recognize place names like Lhuḵw’lhuḵw’áyten, we are acknowledging the original histories that have been here since time immemorial, prior to the colonization of these spaces.

The Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) pipeline continues to be a critical issue impacting our communities, environment, and future. As students and community members, we have a role to play in shaping the response, ensuring that voices of resistance are heard, and building collective strategies for action. This event is a follow-up to the recent community town hall on TMX, offering an opportunity to deepen student understanding of the project, its ongoing effects, and what we can do moving forward to stay prepared. We’ll explore how students can effectively organize on campus and beyond, discuss key updates on TMX, and share practical tools for mobilization, advocacy, and direct action. Whether you’re new to organizing or already involved, this session is a space for connection, collaboration, and preparation. By coming together, we can strengthen our networks, learn from one another, and build a more resilient movement. The conversation doesn’t end at awareness—this is about taking meaningful steps toward action.

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

Dr. Tim Takaro (he/him)
Dr. Takaro is a professor emeritus and physician-scientist in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University. His research is primarily about the links between human exposures and disease, and planetary health. With immense gratitude to the First Peoples, he is beginning to use Indigenous knowledge to relearn environmental health as he tests different interventions in climate action and planet protection. This collaboration and the failure to stop TMX with the usual academic public health approach of education and advocacy, Dr. Takaro led Protect the Planet into the trees to block construction, resulting in his incarceration in June 2022.

Natasha Ivkov (she/her)
Natasha is a third-year Chemistry major and Sustainable Development minor at SFU, and a core organizer with SFU350. She is passionate about fighting for equity in intersecting movements and has been doing community organizing since 2019. With SFU350, she has learned a lot about TMX resistance, and is working on advocating for proper emergency response measures to be implemented in the area surrounding the Trans Mountain Tank Farm.

Event Accessibility

Embark Sustainability events are free and open to Embark Sustainability members which includes Simon Fraser University undergraduate and graduate students, as well as Embark Sustainability Associate Members.

This event will be held indoors at the Embark Studio, room #1310 of the Student Union Building (SUB), SFU Burnaby. The Embark Studio is:

• Wheelchair accessible
• Located near wheelchair accessible and gender-neutral restrooms
• Welcomes all gender identities and expressions
• A tree nut and peanut-free zone
• A scent-free zone
• Provides access to a quiet space for personal meditation, reflection, or prayers

Other accessibility details include:

• As an attendee, you are free to opt-in and opt-out of activities as suit your needs throughout the event, including exiting and re-entering the event space.
• Unfortunately, we cannot provide ASL interpretation at this time.

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, please contact Embark Sustainability’s 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.