Climate Change is a major global challenge that all of humanity is facing. The impacts are exposing us to changes in weather patterns and more frequent extreme events, placing communities at risk, and impacting the health and wellness of community members. Climate change is also affecting ecosystems and the plants, fish and animals that provide food, medicine and culturally-important items, impacting the Métis ways of life. The multi-generational knowledge, skills and experiences of Métis People are needed to make good decisions on how to shift and build resilience in this changing world.
MNBC worked together with the Metis National Council (MNC) and the University of Winnipeg’s Prairie Climate Centre (PCC) to develop research, tools, and outreach that better understand and communicate the unique, timely, and critically important perspectives, knowledge, and experiences of Métis people regarding climate change and conservation. Members of the MNBC Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) can be seen sharing their thoughts on why Métis peoples voices and perspectives need to be included in climate change discussions in the video “Métis Knowledge and Climate Change”. To see some other projects that MNBC has been working on, including a project lead by the MNBC Emergency Preparedness Committee (EPC) , check out the interactive map here: Very Hot Days (+30°C) | Canada | Climate Atlas of Canada
This project contributed to a major update of the Climate Atlas of Canada (www.climateatlas.ca). It is the first to bring climate science and Indigenous wisdom together – developed collaboratively not only with Métis, but with First Nations and Inuit communities and organizations – at the national-scale. The resources include:
- Métis climate projects interactively mapped across the Métis homeland
- Climate data for 634 First Nations communities interactively mapped nationally;
- Climate data for 53 Inuit communities interactively mapped across Inuit Nunagat;
- A new series of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis short documentary videos and articles collaboratively developed with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous organizations and communities.
Maarsii to the MNC, the University of Winnipeg’s Prairie Climate Centre (PCC), and everyone who participated and continues to advocate for healthier ecosystems and ways of being.