Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples

In Canada, June marks National Indigenous History Month, a time to recognize and celebrate therich heritage and resilience of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples. Beyond learning about the lives and traditions of the Indigenous communities on whose territories we live, work, and play, and re-committing to the principles of truth and reconciliation, there’s also an opportunity for us to consider the impacts of climate change on Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous communities in Canada and elsewhere are disproportionally affected by climate change. They are often on the front lines where, for example, coastal erosion, flooding, loss of sea ice, wildfires, and degradation of marine and freshwater biodiversity are acutely felt. In turn, there’s the loss of traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering practices. The health impacts of climate change range from respiratory illness due to wildfire smoke to food insecurity to diminishment of social and cultural well-being.

In our urban setting, according to City of Vancouver census data, Indigenous people tend to have lower income, are more likely to be renters, and live in poorer quality or insecure housing compared to the general population. In a recent homeless count, Indigenous people were over-represented at one-third of respondents despite being just 2% of the census population. The consequence of having sub-standard or no housing is high health risk during extreme heat events and in periods of poor air quality due to smoke. In regard to heat stress, if one overlays a map of Vancouver’s neighbourhoods by income with a map of the tree canopy, the mitigating effect of trees is generally least felt in poorer areas. Poverty was a common aspect amongst those who died in the 2021 heat dome.

Ironically, Indigenous communities are considered to be low overall contributors to global warming, as per capita emissions are generally lower than the national average. And, for millennia, Indigenous peoples have respectfully lived with the natural world and are deeply connected to the land, water and ecosystems that are foundational to their ways of life. They hold extensive knowledge of stewardship and sustainability, and of adapting to harsh and changing environments. In that context, some 20% of Canada’s electricity generating infrastructure have Indigenous peoples as partners or beneficiaries, making them integral at the forefront of the transition to clean energy, and in the fight against climate change more generally.

I encourage Division members to read more about the unique health impacts of climate change on Indigenous peoples.

To learn more about some of the projects that are Indigenous led and incorporate traditional ways of knowledge, please see the Climate Atlas of Canada.