Introduction
Climate change impacts everyone, but its impact on Indigenous people in northern communities is something that the Canadian government has yet to rectify. North region’s warming has an adverse effect on the health and traditional natural resource use of indigenous peoples of the North. Indigenous peoples rely on gathering their own food, and with the evolving effects of climate change, they have little choice. They are forced to spend money on low-quality meals instead of harvesting their traditional food. In addition to physical health, well-established food systems are the basis of socioeconomic and cultural well-being. Hunting, fishing, and gathering provide food and are also important sources of income for local households and communities. The Canadian government is trying to help northern communities by providing them with local renewable energy sources. However, it needs to be evaluated whether such policies will be applicable and beneficial in improving the lives of indigenous people. The purpose of this paper is to answer the following question: how does climate change affect aboriginal culture, food gathering, and Canadian government policy?
Harvesting Traditional Food
For indigenous communities in northern Canada, a warming climate and the corresponding lengthening of the season when the sea is not covered by ice leads to a decrease in the surface and thickness of sea ice. It is also changing the migration routes of wild reindeer and their food supply and reducing the population of marine animals. These circumstances can lead to the reduction of traditional fisheries. This, in turn, will lead to the disruption of the local diet. Indigenous people of Northern Canada are already recording the adverse effects of a warming climate, manifested in a decrease in the thickness and earlier opening of sea ice. These circumstances make hunting more difficult and lead to increased injuries, which already cause a significant number of deaths among indigenous peoples of the North. Changes in the diet of Canada’s indigenous peoples caused by climate change are devastating, worsening the overall standard of living of local communities.
A traditional dish for Indigenous people of Northern Canada is raw or dried fish and meat of sea animals, which were also eaten raw. At the same time, the diet of the Indians included a variety of roots, herbs, and cereals in addition to animal foods. However, because of climate change, people tend to eat more affordable but less nutritious foods. The food preservation problems arising from the rise in average temperatures are causing an increase in the number of intestinal infectious diseases. In addition, the animals that are eaten can themselves be a source of infection, especially if their carcasses are not heat-treated. Because of warming, the hydrological regime of rivers is changing, so the fishing seasons for certain fish species have seriously shifted. There are significant periods when fishing does not take place at all. The inability to hunt and gather food deprives local people not only of a source of food but also of their livelihood, resulting in increased poverty in the country.
Renewable energy in the Territories
To solve these problems, it is necessary to develop preventive programs to minimize the adverse effects of climate change on public health. Climate change is primarily due to emissions from fossil fuels, although there are other important causes. To stop climate change, people must reduce their consumption of these carbon-rich fuels. The Canadian government is aware of the challenges faced by indigenous people in Northern Canada. However, there has been little help so far because perhaps the government does not believe that the problem is so important and devastating if left unchecked. That is why eventually, an assistance program named REACHE was created “to reduce Northern communities’ reliance on diesel for heating and electricity” (Government of Canada, 2020). This is to be done by increasing the use of local renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency. It is hoped that this will have many positive effects, including improved environmental conditions and the well-being of Indigenous people. Therefore, the Canadian authorities have a plan that aims to reduce the rate of global warming by reducing the consumption of non-renewable energy resources.
Among the territories planned to be involved in the implementation of this project are the following: Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, Yukon, and Northwest Territories. Priority will be given to those projects requiring the cooperation of indigenous peoples and those that “have a higher likelihood of being built and becoming operational” (Government of Canada, 2020). $10.7 million is allocated “to implement renewable energy projects” over two years, and $53.5 million is allocated for projects to be implemented over ten years (Government of Canada, 2020). Regional stakeholders are the primary funders who also identify the highest priority programs. First Nations and Inuit communities, regional governments, non-profit organizations, First Nation self-government, and many other unions listed on the website are welcome to apply. There is no specific deadline for submitting applications, so interested individuals can join the initiative at any time if they wish. The application can be submitted by phone call or e-mail. Although there are restrictions on who can apply, the program has provided a broad list of organizations with this authority. Overall, there is no apparent reason why this initiative should not be implemented.
How has the traditional culture changed?
In indigenous communities of the North, the use of local resources is vital for the development of economic activities and nutrition and for maintaining social interactions and cultural identity. However, local people are forced to leave their traditional lands, although “a land-based traditional lifestyle is still commonly practiced” (Furgal & Seguin, 2006, p. 1966). Because of this, they lose their connection to their ancestors and experience cultural dissonance when external circumstances drastically change their way of life. Indigenous peoples’ “close relationship with the environment” (Climate Home News, 2019), territories, and natural resources must be taken into account in protecting the integrity of their natural environment from degradation. The model of indigenous peoples’ existence in balance with their environment is recognized as one of the most sustainable ones. The traditional way of life “promotes sustainable resource use, contribute to the conservation of biodiversity” (Ford et al., 2020, p. 535). Thus, it cannot be justified for authorities to ignore the fatal change in the culture of the indigenous peoples of northern Canada as a result of climate change.
The traditional use of natural resources by indigenous peoples is based on treating the land as a living being. Living in close proximity to the environment, indigenous peoples are very sensitive to any changes in it. Accordingly, Canada’s measures of modernization, in which indigenous people are kicked out of the territories they have inhabited for years, are unacceptable. In such a situation, it is safe to say that Canada’s international human rights obligations are still not being met and respected. The authorities suggest that indigenous people change their habitat if climate change makes it impossible for them to continue to live where they used to. However, no real help is offered, and one can see how colonialist attitudes remain entrenched. Many elements of indigenous culture are closely linked to ecosystems and the biodiversity of the natural environment. Accordingly, the authorities are “to build resilience by promoting and supporting the participation of Indigenous peoples in public policies” (Climate Home News, 2019). Thus, long-term solutions to climate change and food security cannot be achieved without the involvement of indigenous peoples and the protection of their rights.
Conclusion
Climate change makes life much more difficult for Native North Americans, worsening their economic well-being and destroying their cultural identity. At the same time, “Canadian security and defense policy does not reflect the seriousness of the issue” (Greaves, 2021, p. 185). Every day the health risks to the population are increasing, and the natural conditions are forcing these people to abandon their traditional livelihoods. The authorities seem to ignore that the sustainability of ecosystems depends on economic diversity. They do not seem to understand that care must also be taken of those who make up a smaller percentage of the population. The REACHE program analyzed in this study can serve as an example of an initiative that seeks to address the detrimental effects of climate change on the lives of the peoples of Northern Canada. However, it also has its limitations, including those related to the application process.
Doing the study made me think about how effective and adequate Canada’s response to global warming is overall. Perhaps this could be the next topic that I would like to dedicate my research too, but I am also interested in the fate of indigenous peoples. All the more so because this aspect is not so profoundly studied, which gives room for analysis. We should move towards the most pressing issues that require immediate action and solutions.
References
Climate Home News. (2019). Indigenous communities are at the forefront of climate resilience. Web.
Ford, J. D., King, N., Galappaththi, E. K., Pearce, T., McDowell, G., & Harper S. L. (2020). The resilience of indigenous peoples to environmental change. Cell Press, 2(6), 532-543. Web.
Furgal, C., & Jacinthe, S. (2006). Climate change, health, and vulnerability in Canadian northern aboriginal communities. Environmental Health Perspectives, 114(12), 1964–1970.
Government of Canada. (2020). Northern REACHE Program. Web.
Greaves, W. (2021). Climate change and security in Canada. International Journal, 76(2), 183–203. Web.