Community Sharing Circle Briefing Note

This briefing note summarizes a sharing circle workshop held on February 17, 2011, in Bloodvein First Nation, Manitoba. Facilitated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the session explored the relationship between the local environment and the well-being of First Nations peoples, documented observed environmental changes, and identified potential adaptation strategies for future climate variability.

• The natural environment, particularly muskeg (peatlands), is critical to the community's well-being by providing clean air, drinking water, fish, food, and medicinal plants. However, participants noted a decline in the use of medicinal plants and a weakening connection to traditions, stating, “We are losing connections with traditions; there is less communication and sharing of knowledge and experience between elders and youth.”
• Participants reported significant environmental degradation in recent decades, including the disappearance of caribou and martens, reduced availability of moose and berries, and sick fish. Water quality has declined, with participants noting that “Water is currently polluted (dirty, brown, full of algae)” and that clean water is now only available in the rapids.
• Environmental quality is being negatively impacted by both industrial activities and local community actions. Specifically, sawmills are cited as a source of air pollution, and the community has seen an “Increasing amount of waste in the community” that pollutes land and water.
• To cope with future weather and environmental changes, the community suggested several adaptation measures. These include promoting knowledge sharing between elders and youth through youth camps, revising trapping site locations, improving communication with the government, and creating information on expected ecosystem service changes due to climate change.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2011). Community Sharing Circle Briefing Note. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/community_sharing_circle_bloodvein.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Community Sharing Circle Briefing Note. 2011. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/community_sharing_circle_bloodvein.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Community Sharing Circle Briefing Note |date=October 2011 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/community_sharing_circle_bloodvein.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2011community, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Community Sharing Circle Briefing Note}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2011}, month = oct, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/community_sharing_circle_bloodvein.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }