So many things are happening at the U.N. Climate Change Summit - it will make your head spin! Bringing awareness and attention to an issue or group can be done in many ways. "Actions" are a large part of the Climate Change Summit and in making statements worldwide. Particular planned "actions" with different organizations and groups must be planned, requested and approved by U.N. with certain regulations and guidelines for all. I just wanted to share some amazing action photos with you here.

These are just some of the incredibly inspiring youth actions that took place at the U.N. Climate Summit.

In Copenhagen Denmark you must dial 112! The purpose of an emergency plan is to prepare, prevent and protect in case of circumstances or situations considered an emergency. A plan promotes awareness and preparation to a possible hazardous situation. You can only prepare so much, but can never really prepare for unforeseen circumstances. The lack of a plan could result in serious and devastating loss.

The U.N. Climate Change negotiations are an attempt at preservation of what is left on Mother Earth and how to protect it from various perspectives. There is no detailed indication of what is to come as a result of climate change, although there are models and probabilities, however we will never really know the devastation that could be caused. I have encountered a level of circumstances you would consider an emergency this week having lost my passport, debit cards and all identifications while abroad.

There was some planning prior to my departure, in case of an emergency, including photocopying my passport, which helped tremendously when it went missing.

• You should always stash some currency-at least $200 minimum, in case of emergency, so that if your cards and money are misplaced, you can have some funds to use.
• Go to the police department and file a report with them so you have documentation
• Call and cancel all cards and head to the U.S. Embassy.

The U.S. Embassy does have assistance if you need money; they can help set up a wire transferable account for you if necessary. The Embassy will also cancel your passport and reissue a temporary one at cost. Most people were extremely helpful, but the stress was a lot to deal with. It's a lot of work and a lot of stress, but when I worked through it, I realized more about my potential to deal with stress, work through it and have an outcome. I dealt with a stressful situation and it turned out alright. It is hopeful that with all the stress levels and concerns at the conference, that leaders and negotiators will be able to have an outcome fair to the world. Because in the future, as Anishinabe children and other children look at the world we leave behind, we wonder where will they turn to? Who will they be able to call upon? Who will they call in case of an emergency?

I've had the most exciting experience being involved with the Indigenous People's Caucus. I've been so far successfully able to navigate Copenhagen and hit up town squares that are hosting events and venues. I tired myself out running back and forth between the Conference of Youth (COY) and the International Indigenous People's Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC), it is so well-worth the extra mile!

I made connections from what I was hearing and learning at Indigenous Caucus and relaying the messages first hand to international youth and the Will Steger Delegation. So many issues are being faced by so many different types of Indigenous peoples across the world.

A beginning issue is definition of Indigenous People's. Who are they? Where are they? What are they? What is their importance here?

I have never googled Indigenous before, but the results were awesome and what was surprising were the connections between definition of Indigenous and the United Nations.

I like these simple definitions provided by Wikipedia:

1. Originating and living or occurring naturally in an area or environment. See synonyms at native.
2. Intrinsic; innate.

Wikipedia is a great source, but check out some youtube firsthand Indigenous perspectives of defining what Indigenous means:

Indigenous People are across the globe- in Kenya,Africa; Bolivia,South America; India and Iran,Asia; the Pacific Islands, and even here in Europe. We are known to the world as Indigenous Peoples, we are known at home in our respective languages and cultures-the Anishinabe of the U.S. and Canada, the Inuit of Alaska, Sami of Scandinavia, Polynesian of Pacific Islands, the Ainu's of Asia and countless more.

It is crucial that the Indigenous Peoples of the world have a presence at this conference. With the close ties to the land that the respective Indigenous peoples have, the issue of climate change causes and solutions becomes more than an environmental concern, it becomes a human rights and human justice issue as well. When the people, in the small numbers that they are, begin to lose the land, not just in acreage or in underground exploration or development, they begin to lose culture, traditions and livelihoods too.

When the land and water are gone, so are the people.

My mother and I were discussing local headlines about pollution in Gitchi Gumme (Lake Superior), she said to me that it was scary to think that it could be possible that instead of taking my grandchildren to swim there, I would be telling them of the days when I used to, but that we can't anymore.

It is history that we are taking part of, not what we want to become. It is our responsibility to ensure our existence, here at the UN Conference, and here on this Earth. It is important that we support each other, as Indigenous Peoples of continental regions and as a human race to ensure that we can live on with Mother Earth.

Notes:

*International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples-August 9
*Wikipedia Indigenous Definition http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples#Oceania

The call from and for Indigenous Peoples here at the U.N. Climate Change conference is critical and we're making sure that we are heard, from Day 1 to the day after the last. With so many brothers and sisters from different lands of the Earth, we unite here in Copenhagen to make a difference. Not only do we have a diverse U.S. front, as far as Alaska with our sisters fighting to keep industries from drilling on the lands, and as far south as the Navajo nations fighting uranium, we span across the North American continent and every piece of land on this Aki (Earth). There are our Canadian brothers and sisters fighting the Tar Sands, Kenyan brothers and South American Natives fighting deforestation of their rain forests and forcible removal. It is imperative that we stand together and ensure our voice be not only heard but acknowledged, because it is us, as traditional and cultural people who are the sacrifice for the energy produced and consumed in the world. Indigenous Peoples of the world have united here at Copenhagen to be sure that our rights regarding the land and our culture because of our ties to the land are acknowledged in a treaty. Although we have world appreciation for our cultures and traditions, we would rather be negotiating than negotiated.

In appreciation,the World Wildlife Funds Arctic Tent centered in a Copenhagen town square dedicated a days events as Indigenous Day, featuring the Inuit Cirque youth above. Ms. Sheila Watt-Cloutier, a Canadian Inuit activist was a featured speaker, with whom I had a brief introduction to.

Saturday December 12th was focused as Indigenous Day at the Climate Summit, the same day as the Climate Change rally and march. Indigenous Peoples led 10,000 supporters through the streets of Copenhagen to the Summit location. As Indigenous Peoples were on the front lines of the largest climate change rally in history, it is indicative that Indigenous Peoples are also on the front lines of the Climate Change movement. Power to the People.

All throughout Copenhagen there are numerous locations and events relating to the Climate Change Conference, outside of the main Bella Center negotiations.

The World Wildlife Fund has an awesome set up in Copenhagen's Nytorv square dubbed the Arctic Tent. Outside of the Arctic tent are beautiful art exhibitions in the form of photographs and a main attraction seen completed above. The attraction is an ice sculpture of a polar bear, created by Mark Coreth-a renowned wildlife sculptor, and team.

I've been "watching" and internally named him "WaabiMakwa"-White Bear. He represents not only his own dying and endangered race in the Arctic, but the Indigenous and human race of the world. He was completed December 5th, standing 1.8 meters high-representing the average height of floating sea ice in the Arctic. The ice at that height is too thin to remain frozen throughout the year, resulting in melting, just as WaabiMakwa has begun to do, and rising of sea levels. Eventually only his bronze skeleton will remain and only his story and spirit will live on. It is important that we remember Waabi Makwa's reality, as we are brothers, and what happens to our brothers it is said, will eventually happen to us as well.

Since arriving in Copenhagen Friday I have had the opportunity to awesome behind the scenes activities, from the setting up of the Bella Center, to media outreaches and releases to planned actions by organizations, being a witness and a participant. It's a lot of work just being a delegate and focusing on a daily plan!!

I got a good look inside the Bella Center here in Copenhagen on Friday and Sunday, where the United Nations Forum Climate Change began negotiations on Monday. Being able to see the U.N. staff, different organizations, and Bella Center prepare for the thousands of participants here, was an indication of the hard work that's put in leading up to results. The space and physical preparations are only part of the arrangements. Results could come in so many forms and we're hoping for negotiations to result in a call and commitment for domestic and global responsibility regarding climate change.

I have also been participating with the Indigenous Environmental Network who also has a delegation, we are currently planning an action at the U.S. Embassy here in Copenhagen on Thursday.

So many thoughts, ideas and considerations are determined, the work put in by delegates should be acknowledged. I am saying Chi-Miigwetch (Thank you) now, as we are preparing for so much, I fear I may not be able to express my gratitude for your input, sharing and support.

May the work and our energies continue.

What do you say when someone disagrees with something that you believe to be true? What do you say when people argue against a mission? When I first went to work in White Earth (Gaa-waabaabiganikaag) Minnesota-learning all that I did with the land, people and environment-I thought that maybe this is what I was suppose to be doing. I say that if I care about the land and people, these are the things and the issues I should be covering and helping with.

Over the years I have come across a few people that do not agree with certain things about coal, oil, gas and industry.

Yes-it can be difficult when you're the only person in a roomful that thinks and feels a certain way about an issue. Even more so when you take action, even if that action is not an intentional direct attack against people or businesses, somewhere that action has an effect.

It is much easier to immerse yourself when everyone is encouraging and in agreement with you. You almost feel and begin to think that the rest of the world is with you too. And then you come across people that do not agree with you, sometimes those people are close to you. Do you let your views, values and ideas flow?? Sometimes maybe, sometimes not. But I found myself wondering, what should I do? Do I consistently argue facts to them? Do I listen intently and understandingly to what they say?

As I have been using my social medias to spread the word about Copenhagen and climate change issues, I have gotten great responses and some not so great responses. Some of the responses, although they could be seen as negative, are only responses regardless of their negation.

Some said that Climate Change is a phony issue, that if you want to be green-to be green-turn off your computer, plant a tree, "switching" to green renewables isn't going to lessen the cost of our current resources-and there will be no new creation of jobs, only a job shift from one sector to another.

And they're right. It is a phony issue, they are entitled to their opinions, not their own facts. It shouldn't be seen as a dire "switch", but an alternative, an option, because some do not have any. The shifted jobs from industry someday may no longer be and the "sustainable jobs'' will. There is only so much of a resource to use, it will change too. There are options.

Sometimes you have to stand up for what you see. Even if it is to a complete stranger on FaceBook about Climate Change, even if it is your brother-in-law! I will listen to what they have to say, try and understand their thinking, but my concern and mission will always be for the people and for this Earth (Aki').

School: LCO Ojibwe Community College and University of Minnesota Morris
Area of Study: Renewable Energy

Aurora is Ojibwe from the Bad River Indian Reservation in Wisconsin, and recently worked as Executive Assistant for Honor the Earth in White Earth, Minnesota, a non-profit leader in the Native environmental movement. Aurora has organized, campaigned, and advocated for environmental and climate justice throughout Indian Country across the Midwest, including extensive outreach to tribal communities on renewable energy and environmental justice facilitating solar installation and youth education. Aurora is a volunteer firefighter and first responder for the Bad River Volunteer Fire Department. She hopes to work more extensively with Midwest Native communities to build a more sustainable future. In her own words Aurora writes, ”We are the caretakers of Mother Earth, it is from her which nourishes human life, we are her children and we must ensure her health in return for our own”.

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