Mistawasis Nehiyawak, Saskatchewan

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Year(s) Funded: 2017-2018
Topic Area: Adaptation Planning
Contact: Anthony Johnston
Partners: North Saskatchewan River Basin Council (Katherine Finn)
Website: Mistawasis.ca nsrbc.ca



Title: Mistawasis Climate Change Health Adaptation: Rediscovering Nehiyawak

Action: Consultation with community members, leadership and elders revealed a number of perceived risks of climate change.  Risks identified were:
  • Extreme moisture cycles, causing flooding: mold, housing damages, accessibility issues-road loss, increase residence living together, flooded wells, impacts to ground and surface water.
  • Increase drought cycles causing forest fires, loss of housing, reduced air quality, safety risks. Degradation of water quality.
  • Extended power outages causing boil water advisories, food/water borne illness risks, winter warmth challenges.

Results: When reviewing these potential risks, it was decided the best way to prepare is to reconnect to the ways of our ancestors. Teachings and conclusions made, after much discussion and listening to community members and elders, revealed that the only things within our control is preparation of our hearts, our attitudes and our skills.  Having a strong connection to each other, community members, trees, animals, water, soil: these are all foundations of being Nehiyawak: being a Cree person. The best way to prepare for impacts of climate change is to prepare oneself to be connected and strongly rooted in traditional ways. It was decided the community wanted to prepare workshops for fire and water, to reconnect to traditional teachings of fire and water and how to secure both locally. By having sound skills in how to safely secure fire and water, most of the potential health risks could be mitigated. These component were pursued in the second year of funding.

Outputs: Hired a professional photographer to spend time in the community to capture images of the people and places.