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Adaptation Planning

Communities across the north are particularly vulnerable to climate change, and as such, adaptation planning has become a necessary reality in order to ensure sustainability into the future.  Felt across the natural landscape, changing access to country foods and travel, impeding local infrastructure development and planning, as well as rendering existing capacity inadequate, climate change impacts are pervasive. Many local governments are already at the centre of this reality, with the effects of melting permafrost still largely unknown (ICLEI Canada, 2011). Climate Change impacts on permafrost regions are being monitored as many northern First Nations and Inuit communities reside on these sites. Land areas that are unstable upon thaw (land erosion, slope failure) pose a concern as they may have safety implications for existing homes and infrastructure. Understanding the changing landscape is also important for communities as they rely on the land to safely hunt, gather country foods, travel to see loved ones, and for healing.
In order to prepare for and adapt to our changing environment, adaptation planning is a balance of immediate and long term needs, and many communities will need to develop a holistic response to such needs (ICLEI Canada, 2011). A holistic response involves the coordination of and collaboration with various partners across the north, including community members, Elders, youth, local governments, service providers, and scientists. Moreover, given that climate change impacts are felt across boundaries, it is increasingly imperative that partnerships and collaborative efforts are made in order to create sustainable action plans.

Indigenous Services Canada’s Climate Change and Health Adaptation Program proudly supported 18 community-led projects on adaptation planning from 2008-2016. Many of the community-led project activities included vulnerability assessments, short-term and long-term monitoring, and the establishment of baseline data. Northern communities recognize that changes to the land are having impacts on their way of life and are working towards finding means to connect the guidance of the past with the new requirements of life today. Their stories tell of ways in which traditional and scientific knowledge are collaborating to provide greater insight into climate change impacts, and how they are adapting to these changes to ensure the health and well-being of their communities.

Projects
Adaptation Planning
Food Security
Access to Land
Knowledge Sharing / Education
Mental Health
Traditional Medicine
Vulnerability Assessment
Water Quality
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Click on a link below to check out how these communities are engaging in climate change adaptation!

Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Aklavik
  • Akalvik Elder’s Traditional Knowledge, Climate Change and Community Health (2010-2011)

New Brunswick

Maliseet
  • Evaluation of current and potential future impacts of traditional way of life, traditionally significant flora and fauna and health of Maliseet First Nations, New Brunswick  (2018-2019)
Northwest Territories
Dene Nation
  • Climate Change Observations in Denendeh (2014-2015)
Denendeh
  • Climate Change and Health Effects in Denendeh (2015-2016)
Dettah & N'dilo
  • Summer of Smoke - Health Impacts of a Record Forest Fire Year (2015-2016)
Smith's Landing
  • Cassette Islands Vulnerability Assessment (2015-2016)
Jean Marie River (Tthets’éhk’edélî)
  • Permafrost Vulnerability Assessment and Landscape Changes Related to Climate Change in the Jean Marie River First Nation (2012-2013)
Ka’a’gee Tu (Kakisa)
  • Summer of Smoke (the Movie) (2017-2018, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020)
N'dilo
  • Climate Change and our Lands in Film (CCLIF): A Ndilo Youth Community Wellness Project (2015-2016)
Tulít'a
  • Overcoming Fear: Sahtú Youth Network Initiative on Health and Climate Change (2014-2015)
  • Staying Strong: Sahtú Youth and Elders Building Healthy Communities in the Face of Climate Change (2013-2014)
Yellowknife
  • Summer of Smoke (the Movie) (2017-2018, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020)
Nova Scotia
Annapolis Valley
  • Emergency Preparedness in Mi’kmaw Communities in Nova Scotia (2017-2018)
Glooscap
  • Emergency Preparedness in Mi’kmaw Communities in Nova Scotia (2017-2018)
Millbrook
  • Emergency Preparedness in Mi’kmaw Communities in Nova Scotia (2017-2018)
Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation
  • Emergency Preparedness in Mi’kmaw Communities in Nova Scotia (2017-2018)
Pictou Landing
  • Emergency Preparedness in Mi’kmaw Communities in Nova Scotia (2017-2018)
Sipekne’katik
  • Emergency Preparedness in Mi’kmaw Communities in Nova Scotia (2017-2018)
The Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq
  • Mi’kmaq Pollinator Project (2019-2020)
Nunatsiavut
Nain
  •  InosiKatigeKagiamik Illumi: Healthy homes in Nunatsiavut (2013-2014)
Rigolet
  • Building Foundations for a Community-Led Environment-Health Monitoring System (2015-2016)
Sivunivut
  • Traditional Knowledge: A Blueprint for Change, Stage II (2012-2013)
  • Traditional Knowledge: A Blueprint for Change (2010-2011)
Nunavut
Cambridge Bay
  •  Inuinnaqtun Structures for a Thawing Arctic: Inuinnaqtun tiliugait auktuqpalliajut ukiuqtaqtumi (2015-2016)
Iqaluit
  • Support and Workshops for National Inuit Youth Summit (2015-2016)
  • Implementing a ‘Design Thinking’ Research Process to identify concrete community-based actions to mitigate the effects of climate change on health and wellness in Inuit communities in Nunavut (2015-2016)
  • Inuit Women’s Views and Priorities on Climate Change and Human Health Workshop - Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada (2008-2009)
Kugluktuk
  • Youth and Community Driven-Monitoring of the Health of the Coppermine River (2017-2020)
Pangnirtung
  • ​Pangnirtung youth tackle Climate Change: On-the-land knowledge exchange, monitoring, and filmmaking promoting adaptation and well-being (2019-2021)
Qamani’tuaq
  • Nunavut Climate, Water & Health Monitoring in the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot: advancing local capacity for research and adaptation​ (2018-2020)
Taloyoak
  • ​Nunavut Climate, Water & Health Monitoring in the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot: advancing local capacity for research and adaptation (2018-2020)
Ontario
Pays Plat
  • ​​Pays Plat First Nation – Preparing Today for Our Health Tomorrow (2018-2020)
Quebec
Kahnawà:ke
  • ​Climate Change Adaptation Planning in Kahnawà:ke (2019-2020)
Saskatchewan
Mistawasis Nehiyawak
  • Mistawasis Climate Change Health Adaptation: Rediscovering Nehiyawak (2017-2018)
Yukon
Selkirk
  • A Pilot Study on the Health Effects on the Selkirk First Nation due to Climate Change (2008-2009)
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