Sophia Rabliauskas

Rabliauskas was born and raised in the Poplar River First Nation.[4] Growing up, her father taught her countless lessons about keeping the land and the importance of only taking what is necessary.[4] Her father provided for her family without outside help: in the fall and winter, he hunted moose and trapped rabbits in the bush; in the summer, he fished for pickerel in Lake Winnipeg; in the spring, he shot ducks and geese.[4] Rabliauskas still lives in the Poplar region, where she raised four children with her husband Ray Rabliauskas.[4] Fluent in Anishinaabe, she has worked as a language teacher and has led camps to connect both young people and adults with their culture.[4]

Rabliauskas helped secure interim protective status - a temporary reprieve from logging, hydro, gas, and mining development - for their two million acres of undisturbed Boreal forest (three times the size of Rhode Island) in the Poplar River's traditional territory in Manitoba [2] The Poplar River First Nation lands, located on the eastern side of Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, form a significant part of the Boreal forest and houses 1200 members of the Ojibway First nations.[1] - As first nations territory is legally public land in Canada, it is commonplace for provincial and federal agencies to grant long-term industry leases without consulting Indidigenous communities.[1] The government of Manitoba has announced the intent to grant permanent protection to this territory yet to date has not granted that protection.[1]

In 2004, Rabliauskas helped lead several other community members under the direction of Elders in developing the Asatiwisipe Aki Lands Management Plan, which is a comprehensive plan detailing how they will document, protect, and sustainably manage Poplar River's forests, wildlife, and other natural resources.[2] Such a report is the first of its kind created for Canada's Boreal region.[2] The report outlined components such as respecting traditional knowledge, benefiting from environmental analysis, developing economic opportunities, including protection of traditional hunting, trapping and fishing activities, and creating sustainable tourism opportunities.[1]

Currently, Rabliauskas is a Spokesperson for Pimachiowin Aki, a group of First Nations from communities such as Bloodvein, Little Grand Rapids, and Pauingassi[4] based in Manitoba and Ontario who goal is to secure over 43,000 km² of untouched boreal forest as a UNESCO World Heritage Site to further ensure protections.[2] A nomination was sent to UNESCO in January 2012.[2] Canada's Boreal region, covering nearly 60,000 square kilometres and covering almost 90% of Manitoba, contains one quarter of the world's remaining forests and is a crucial buffer against climate change; its intact forests and wetlands store large amounts of carbon.[1] The region's natural wealth also sustains hundreds of Aboriginal communities.[2] Poplar River elders entrusted Sophia and Ray with documenting Oral history of the Anishinaabe people and culture for the purposes of their UNESCO proposal.[4]

Rabliauskas says that her environmental activism is driven by a commitment to Anishinaabe elders and to honoring centuries of environmental stewardship.[4]

• Earth Day Canada's Ongoing Commitment Award, June 2012, for her efforts to protect the lands in Poplar River's traditional territory in Manitoba [2]
• Order of Manitoba, July 2008, Manitoba's highest honour awarded for excellence in any field that benefits the wellbeing of Manitoba and its residents [3]
• Goldman Environmental Prize, 2007 [1]