Xiuhtezcatl Martinez (first name pronounced Shoe-Tez-Caht) is an advocate, leader, activist and hip hop artist with Indigenous Mexica roots. Now 23 years old, he has been on the frontlines of the climate and environmental movement since the young age of 6 and is widely recognized for his passionate and unwavering fight for climate justice. Named one of Rolling Stone Magazine’s “25 under 25” and one of Time Magazine’s “TIMES Next 100,” he has been involved as a plaintiff in multiple legal proceedings—calling out the U.S. government and giants of the fossil fuel industry for failing to take necessary action on climate change. Xiuhtezcatl has spoken multiple times at the UN, addressing the General Assembly and has also spoken on panels with the likes of Bernie Sanders, Van Jones, Shailene Woodley, Bill McKibben, and Pharrell Williams.
Xiuhtezcatl is also an artist at his core, using his music as a yet another platform to share urgent messages of Indigenous solidarity and care for the planet. Collaborating with musicians including Atlanta rapper Raury and Grammy nominated musician and actor Jaden Smith, his quick-witted lyrics challenge systems of injustice to envision a better future.
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez has been a guest on the Daily Show with Trevor Noah and Real Time with Bill Maher. He has also been featured multiple times on PBS, Showtime, National Geographic, Rolling Stone, Upworthy, The Guardian, Vogue, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, CNN, MSNBC, HBO, Netflix, VICE, as well as photographed by Annie Leibovitz.
“Climate change [is] not a left liberal partisan environmental problem. It’s a human issue, it’s a human crisis. It involves and connects every person on this planet… The change that we need is not going to come from a politician… it’s going to come from something that’s always been the driver of change – people power, power of young people.” – Xiuhtezcatl Martinez
The Phil Lind Initiative is presented by UBC’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs in partnership with the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts.
TICKETS
Tickets for the in-person event available starting Thursday February 8 at 12PM. FREE while quantities last (max 2 per order).
