2015-2016 Délı̨nę Health and Climate Change

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Climate change and its dramatic impacts in the Sahtú (Great Bear Lake) watershed are well documented. Rising temperatures, variable wind, rain and snow patterns and longer thaw seasons are among the changes being witnessed by Délı̨nęgot’ı̨nę (the people of Délı̨nę, the sole community of about 550 on Sahtú ). Degraded permafrost is resulting in permafrost thaw slumps. In turn, these events are impacting the landscape, water and wildlife in the region. Notably, the barren-ground caribou that Délı̨nęgot’ı̨nę have depended upon for subsistence have declined significantly – to the point where harvesting restrictions are being contemplated. Harvesting is becoming less predictable, and more dangerous or even impossible for periods of time.

As the ability of Délı̨nęgot’ı̨nę to access traditional food sources decreases, they become more reliant on food purchased from stores, which is expensive and provides less nutritional value. Increasing levels of food insecurity and diet-related health issues such as obesity and diabetes have already been observed. The links between climate change, food security and community health and well-being have become a priority concern.

“Dene k’ę́ naızé gha” (we have to hunt like our grandfathers did). The community aims to lay the groundwork for developing a food security plan that allows for conservation of declining caribou populations while supporting continued reliance on country foods as a central component of their diet and their collective well-being for generations to come.

This project builds upon upon earlier community initiatives to understand climate change environmental and health impacts, and approaches to building community adaptation capacity. In particular, the Gúlú Agot’i T’á Kǝ Gotsúhɂa Gha / Learning About Changes program was undertaken in 2009-2011, including elder-youth exchanges as well as dialogue with climate scientists sponsored by Health Canada’s Climate Change and Health Adaptation Program, as well as International Polar Year. The current proposal moves to adaptation planning with a focus on food security and health, which was at the heart of a number of themes that emerged from the earlier program.

Workshops and community events will be held to establish the research questions at the intersection of climate change and access to country food that are important to the community. The community priorities from these workshops will be the basis for semi-structured interviews and/or focus groups to be conducted with Elders, harvesters, women and youth, as well as food security camps and a regional workshop. This research will help to: 1) understand the role of country foods and the traditional practices in the daily lives of community members; 2) document changes in availability of country foods and threats to food security and 3) identify food security adaptation strategies that have been adopted in the past and possible strategies for the future.

This project will support community wellness initiatives, and will lead to development of a proposed food security plan for consideration by community leaders. The project will include development of educational materials to build awareness of the project, promote key messages from community discussions, and encourage people to participate.

Project Team

•  Andrew Spring, Wilfrid Laurier University
• Alison Blay-Palmer, Wilfrid Laurier University
• Joe Hanlon, Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę Gots’ę́ Nákedı
• Délı̨nę Renewable Resources Council

Funder

 Health Canada

Total Budget

 $100,000

There is growing acknowledgment that the current energy provision system in the Canadian North is not sustainable, as high and growing energy costs are a common feature across the region. These costs are exacerbated by climate change, which is already contributing to major changes to life in the north, including decreasing animal populations, erosion of the traditional economy, and altering existing transportation systems. Governments can no longer afford the growing energy subsidies, given that public coffers are faced with growing demands on various fronts. Running parallel to this shifting landscape are changing governance structures in the region. As land claims and self-government agreements unfold, they are providing Indigenous Fwith an opportunity for greater autonomy and the consequent ability to influence energy systems management.

Consequently, there is a growing interest for energy system change in the Canadian North as some communities seek to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Similarly, there is also greater recognition that innovation must play a role in these transitions. Yet in policy discussions and debates, innovation is often narrowly defined to equate new, state of the art technologies. As a result, alternative innovative activities such as different forms of organizing and governing are frequently overlooked. Because policy levers to support low-carbon energy system transitions tend to also be based on this narrow view of innovation, is it possible that more appropriate policy supports are being neglected?    

In recognition of this potential policy gap, this research project will explore links between innovation, governance, and energy system change in three communities in Northwest Territories – Tulı́t'a, Colville Lake and Yellowknife. Throughout these communities, concerns over high costs of living, climate change, and energy security are notable factors driving energy system change, whether it be transitioning away from costly and polluting diesel to renewable sources for heat and electricity, or the adoption of energy efficiency initiatives. Therefore, the central aim of the research is to find out if there are better ways to support sustainable energy projects, such as renewable electricity, renewable heat provision, or energy efficiency initiatives at the community level in the North.

Project Team

• Alexandra Mallett, Carleton University
• Micah Ton, Carleton University
• Jessie Yakeleya, Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę Gots’ę́ Nákedı
• Catarina Owen, Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę Gots’ę́ Nákedı
• Tulı́t'a Community Members

Funder

Social Science and Humanities Research Council

2014-2015 Health and Climate Change

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The Sahtú Renewable Resources Board has partnered with the Tulít’a Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę, Chief Albert Wright School, and the Pembina Institute to identify how climate change is affecting people’s health, and what the community of Tulít’a and other communities in the Sahtú can do about it. The project is funded by Health Canada.

The project is intended to empower the young people of Tulít’a to lead the community in exploring these issues. Youth are being brought together with Elders, harvesters and other knowledge holders, to learn traditional knowledge and stories about dealing with climate, risk and change. Other elders and youth from Délı̨nę, Fort Good Hope, and Norman Wells will be sharing learnings from their own climate change and health adaptation projects, so the region can build some positive momentum towards a healthier and safer Sahtú. Youth will also have the chance to learn from climate scientists, and health practitioners/experts.

The communities of the Sahtú are experiencing climate change more rapidly and severely than most other parts of the world.  In Tulít’a, climate change impacts people’s health through warmer and more unpredictable weather patterns, by threatening harvesting practices and food security, by making travel out on the land more dangerous, and through risks to cultural health and people's relationship with the land generally.

Not only will the youth research these issues, they will come up with a strategy and concrete actions for the community to take to protect itself from health risks associated with climate change. The youth will also develop their creative abilities to communicate their proposed strategy to the rest of the community and beyond.

Project Team

• Joe Hanlon, Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę Gots’ę́ Nákedı
• Kristen Kodakin-Yakeleya, Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę Gots’ę́ Nákedı
• Shauna Morgan, Pembina Institute
• Sahtú Youth Network
  

Funder

Health Canada

Total Budget

$120,000