Indigenous communities adapt

Climate adaptation is about how we respond or prepare for both current and future climate changes.

Indigenous peoples have deep relationships and histories with the land and water, and rich knowledge systems that are guiding their work to respond to climate change – from food security challenges, wildfire and flood risk reduction to species protection and energy security.

Indigenous communities have observations of the land going back much farther than written records of weather patterns and climate-related events, giving them insights into these changes and providing principles for good stewardship, adaptation and resilience.

There are many examples of leadership across the province, from Kitsumkalum’s Fish and Wildlife Operations Department working with youth to better understand climate change’s impacts on food security to community-based climate monitoring by Tsay Keh Dene and Carcross Tagish to Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s work to understand their community’s vulnerabilities to climate change and Kanaka Bar Band’s Climate Resilience Strategy. 

On this page:

• Videos
• Tools and data
• Reports
• Youth
• Indigenous advisory groups

Videos  

Download the video

Tools and Data

• Indigenous Climate Hub
  Provides climate change resources and tools for Indigenous peoples and acts as a hub for Indigenous climate change leaders
• Climate Change Adaptation Planning Toolkit For Indigenous Communities - Center for Indigenous Environmental Resources 
  Provides tools and resources to support Indigenous individuals and communities interested in undertaking climate change adaptation planning
• ReTooling for Climate Change
  Adaptation tools and resources for Indigenous Nations, local governments and others to prepare for the impacts of climate change
• Plan2Adapt
  Tool for generating maps, plots, and data describing projected future climate conditions for regions throughout British Columbia

Reports

• Indigenous Perspectives on Climate Change – Coming soon
  Summarizes findings from Indigenous engagement reports produced by Indigenous organizations and the provincial government.
• BCAFN Climate Emergency 
  Includes climate emergency resources and funding opportunities and links to the Climate Emergency Survey Report the First Nations Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan

Youth

• Indigenous Youth Climate Art Contest Winners
  Includes artist biographies and artwork

Indigenous Advisory Groups

• Indigenous Climate Adaptation Technical Working Group 
  In 2020, provided technical advice and guidance on a broad range of matters related to the Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy
• BC First Nations Leadership Council Technical Working Group on Climate Change
  Provides strategic advice and reviews progress on climate change actions undertaken by the Province