Learning Module | Population Health
Chapter Two
2. Indigenous Peoples
Disproportionately Affected by climate change
Climate change poses a major threat to Indigenous communities and ways of life in Canada. Based on the multitude of severe ecological, sociocultural, and health impacts of climate change on Indigenous populations, the IPCC, the WHO, and the UN have categorized these groups of people as significantly vulnerable to its effects . That said, representation of Indigenous people in the context of climate change that fails to include a discussion of colonialism and racism as structural causes of vulnerability wrongly portrays the impacts of climate change “as a problem for, rather than of society”. [1]
“Historical and contextual complexities that underpin indigenous peoples' experiences with and responses to climate change are largely overlooked. Research consistently identifies the ongoing effects of colonialism, marginalization, power relations, land dispossession and land rights to be central to understanding the human dimensions of climate change for indigenous peoples in diverse contexts.”
— Ford, J. D. in Nature Climate Change [2]
Systemic CONSEQUENCES
It is critical to recognize that the social, economic and health inequalities among Indigenous people in Canada are the result of systemic forces of colonialism and oppression and are responsible for subsequently increasing the vulnerability of these diverse communities to the impacts of climate change.
Increased vulnerability to climate change is a result of:
Canada’s Colonial History:
The Indian Act
The Sixties Scoop
Indian Hospitals
Residential Schools
Intergenerational Trauma
Racism
Marginalization and subjugation of Indigenous Peoples
Lack of Indigenous representation in policy-making and government
Loss of land and language & cultural assimilation secondary to Canada’s colonial history
AN OVERVIEW OF CLIMATE CHANGE & INDIGENOUS HEALTH
Extreme weather events such as heatwaves, storms, floods, droughts, and wildfires have significant implications for conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease – all of which are more prevalent in Indigenous communities, as a direct result of colonialism, systemic racism and discrimination in addition to loss of land and the “traditional practices required for health”. [3-6]
Melting permafrost in Northern regions jeopardizes community infrastructure and may impact health and wellness if access to health services are compromised. [7] Furthermore, the permafrost melt coupled with changing sea-ice conditions is resulting in increased risks associated with traditional fishing and hunting practices and is undermining Indigenous food sovereignty. [8]
Sea level rise is endangering coastal communities and is threatening to disrupt intergenerational cohesion and cultural integrity as well as amplify poor mental health outcomes associated with displacement. [9]
Finally, changing temperatures will impact the distribution and availability of natural resources that are “important in Aboriginal subsistence hunting with implications for community health, nutrition and well-being”. [10]
Monitoring Health Outcomes of Climate Change
The establishment of health monitoring and response systems to measure the effects of climate change is an important adaptation strategy that is slowly being implemented in various Indigenous communities across Canada. Given the overwhelming absence of Indigenous voices on matters related to environmental policy-making and planning, the implementation of health monitoring approaches that are founded on Indigenous knowledge systems are critical to reflect their values and therefore meaningfully address their challenges. [11, 12]
