Screens and Beads
Screens and Beads is an intimate gathering that brings together film, storytelling, and Indigenous artistry to explore the interconnectedness of water, health, and climate justice. Centered around a screening of the documentary Plastic Detox, the event invites participants to reflect on the growing impact of microplastics on our ecosystems and bodies, while learning from Indigenous river communities in the Philippines who are actively protecting their waters from pollution.
Inspired by the belief that “the rivers within us are as important as the rivers around us,” the gathering draws connections between contaminated waterways and the human body — reminding us that our blood vessels, like rivers, sustain life and deserve care and protection.
Following the screening, participants will take part in a guided Manu’bak beading workshop, a traditional beadwork practice of the Ga’dang People of the Philippines. Through the slow and intentional act of beading, attendees will engage in collective reflection on environmental stewardship, cultural resilience, and community care. Each participant will leave with their own finished beadwork piece as a tangible reminder of the relationship between climate action, Indigenous knowledge, and personal responsibility.
Designed for a small group of up to 20 participants, Screens and Beads creates space for meaningful conversation, creative practice, and deeper awareness during Toronto Climate Week.
Event Format
Part 1: Documentary Screening A screening of Plastic Detox, exploring the realities of microplastic pollution and its impacts on water systems, ecosystems, and human health.
Part 2: Indigenous Reflection & Manu’bak Beading Workshop A hands-on traditional beading workshop inspired by the Ga’dang People of the Philippines, accompanied by guided reflection and dialogue on water protection, Indigenous knowledge, and climate justice.
About the Host: Sterile Plastics is a youth-led initiative exploring microplastic pollution through the intersections of environmental science, public health, and climate justice. The project examines how plastic pollution impacts ecosystems and human health, particularly among vulnerable communities, while fostering dialogue between research, policy, and public engagement.
With a strong commitment to addressing plastics in healthcare, Sterile Plastics also highlights the environmental and health impacts of medical and single-use plastics, advocating for more sustainable and equitable approaches to healthcare systems without compromising patient care.
I understand when I attend an event I enter an area where photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By entering the event premises, I consent to such recording media and its release, publication, exhibition or reproduction.