Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources: Climate Change Planning Tools For First Nations Guidebooks (2006 to present)

Climate change is affecting all of us. Finding the tools to adapt to these changes is becoming increasingly more important. First Nations peoples in Canada are significantly affected by climate change because of where we live and how we continue to rely on the environment for economic and cultural success. Community planning is an important tool for First Nations to use to adapt to changes in the environment, plan for the needs of their community and build a healthy society and culture. These six Guidebooks ‘walk and talk’ a First Nation through the planning process. Each develops an important part of the planning process and is a precursor to the next guidebook. They contain: suggestions of how a First Nation might plan for climate change, how to involve the community, and activities that a First Nation can use to involve members of the community to set priorities and achieve them. Visit each guidebook link to review the guidebook(s) of interest to you.

Ontario Centre for Climate Impacts and Adaptation Resources Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Planning Framework (2015) 

The Ontario Centre for Climate Impacts and Adaptation Resources (OCCIAR) developed in partnership with Georgina Island First Nation the Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Planning Framework. This planning tool contains components of vulnerability and risk assessment, in the context of Traditional knowledge to inform adaptation options. Led by a Community Adaptation Liaison, the seven-step framework walks a community through the climate change adaptation process:       

1. Let’s get started: This initial stage identifies why the project team is undertaking the adaptation planning process. The project also discusses what they would like to see at the end of the process and set goals and objectives to guide them there.
2. Gather data: This phase incorporates Indigenous knowledge from the community, gathers past historical data, and works in future climate projections.
3. Current vulnerability: This step incorporates data from the previous step to develop a list of vulnerabilities within the community.
4. Prioritize future risk: This step develops a list of possible future climate conditions, estimates risk based on the severity and likelihood of an event to occur, conducts a risk evaluation, and communicates results.
5. Identify adaptation actions: In this step, the project team identifies what actions are needed to reduce the risks identified in the previous phase. Starting with the highest priority risks, the team comes up with a list of adaptation actions. The team also puts forth a timeframe to implement, cost to implement and maintain, and community acceptability.
6. Implement adaptation actions: the project team comes up with a plan outlining when and how adaptation actions will be implemented, who will implement them, and what resources (e.g. human, and financial resources) will be needed.
7. Monitor progress: This final stage puts in place measures to follow-up on adaptation actions and makes changes where necessary. It is also used to report on progress, and evaluate success.

First Nations Infrastructure Resilience Toolkit (2018)

The Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation, in collaboration with Engineers Canada, Stantec, and Risk Sciences International, developed a tool to help First Nation communities to assess the vulnerability of their infrastructure, buildings, and facilities due to extreme weather. It allows to forecast the most critical risks over the lifecycle of these assets and provides guidance in establishing sound asset management practices. Three First Nations in Ontario have tested the toolkit to ensure its viability for future use: Mohawks of Akwesasne, Onaida Nation of the Thames, and Moose Cree First Nation. Training sessions are currently being offered to Ontario First Nation communities on how to use the toolkit.  To obtain a copy of the First Nations Infrastructure Resilience Toolkit, please contact [email protected].

Climate Change: Guide to Implement an Adaptation Plan (2014) (French Only)

The First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Sustainable Development Institute produced a guide to help First Nation communities independently develop a climate change adaptation strategy. The guide is divided in five steps:

1. Community engagement – project team
2. Vulnerability assessment
3. Adaptation plan
4. Monitoring progress
5. Communication

FireSmart – Protecting your Community from Wildfire (2003)  

The Partners in Protection is an Alberta-based non-profit organization that developed a manual to give communities the information and tools they need to address fire protection issues. The manual is divided in three sections:

Theme 1: Assess the situation

Theme 2: Resolve existing problems

Theme 3: Avoid future problems

The Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources developed guidance material for First Nations to take action on watershed planning. These guidebooks proposal a model of watershed planning that is led by First Nations and creates an opportunity to address unique First Nation needs, relationships and rights. These guidebooks aim to support increased First Nations’ involvement in regional watershed planning processes. The guidebooks are divided in five sections:

1. Getting started
2. Describing your approach: know yourself
3. Knowing your watershed: all our relations
4. Achieving consensus on the plan: design the plan
5. Bringing the plan to life: follow through

The Rockies Institute and the All One Sky Foundation developed a guidance document to support communities in weaving Indigenous Knowledge with scientific data that will help them identify and respond to climate change impacts. The guide is divided in five sections:

1. Awareness building: pre-workshops sessions to bring the community together and build climate change awareness.
2. Knowledge gathering: reciprocal knowledge sharing on climate change and traditional views, perceived risks and opportunities; and co-development of a Draft Local Early Action Plan (LEAP).
3. Community engagement and validation: follow-up engagement to build on the draft plan with a wide range of community members; and validation of traditional knowledge weaving and proposed priorities by knowledge holders in the community.
4. Implementation of adaption priorities: As identified through the process.
5. Iterative learning: on-going process of refinement as circumstances change and the plan is built upon.

Depuis quelques années, les projets réalisés par l’Institut de développement durable des Premières Nations du Québec et du Labrador (IDDPNQL) ont permis de constater que les Premières Nations sont particulièrement touchées par les changements climatiques. Ce guide de mise en place d’un plan d’adaptation aux changements climatiques arrive à point. Dans une époque où plusieurs rapports scientifiques démontrent le besoin imminent d’agir, il importe de définir des stratégies d’adaptation face aux aléas climatiques observés et prévus sur les territoires des Premières Nations. Les impacts sont désormais tangibles : les hivers plus doux rendent les déplacements plus risqués, les tempêtes se font plus fortes et imprévisibles qu’auparavant et les périodes de chasse, de trappe, de pêche et de cueillette doivent être modifiées. Il est d’ailleurs de plus en plus difficile de se fier aux savoirs traditionnels pour identifier les saisons.