The impact of climate change on the well‐being and lifestyle of a First Nation community in the western James Bay region

Tam, Benita Y.; Gough, William A.; Edwards, Vicky; Tsuji, Leonard J. S.

doi:10.1111/j.1541-0064.2013.12033.x

Cited by 29 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…These observations often cover remote and less studied habitats and regions that present difficulties for scientific monitoring (Huntington, Fox, Berkes, & Krupnik, 2005). ILK can thus help generate understanding of diverse phenomena, ranging from habitat disturbance, culturally important species and drivers of change (Garibaldi & Turner, 2004; Tam, Gough, Edwards, & Tsuji, 2013).…”

Section: Results: Ilk In the Gamentioning

confidence: 99%

Working with Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) in large‐scale ecological assessments: Reviewing the experience of the IPBES Global Assessment

McElwee

Fernández‐Llamazares

Aumeeruddy‐Thomas

et al. 2020

Journal of Applied Ecology

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There have been calls for greater inclusion of Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) in applied ecosystems research and ecological assessments. The Intergovernmental Science‐Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Global Assessment (GA) is the first global scale assessment to systematically engage with ILK and issues of concern to Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC). In this paper, we review and reflect on how the GA worked with ILK and lessons learned. The GA engaged in critical evaluation and synthesis of existing evidence from multiple sources, using several deliberative steps: having specific authors and questions focus on ILK; integrating inputs from ILK across all chapters; organizing dialogue workshops; issuing calls for contributions to identify other forms and systems of knowledge; and encouraging IPLC to be key stakeholders and contributors. We identify content areas where attention to ILK was particularly important for questions in applied ecology. These include: (a) enriching understandings of nature and its contributions to people, including ecosystem services; (b) assisting in assessing and monitoring ecosystem change; (c) contributing to international targets and scenario development to achieve global goals like the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the Sustainable Development Goals and (d) generating inclusive and policy‐relevant options for people and nature. However, challenges in engaging different knowledge systems were also encountered. Policy implications. The Intergovernmental Science‐Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Global Assessment (GA) demonstrated the importance of Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC) to global biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. Initiatives seeking to engage Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) can learn from the experience of the GA. Successfully bringing ILK into assessment processes and policy arenas requires a deliberate framework and approach from the start that facilitates recognition of different knowledge systems, identifies questions relevant at various scales, mobilizes funding and recognizes time required and engages networks of stakeholders with diverse worldviews. In turn, fostering inclusion of ILK and partnering with IPLC can help future assessments understand how natural and cultural systems co‐produce each other, identify trends of change through diverse biocultural indicators and improve sustainable development goals and policies.

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Section: Results: Ilk In the Gamentioning

confidence: 99%

Working with Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) in large‐scale ecological assessments: Reviewing the experience of the IPBES Global Assessment

McElwee

Fernández‐Llamazares

Aumeeruddy‐Thomas

et al. 2020

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…Subsistence harvesting activities, including fishing, trapping, and berry picking, have strong economic, dietary, and cultural importance for communities on the north coast (Kuhnlein and Receveur 2007;Wenzel 2013). This close association with the natural environment creates unique sensitivities to the rapidly changing climate, with constrained ability to harvest, reduced opportunities for younger generations to engage in land activities, and conflict over wildlife management in light of changing species health, abundance, and migration timing (Durkalec et al 2015;Ford et al 2010b;Hori et al 2012;Tam et al 2013b).…”

Section: Subsistence Harvestingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate change and Canada’s north coast: research trends, progress, and future directions

et al. 2018

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This paper identifies and characterizes current knowledge on climate change impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability for Canada's northern coastline, outlining key research gaps. Warming temperatures and increased precipitation have been documented across the northern coast, with the rate of sea ice decline ranging from 2.9% to 10.4% per decade. Storm intensity and frequency is increasing, and permafrost is warming across the region. Many of these changes are projected to accelerate in the future, with in excess of 8°C warming in winter possible under a high-emission scenario by 2081-2100. Vulnerability to these changes differs by region and community, a function of geographic location, nature of climate change impacts, and human factors. Capacity to manage climate change is high in some sectors, such as subsistence harvesting, but is being undermined by long-term societal changes. In other sectors, such as infrastructure and transportation, limitations in climate risk management capacity result in continuing high vulnerabilities. There is evidence that adaptation is taking place in response to experienced and projected impacts, although readiness for adaptation is challenged by limited resources, institutional capacity, and a need for support for adaptation across levels of government. Priority areas for future research include (i) expanding the sectoral and geographic focus of understanding on climate change impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability; (ii) integrating climatic and socio-economic projections into vulnerability and adaptation assessments; (iii) developing an evidence base on adaptation options; and (iv) monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of adaptation support. Cross-cutting themes for advancing climate change impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability research on the north coast more broadly include the need for greater emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches and cross-cultural collaborations, support for decision-orientated research, and focus on effective knowledge mobilization.Résumé : Dans le cadre de cet article, on identifie et caractérise les connaissances actuelles sur les impacts du changement climatique, l'adaptation et la vulnérabilité au changement climatique en ce qui concerne le littoral du nord du Canada, et on décrit les principales lacunes en matière de recherche. La hausse des températures et les précipitations accrues ont été documentées à travers la côte nord, ainsi que la baisse des glaces de mer à un taux allant de 2,9 % à 10,4 % par décennie. L'intensité et la fréquence des tempêtes augmentent, et le pergélisol se réchauffe à travers la région. Il est projeté que beaucoup de ces changements vont accélérer à l'avenir, avec un réchauffement possible au-delà de 8°C en hiver sous un scénario d'émissions élevées d'ici à 2081-2100. La vulnérabilité à ces changements varie selon la région et la communauté, en fonction de l'emplacement géographique, de la nature des impacts du changement climatique et des facteurs humains. La capacité à gérer le changement climatique est grande dan...

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“…Māori peoples, for example, have developed indicators to monitor forest health in New Zealand [25]. Local indicators for monitoring the impacts of climate change and, in turn, changes to biophysical and socioeconomic systems are also increasingly cited in Canadian and international literature [26][27][28][29][30][31].…”

Section: Indicators Based On Traditional Ecological Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

Culturally Driven Monitoring: The Importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge Indicators in Understanding Aquatic Ecosystem Change in the Northwest Territories’ Dehcho Region

2020

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There is growing concern about the sustainability of freshwater ecosystems in northern Canada that are under significant stress from climate change, resource development, and hydroelectric development, among others. Community-based monitoring (CBM) based on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) has the potential to contribute to understanding impacts on the environment and community livelihoods. This paper shares insights about culturally driven monitoring, through collaborative research with Kátł’odeeche First Nation (KFN) in the Northwest Territories. This research was initiated in 2018 to improve understanding of the changes occurring in the Hay River and Buffalo River sub-basins, which extend primarily across the Alberta and Northwest Territories borders. Drawing on 15 semi-structured interviews conducted with KFN elders, fish harvesters, and youth, this paper illustrates the kinds of social–ecological indicators used by KFN to track changes in the health of aquatic systems as well as the fishing livelihoods of local people. Utilizing indicators, fishers observe declines in fish health, water quality, water quantity, and ice thickness in their lifetime. Community members perceive these changes to be a result of the cumulative effects of environmental stressors. The indicators as well as trends and patterns being observed and experienced can contribute to both social learning in the community as well as the governance of the larger Mackenzie River Basin.

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The impact of climate change on the well‐being and lifestyle of a First Nation community in the western James Bay region

Cited by 29 publications

References 75 publications

Working with Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) in large‐scale ecological assessments: Reviewing the experience of the IPBES Global Assessment

Working with Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) in large‐scale ecological assessments: Reviewing the experience of the IPBES Global Assessment

Climate change and Canada’s north coast: research trends, progress, and future directions

Culturally Driven Monitoring: The Importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge Indicators in Understanding Aquatic Ecosystem Change in the Northwest Territories’ Dehcho Region

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