This article was previously published in the National Observer.
The resilience, ingenuity and perseverance of Inuit, Métis and First Nations Peoples in the face of climate impacts and colonialism shows how Canadians can move forward — together — to tackle climate change and advance reconciliation.
The historical and ongoing impacts of colonial policies — including the displacement of Indigenous Peoples from their traditional territories and the bypassing of Indigenous authority in decision-making — continues to undermine rights and inhibit collaboration in the energy transition. Climate change has added another layer, disrupting the lands, waterways and wildlife that sustain life from coast to coast to coast.
Drastic climate-driven shifts are threatening people’s health, livelihoods and daily lives while also disproportionately eroding Indigenous knowledge, culture and ways of life.
Despite those obstacles, Indigenous nations, leaders, elders, youth, knowledge holders and researchers continue to lead in conversation and in developing solutions that will better equip all Canadians to tackle and adapt to our shared climate realities.
This Indigenous Peoples Day, we will take the time to honour the enduring spirit of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples in the face of climate change and colonial policy. The climate leadership of Indigenous Peoples — longstanding stewards of the land — is needed now more than ever.
Take, for instance, the wholly-owned Métis Nation of Alberta solar farm, Salay Prayzaan, which powers the equivalent of nearly 1,200 homes. Across the Prairies and Northwest Territories, several Indigenous communities are reducing their energy consumption and emissions by taking part in the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources’s (CIER) Energy InSites program, a building retrofit program that also boosts capacity and develops Energy Champions to lead lasting climate and energy projects.
In order to advance and uphold Indigenous sovereignty and leadership in climate research practices, the Canadian Climate Institute and CIER are showcasing four original Indigenous-led case studies as part of the sixth annual Indigenous Perspectives program. The newly-published analyses, which will be featured in two roundtable discussions next week, highlight climate research grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing and relationships with lands, waters and future generations.
In the case study Who holds the pen? Indigenous dialogues on climate governance and corporate disclosure, author Raylene Whitford analyzes 220 companies in the S&P/TSX composite index and finds that just a fraction made public commitments to obtain free, prior, and informed consent before beginning new projects. Her research discusses how improved transparency around Indigenous rights will ensure climate policy implementation reflects Indigenous governance realities and more accurately assess project risks.
Co-authors Frank Busch, Joel Krupa, Kwatuuma Cole Sayers and Tamara Krawchenko explore the many benefits of Indigenous-led electricity transmission projects in their case study, Indigenous-led electricity transmission projects: A generational opportunity. Their analysis explores how Indigenous ownership of transmission assets can play an integral role in accelerating Canada’s clean energy transition, while also generating stable, long-term revenue for communities.
Conor Kerr’s case study, What the land knows: Métis harvesting narratives as climate knowledge, explores how Métis harvesting practices across the Prairies have been disrupted by climate change, threats to harvesting rights and environmental contamination. His research examines how governments could better support intergenerational knowledge transmission and co-develop climate monitoring systems with Métis communities to incorporate their knowledge.
Tara Marsden/Naxginkw and co-author Chris Joseph’s case study, The Gitanyow Climate Test: Tackling the Climate Crisis with Indigenous Laws and Science, provides a concrete example of
how, in the face of growing climate pressures and dissatisfaction with colonial approaches to impact assessments, Gitanyow Nation developed a climate test using Indigenous laws and science. The analysis discusses how the tool has been used to assert Gitanyow authority and evaluate the climate impacts of proposed development projects affecting its territories, including the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG pipeline.
Initiatives like the Indigenous Perspectives program aim to amplify Indigenous voices in policy discussions, uphold data sovereignty and honour culture. Authors retain all ownership of their work, while being guided through mentorship from the supporting organizations.
On National Indigenous Peoples Day, we will be reflecting on the vast contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples toward addressing this country’s climate emergency. As these case studies illustrate, Indigenous tenacity is critical to the energy transition and to developing durable climate policy collaboratively with Indigenous leadership in the spirit of reconciliation.
Indigenous people know we must continue on this path together for future generations, because without Mother Earth there is no life.
