Community Sharing Circle Briefing Note: Poplar River First Nation, Manitoba

This briefing note summarizes a March 2011 sharing circle workshop facilitated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in Poplar River First Nation, Manitoba. The workshop explored the relationship between the local environment and the well-being of the community, documented observed environmental changes, and identified potential adaptation strategies for future climate variability.

• The natural environment is critical to the community's physical, psychological, and economic well-being. Clean air and water are viewed as foundational, with participants noting that asthma was "unheard of in previous generations" but is now "everywhere." The environment provides essential food sources such as berries, fish, moose, geese, and ducks, and trees are valued for providing oxygen and protecting houses from windstorms and river bank erosion.
• The community relies heavily on predictable weather and ice conditions for essential logistics and food security. The winter road is described as vital; its closure affects the community both "financially and psychologically," and without it, residents would be unable to afford their current diet.
• Participants observed significant changes in weather patterns and ice conditions. Recent winters have been mild, storms are described as "more violent," and heat waves that previously reached 25 to 28 degrees now reach the "mid-30s for more than a week." River ice depth has decreased from a historical 3 to 6 feet to often about 2 feet, and the ice quality has shifted from "blue ice" to "white slush-ice."
• There have been notable shifts in local biodiversity and animal populations. While some species like bald eagles, golden eagles, and porcupines have increased, others have disappeared or declined, including frogs, ducks, squirrels, rabbits, and snow worms (which vanished approximately 20 years ago). Participants also noted a significant decline in bees, which they link to pollination failure.
• Moisture levels and water quality are declining. Participants reported that berries are being "scorched" and saskatoon berries now have "scabs on them." Water levels in the muskeg dropped 2 feet in one instance, and dust storms have become more common over the last 10 years. In Lake Winnipeg, participants observed a "big brown glob of slime" that is growing annually, causing concern for fish health.
• The community identified several adaptation and coping strategies for future environmental changes. These include replacing the winter road with an all-weather road, implementing a land management plan, and establishing a monitoring plan for weather and animals. To address energy needs, they suggested using renewable sources such as wind, solar, or a hydro generator on a nearby river with rising water levels.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). Community Sharing Circle Briefing Note: Poplar River First Nation, Manitoba. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/community_sharing_circle_poplar_river.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Community Sharing Circle Briefing Note: Poplar River First Nation, Manitoba. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/community_sharing_circle_poplar_river.pdf.

Wikipedia

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

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndcommunity, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Community Sharing Circle Briefing Note: Poplar River First Nation, Manitoba }}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/community_sharing_circle_poplar_river.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }