Canada can't reconcile climate change without reconciling with Indigenous Peoples and the Land

The statement asserts that Canada's history of colonialism, including the residential school system and the Indian Act, has systematically removed Indigenous Peoples from their lands and suppressed traditional stewardship. It argues that current climate policy often uses an "add-and-stir" approach to Indigenization, whereas true reconciliation requires Indigenous Peoples to act as leaders and rights holders with full control over their knowledge systems. The text highlights the value of Indigenous-led initiatives, such as prescribed fire burning and guardian watchmen networks, as essential solutions for addressing the climate crisis and protecting ecosystems.

• The legacy of colonialism in Canada is perpetuated through legislation like the Indian Act of 1876, which facilitated the removal of Indigenous people from their lands to enable resource development, with approximately one third of the Act focusing on land resources and the environment.
• Indigenous knowledge and leadership are increasingly recognized as solutions to climate impacts, specifically through initiatives like guardian watchmen networks and prescribed fire burning, particularly as traditional fire suppression policies are seen as problematic during record-breaking wildfire years.
• While the Government of Canada's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan (July 2022) commits to Indigenous-led climate policy, the document argues that current efforts often follow an "add-and-stir" method of Indigenization rather than treating Indigenous Peoples as leaders and rights holders in full control of their knowledge.

APA

Canadian Climate Institute (2023). Canada can't reconcile climate change without reconciling with Indigenous Peoples and the Land. https://climateinstitute.ca/canada-cant-reconcile-climate-change-without-reconciling-with-indigenous-peoples-and-the-land/

Chicago

Canadian Climate Institute. Canada can't reconcile climate change without reconciling with Indigenous Peoples and the Land. 2023. https://climateinstitute.ca/canada-cant-reconcile-climate-change-without-reconciling-with-indigenous-peoples-and-the-land/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Canadian Climate Institute |title=Canada can't reconcile climate change without reconciling with Indigenous Peoples and the Land |date=30 September 2023 |url=https://climateinstitute.ca/canada-cant-reconcile-climate-change-without-reconciling-with-indigenous-peoples-and-the-land/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{canadianclimateinstitute2023canada, author = {{Canadian Climate Institute}}, title = {{Canada can't reconcile climate change without reconciling with Indigenous Peoples and the Land}}, publisher = {Canadian Climate Institute}, year = {2023}, month = sep, url = {https://climateinstitute.ca/canada-cant-reconcile-climate-change-without-reconciling-with-indigenous-peoples-and-the-land/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }