Anishinabek Nation planning for climate changes

By Kelly Anne Smith

ANISHINABEK NATION TERRITORY — “Our communities have contributed very little to climate change, whether that be by choice or not, but First Nations are the ones most affected by it,” states Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe during his opening remarks at the virtual 6th Annual Lands, Resources, and Economic Development Forum: Kina-Gego-Naabadosin— Everything is Connected on February 15.

“As Anishnaabe, we’ve always adapted to our environment and our surroundings,” says Grand Council Chief Niganobe during the Anishinabek Nation Leadership Panel on Day 1 of the three-day forum. “Climate change patterns and changes in our surroundings are not new to us but it certainly does have a very large impact on us. In that regard, it’s important that our First Nations start planning on finding new ways to adapt to climate change.”

Anishinabek Nation Lake Huron Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief Travis Boissoneau is a hunter and fisher and enjoys being out on the land. He talked about the more than 3,500 species of plants and animals that could be adversely affected by changes to the Great Lakes.

“We know climate change will affect our territories. The science will tell you that water pressures affect all the Great Lakes and therefore affects everything linked to the Great Lakes,” he states. “That could affect migration, whether it be aquatic species or big game or waterfowl. Our animal relations know the environment a lot better than we do and they will move accordingly. That could eventually mean that some of our big game might even move north…Do we strengthen our old relations with our other Treaty partners? What if in the worst case, some of our animals do move more north? We are going to have to strengthen our relationships so we can follow the animals.”

As Canada commits to Net-Zero emissions by 2050, Grand Council Chief Niganobe says the federal government will have to collaborate with First Nations to achieve it.

“Relationship building is key but we still have other problems to contend with. For example, clean water, old infrastructure, and infrastructure shortage,” he expresses. “First and foremost, Canada and Ontario need to reconcile with us as First Nations, which they are still very slow in doing. Relationships and reconciliation— they need to build those up.”

“Indigenous stewardship is critical to the success of protected areas,” says Anishinabek Nation Northern Superior Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief Melvin Hardy of Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek. “Industry has not been respecting Mother Earth. Now, Mother Earth is angry. Look at the unpredictable weather changes that have been happening. The fires and the deforestation that is opening up that wind— the wind tunnels that goes through the land— and it gets dry and the fires start.”

“When industry comes in, it has a devastating effect on spawning areas and moose-calving areas. To address the effects of logging, the mining, to the agricultural urbanization, we must seek local solutions. That means drawing from our people and safeguarding our rights,” he continues. “Communities are doing a lot of tree planting. Last year, we had one guy, for three months, he planted 100,000 trees!”

Anishinabek Nation Southeast Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief James Marsden, speaking from Alderville First Nation, says extreme weather events and changes are making it hard to access safe drinking water, especially in the south when a drought occurs.

“Around 74 percent of natural disasters between 2001 and 2018 were water-related, including droughts and floods,” he explains. “The frequency and intensity of such events are expected to increase with climate change. When disasters hit, they can destroy or contaminate our entire water supplies, increasing a First Nation activating a boil water advisory.”

“Rising temperatures in our lakes is leading to blue-green algae blooms in our freshwater sources. We are seeing that in Lake Erie in the southwest area making the water dangerous to drink. What does that mean for the wildlife?” he continues.  “Climate change exacerbates water stress in areas of extremely limited water resources leading to increased competition for water.”

Anishinabek Nation Southwest Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief Joe Miskokomon calls for an examination of the future technology needs to reduce carbon emissions.

“How are our First Nations going to be involved in reducing carbon? For many of us that live in southern parts of Canada, there’s not much land left here. Land prices are skyrocketing. It’s gotten beyond the reach of many First Nations to obtain additional land, so the idea of tree planting is not something we can do in the south. They are clearing more and more land around us. When you fly over Southwestern Ontario, the actual only wooden areas from London west are the First Nations.”

Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief Miskokomon farms land and says climate change is affecting planting and harvesting in the agricultural sector.

“More and more we’re finding there are droughts and there’s scarcity of rain at critical times.”

Independence for creating Net-Zero infrastructure with long-term funding is also needed, he says.

“Turn the finances over to us. Give us assurance that it’s going to be there so that we can structure our own business plans so we can find long-term financing to support that infrastructural development within our First Nations.”

“Innovation is key,” Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief Miskokomon says. He questions if the houses now being built will meet the climate change requirements on construction over the next 28 years.

“A young person that is actually buying a house today with a thirty-year mortgage on it, that Net-Zero at 2050 will be here before they have been able to pay off their mortgage.”

The Anishinabek Nation advocates for 39 First Nations across Ontario.