About – Indigenous Community-Based Climate Monitoring Program

The program, administered by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC), provides $6 million per year in contribution funding to support Indigenous Peoples in the design, implementation, or expansion of community-based climate monitoring projects. Specifically, the program supports Indigenous-led projects that monitor climate and the environmental effects of climate change within community boundaries and on traditional territories using Indigenous Knowledge Systems and western science. Indigenous communities and organizations can use the information gathered to inform adaptation actions and address climate data gaps.

Funding can be used to:

  • engage the community
  • develop a monitoring plan
  • hire and train community members to work on the project
  • rent or purchase monitoring equipment
  • monitor key climate and environmental indicators
  • assess and manage Indigenous Knowledge and science-based data
  • communicate climate monitoring results
  • build networks with other partners to better track climate change

In addition, in partnership with First Peoples Group and a team of Indigenous co-authors, the program has developed the Indigenous Climate Monitoring Toolkit, a website that provides guidance, good practices, and resources for Indigenous communities.

Learn More - Indigenous Community-Based Climate Monitoring Program

Examples of Previous Indigenous Community-Based Climate Monitoring Program Projects

British Columbia

Funding to install several hydrometric stations to monitor streamflow for comparison to historical records. Community monitors will also collect data related to the impacts of climate change on key vegetation species.

Funding to re-establish climate monitoring data collection and understanding to support implementation of adaptation measures in the Shuswap Region within Splatsin, by Splatsin and for Splatsin community.

Alberta

Funding to engage the Gift Lake Métis Settlement community and build capacity to monitor medicinal plants, animal habitats, oil field and logging areas, water quality, snow depth, air quality, and weather conditions within the community boundary.

Funding to continue the implementation and expansion of Askiy. MNA will continue their berry plant health monitoring, fish health monitoring and vegetation biodiversity monitoring projects. MNA will also expand activities and implement moose health monitoring (winter trick infestations), wildlife images and camera trap monitoring and collecting data using the iHunter mobile app

Funding to purchase and install hydrometric stations, buoys, and trail cameras in the Peace Athabasca Delta to provide real-time data on water and ice conditions.

Funding to establish baseline monitoring of weather variables, study climate impacts on the land and harvesting, and to educate the community about climate change.

Funding to build capacity within the Peavine Métis Settlement by providing training and employment opportunities and by establishing scientific baseline climate data that will complement Traditional Knowledge.

Saskatchewan

Funding to hire a Monitoring Lead and seasonal positions, conduct environmental health assessments (wetland, range land and woodland assessments), and create a community-based Indigenous Monitoring Protocol.

Funding to build capacity among Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) Leadership, Land Technicians and youth in data collection, watershed monitoring (water quality and ecosystem health), and data analysis in order to mitigate the effects of climate change on water systems in northern Saskatchewan.

Funding to continue the implementation and expansion of their climate monitoring initiative in the Upper Churchill basin, west-central Saskatchewan and in the Qu’Appelle basin. They are interested in meteorological data, water monitoring, soil properties, vegetation distribution and country food assessment.

Funding to purchase and maintain 2 HOBOlink climate stations in 2 Saskatchewan First Nation communities.

Manitoba

Funding to establish baseline data and monitor trends (thinner ice, invasive species and water quality) in the changing climate to address the concerns of Misipawistik Cree Nation’s community members. This will help build capacity by creating jobs and provide training opportunities for youth and others combining TEK and western science.

Funding to equip Poplar River First Nation with remotely piloted systems and data analysis capacity for measuring algal blooms and shoreline erosion on Lake Winnipeg.

Funding to be used to:

  • identify and hire project team members
  • engage in a partnership with an environmental consultant to develop a monitoring plan
  • engage with the community to determine priority climate change indicators
  • organize and facilitate land camps for youth

Funding to:

  • monitor changes to the environment and engage Métis citizens to learn about their concerns;
  • teach environmental monitoring methods and techniques and create a climate adaptation and health strategy.

Communities are interested in climate, water, sediment, aquatic and terrestrial life in wetlands and waterways.

Funding to continue tracking Monarch Butterfly, variations in snow depth and how it affects the mortality rate of various ungulates and the health of trees in isolated forest plots and to hold a series of workshops to train community members on methods to monitor, track, record and how to use the collected data.

Ontario

Funding to support the development of a climate monitoring initiative with a focus on capacity building, community engagement and knowledge transfer.

Funding to support the development of a climate monitoring initiative within Aroland First Nation, Constance Lake First Nation, Eabametoong First Nation, Ginoogaming First Nation, Long Lake #58 First Nation, Marten Falls First Nation, Neskantaga First Nation, Nibinamik First Nation, Webequie First Nation with a focus on capacity building, community engagement and networking.

Funding to support climate change awareness, capacity building, and community engagement with the goal of developing climate monitoring and adaptation planning initiatives within the community.

Funding to implement a community-based climate monitoring initiative with Métis citizens across Ontario with a focus on water quality and fish.

Quebec

Funding to design and implement a berry monitoring initiative in three Innu communities with a focus on capacity building, community engagement and networking.

Funding to hire a regional climate change coordinator, document and support climate change-related initiatives, and develop and implement a weather station pilot project.

Atlantic

Funding to collect information from sources including traditional knowledge, bio-indicator data, and scientific instrumentation to better understand changes in weather and key ecosystems. The Land2Lab component of the project will feature elders sharing stories, food gathering techniques and preparation methods with the youth through land-based activities aligned with the four seasons, to provide a forum for inter-generational knowledge sharing about traditional foods in the context of climate change.

Funding to develop and execute a climate monitoring plan to integrate climate monitoring into the operations of a 100% Innu owned and operated Eco-Tourism Lodge in the Eagle River Watershed.

Yukon Territory

Funding to establish climate change monitoring stations on the Mount Nansen and Free Gold roads to gain a better understanding of the possible climate change effects in this heavily mined area with increasing mineral developments.

Funding to support the expansion of Carcross/Tagish First Nation’s community-based climate monitoring program. Funding for additional weather stations to better understand regional fire risk. Support for purchase of water quality monitoring equipment, personal protective equipment, drones, ice augers and sleds for permafrost layer network sampling near a historic mine.

Funding for the North Yukon First Nations to co-sponsor and co-develop a conference on permafrost science and engineering with the Canadian Permafrost Association to be held in Dawson City, 21-26 August 2022. The conference themes are:

  • Impacts of climate change on First Nations
  • Adaptation to climate change
  • Effects of geo-hazards on landscapes and communities
  • Sustainability and adaptation of municipal and transportation infrastructure to changing terrain conditions

Northwest Territories

Funding for Elders and youth to learn from the land and waters through discussing, observing, and documenting a range of key climate indicators from a science and Indigenous Traditional Knowledge perspective.

Funding to build capacity within Gwich’in communities to develop their own climate change monitoring program and inform decisions on environmental resources management and climate change adaptation measures.

Funding to build technical and research/monitoring capacity specific to climate monitoring research as well as help fund a climate monitoring component to the Nahendeh Kehotsendı̨ program.

Funding to support land use planning activities and continuing to build the Guardianship Program, which will feed into land use planning.

Funding for the Dene Nation to engage with its members, Inuvialuit and Métis communities, as well as partner governments and non-governmental organizations to share knowledge and identify adaptation priorities for climate change risks to water, human health, and food security in Denendeh.

Funding to replace monitoring equipment for the Dehcho Land Guardian programming and educational purposes.

Inuvialuit

Funding to expand community-based ice monitoring and document and share Indigenous knowledge-based ice travel safety products to reduce travel risk and promote awareness of and adaptation action on safe ice travel, in collaboration with SmartICE.

Funding to expand the scope of an ongoing Climate Change and Clean Energy Terminology Workshop series to include youth who are early language learners and terms related to climate monitoring.

Funding to purchase bathymetric monitoring equipment to support a citizen science network in the Aklavik region as well as support for a community workshop.

Nunavut

Funding to create a weather station network in the region of Igloolik to enhance travel safety.

Funding to monitor the impacts of climate change on the health of caribou, seal populations and fish stocks using both scientific methods and Inuit knowledge. This project will build capacity by providing training opportunities and knowledge exchange for youth as well as bringing awareness to the community.

Funding to develop an ecosystem-based vision of country foods in order to better understand climate impacts, to prepare for the future by predicting possible changes in country food species and to develop adaptations measures to address the impact of climate change on country foods.

Funding to host a Gathering in Coral Harbour, Nunavut. During this Gathering, the project team will report on results and findings from the Nunavummiut Polar Bear Surveys on Southampton Island – Toward Nunavummiut inclusive Polar Bear Monitoring and Arctic Climate Change Impact Assessment project and plan future community-based monitoring studies.

Funding to support the April 2023 in-person meeting of the Nunavut Climate Change Committee on Adaptation in Iqaluit, Nunavut.

Funding to support a polar bear monitoring , which will include location and documentation of polar bear dens, collection of tracks, scat, urine and hair samples, and interviews.

Nunavik

Funding to support on-the-land safety measures for hunters and land-users including operation and maintenance of a network of real-time monitoring cameras, some complemented by mini weather stations and emergency buttons, which provides data about seasonal ice, snow, vegetation, and weather cycles in strategic locations across the region.

Funding to support a youth camp in the Marralik estuary which includes research and monitoring related to beluga and other species of interest as well as Inuit knowledge transfer on harvesting, safe food preparation, and storage techniques. Funding will also support monitoring and safety equipment purchases and videography.

Funding for a two-day workshop to bring together the Hudson Bay Arc communities (Inukjuak, Kuujjuarapik and Umiujaq) to co-develop new approaches to gather Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit using ringed seal (“natsiq”) as a test case

Funding to monitor beaver presence in Nunavik due to climate change and characterize its impact on Arctic char and brook trout habitat. Also, to support Indigenous participation in the Arctic Beaver Observation Network meetings.

Nunatsiavut

Funding to engage Nunatsiavut community members as archaeological monitors to identify, document, preserve, and salvage archaeological sites at risk of loss due to the effects of climate change, such as permafrost degradation, vegetation changes, and erosion due to increased storminess and sea level rise.

Multiple Regions North

Funding to support the travel and participation of Indigenous participants to the ArcticNet Annual Scientific Meeting.

Funding to update the Atlas of Community-Based Monitoring and Indigenous Knowledge in a Changing Arctic.

Pan-Canada

Funding to coordinate and facilitate development of the Indigenous Community-Based Climate Monitoring Toolkit and Best Practices Guideline.

Funding to support participation of 5 Eeyou Istchee communities in the 2022 Hudson Bay Summit. This project is being co-funded with other CIRNAC programs to bring together a broad range of Indigenous participants in the Hudson Bay and James Bay regions.