Keyword Indigenous

“The buffalo is the best environmentalist you can have,” Dr. Leroy Little Bear of Kainai First Nation says. In the Prairies, the buffalo is not only a keystone species, but a critical part of Blackfoot culture. A professor at the University of Lethbridge, Dr. Little Bear is a strong advocate for why it’s crucial to include Indigenous worldviews in environmental management. In this video, he discusses the environmental change he’s witnesses, and why buffalo restoration is critical for restoring ecological balance.   Recommended Video Citation Climate Atlas of Canada. (2019). Bringing Back the Buffalo: Native science and buffalo restoration. Prairie Climate Centre. https://climateatlas.ca/video/bringing-back-buffalo

The Métis village of Green Lake may seem small, but they have big ambitions. The community started a solar energy project and installed 96 solar panels on their community hall. As Mayor Ric Richardson describes, Métis people have “used the sun for generations,” so the opportunity for renewable energy development was warmly welcomed by community members. Through this Métis leadership, Green Lake generates cheaper and more reliable power, which creates connection to the land, educational opportunities for the community, and is a source of both clean energy and cultural pride.   Recommended Video Citation Climate Atlas of Canada. (2019). First Métis community-owned solar project in Canada: Renewables, culture, and community pride. Prairie Climate Centre. https://climateatlas.ca/video/first-metis-community-owned-solar-project-canada

“It’s been nothing but positive,” says Chief Cadmus Delorme about the Cowessess First Nation wind-battery project, located just outside of Regina. In this video, community members describe the project’s significance for environmental responsibility, community pride, and local sustainable economies. The community has now developed a 320KW solar farm on the site, making the first known wind-solar battery storage project in the country, and Chief Delorme says they’re “hungry for more.”   Recommended Video Citation Climate Atlas of Canada. (2019). Wind Power on the Prairies: Groundbreaking wind-battery storage. Prairie Climate Centre. https://climateatlas.ca/video/wind-power-prairies

The Lubicon Cree Nation of northern Alberta are leading the low-carbon energy transition. Community member Melina Laboucan-Massimo witnessed the changing landscape from industrial development in her territory, and she decided to take action. As part of her Masters Thesis, she fundraised and coordinated the construction of 20KW solar energy system. Melina calls the project “a beacon of what is possible in our communities” and her perspective shows how renewable energy aligns with Indigenous philosophies of reciprocity, relationship, and reconnection with the land.   Recommended Video Citation Climate Atlas of Canada. (2019). Renewables in the Heart of the Tar Sands: Lubicon Cree leading the energy transition. Prairie Climate Centre. https://climateatlas.ca/video/renewables-heart-tar-sands