Posts

Moose, Medicines, and Migration: Climate Impacts on Cultural Keystone Species

In many Indigenous Nations across Turtle Island, animals and plants are not simply natural resources—they are relatives, teachers, and integral parts of local and regional Indigenous governance, ceremony, and survival. As climate change disrupts ecological systems, it also impacts the cultural fabric and intergenerational teachings of Indigenous Peoples who rely on what are known as cultural keystone species. These are species that hold significant cultural importance and whose presence and health are deeply tied to identity, tradition, and collective health and well-being.  

Species such as moose, caribou, and medicinal plants face unprecedented threats due to rising temperatures, habitat degradation, and shifting seasonal patterns. Their movement, availability, and vitality are changing in ways that ripple through Indigenous food systems, languages, ceremonies, and laws, ultimately impacting Nationhood itself.  

Caribou Declines and the Innu Nation’s Loss of Relational Balance

The George River caribou herd, once among the largest in the world, has plummeted by more than 90% over the past few decades. The Innu Nation of Labrador and parts of Quebec, whose cultural and spiritual systems are interwoven with the caribou’s life, have raised serious concerns about the herd’s collapse. Innu Elders describe caribou as a primary food source and a spiritual relative that teaches respect, humility, and reciprocity.
 

Caribou migrations are becoming increasingly erratic due to a combination of warming temperatures, the encroachment of mining and hydroelectric projects, and changing vegetation patterns that alter forage quality. Industrial development on traditional Innu lands has further fragmented the caribou’s migratory routes, making survival even more difficult. 

Moose and the Melting North: A Disrupted Kinship in the Yukon and Northern BC

Further west, moose populations—another cultural keystone species—are declining steeply in parts of the Yukon and northern British Columbia. The Taku River Tlingit, Kaska Dena, and other First Nations have sounded alarms as moose habitat becomes increasingly unstable due to a mix of warming winters, tick infestations, and changes in predator-prey dynamics. Warmer winters reduce snowpack, allowing predators such as wolves and bears to more easily access moose calves. In contrast, once controlled by cold snaps, parasites such as winter ticks now thrive and cause severe stress or death in moose populations.  

In 2003, the Taku River Tlingit First Nation’s Our Land is Our Future publication emphasizes the sacred relationship with ecology and highlights the importance of Indigenous-led conservation. Their monitoring programs which include insights on Moose activity within territory combine Western science with traditional tracking methods passed down through generations. 

The loss of moose also limits access to vital winter protein sources and affects family harvesting traditions, teaching systems, and food sharing networks. 

Medicinal Plants on the Move: Cultural Displacement in the Land 

Due to climate change, medicinal plants such as sweetgrass, Labrador tea, sage, and cedar are shifting further north or to higher altitudes. This affects not only the availability of culturally and spiritually important medicines but also the teachings and ceremonies surrounding their harvest.  

The Mi’kmaq Nation in Nova Scotia has observed that Labrador tea and other traditional plants are now harder to find in their usual harvesting areas. Harvesters must travel farther or rely on intergenerational knowledge to locate new growth zones—if those zones are accessible at all. This displacement impacts community well-being, especially for those who use plant medicines for healing, ceremony, and seasonal rites.  

This phenomenon, often called “climate-driven cultural displacement,” erodes knowledge transmission, weakens land-based education, and poses challenges for climate adaptation rooted in traditional ecological knowledge. 

Honouring Responsibilities: Indigenous-Led Stewardship as Climate Response 

 Despite these challenges, Indigenous Nations are leading efforts to safeguard local ecosystems by documenting and protecting culturally significant species. The First Nations Guardians Initiative is one of several programs that empower Indigenous communities to steward their lands and monitor the health of key species. Indigenous Guardians collect data, engage youth, and revitalize cultural protocols tied to plant and animal life. 

 

Efforts like these are critical, not just for conservation but also for revitalizing Indigenous laws and land relationships. These actions reflect the teachings of many Elders who assert that it is not humanity that manages the land, but rather the land that governs humanity and our relationships with it. Respecting cultural keystone species is, ultimately, about respecting the Nations that have stewarded them for millennia.
 

Blog by Rye Karonhiowanen Barberstock

(Image Credit : Lesly Derksen, Unsplash)

/by

Small Berries, Big Lessons: A Reflection on Nature’s Wisdom and the Impacts of Climate Change

,

I am reminded of a surprising and cherished memory of a gift that arrived at my office door one July afternoon—four tiny raspberries. As I sat at my desk, deeply immersed in writing, Shyra, my partner in life and business, returned from a short walk. In her hand, she held these delicate ruby-coloured gems, her face alight with excitement and curiosity as she asked, “Are these wild raspberries?”

My affirmation brought a look of elation to her face, but I could see the question forming in her eyes. Why were these berries so much smaller than the ones we typically see in stores? This simple question transported me back to a cherished memory, a lesson from my grandmother that has stayed with me for years.

The Sacred Role of Berries in Nature and Community

I remember clearly the day my grandmother and I walked along the east side of a large hill she lived on. With a subtle gesture—a point of her chin—she directed my attention to a patch of raspberry bushes. “These are raspberries,” she said. “They have been here for many years. There is just enough for us to enjoy their sweetness.”

Curious about their diminutive size, I asked her why they were so small. Her response was simple and profound: “I believe they are tiny because they serve a purpose: to create more raspberries.” She explained that raspberries are keepers of their seeds, designed to be eaten so humans, birds, and animals can disperse them. This natural process ensures the growth of new raspberry plants, perpetuating their life cycle and maintaining the balance of nature.

Her teachings revealed a sacred truth: these berries are not merely food but an essential part of the ecosystem, holding a sacred role in sustaining biodiversity of creating sacred spaces. The small size of wild raspberries isn’t a flaw but a feature that ensures their purpose is fulfilled. Every berry, every seed, every bite connects humans, animals, and the land in a cycle of interdependence.

Climate Change and the Balance of Nature

This delicate balance, however, is increasingly under threat from climate change. Rising temperatures, unpredictable weather patterns, and habitat destruction significantly impact the growth, health, and distribution of wild berries, including raspberries. Warmer winters disrupt dormancy cycles, leading to poor fruit production, while more frequent droughts stress plants and reduce yields. Unseasonal frosts can damage early blooms, and shifting climate zones are forcing plants to adapt to conditions they may not survive.

Other native berries in Ontario, such as blackberries, blueberries, serviceberries, elderberries, and strawberries, are also experiencing similar challenges. These plants, which once thrived in harmony with the local environment, are now vulnerable to changing precipitation patterns, invasive species, and soil degradation. This impacts the plants and the entire ecosystem that relies on them, from pollinators to humans.

For Indigenous communities, these berries are more than sustenance—they are integral to cultural identity and practices, traditional medicines, and food sovereignty. They symbolize the reciprocal relationship between humans and nature, which is strained by environmental degradation and climate change. The loss of these berries would represent an ecological crisis and a profound cultural loss.

Berries as a Foundation of Food Sovereignty

Berries like raspberries hold a sacred role in food sustainability and sovereignty. Their abundance supports a diverse food web, providing nutrition to countless species, including humans. In Indigenous food systems, berries are central to seasonal diets, ceremonial practices, and economic sustainability. Harvesting wild berries fosters a connection to the land, reinforcing the principle that food is a gift from Mother Earth to be shared responsibly.

The role of berries in the local food economy is also significant. Wild and cultivated berries contribute to community-based economies, supporting local growers and Indigenous harvesters. These plants embody the principles of balance and reciprocity, teaching us that sustainable food systems depend on healthy ecosystems. When climate change disrupts this balance, the consequences ripple through the food economy, threatening food security and sovereignty.

A Call to Protect the Sacred Role of Berries

Climate change is a threat to the environment and a challenge to the sacred relationships that sustain life. Berries like raspberries remind us of the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of preserving these relationships. Protecting these plants means addressing the root causes of climate change, restoring habitats, and respecting Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) that has long guided sustainable stewardship of the land.

We must recognize the sacred role of berries as decision-makers in the health and well-being of people, plants, and animals. They are not mere commodities but vital participants in the dance of life, shaping ecosystems and supporting the cycles that sustain us all. Safeguarding their future is a moral and ecological imperative.

Honouring the Lessons of the Raspberry

As I savoured the sweet-tart flavour of the raspberries Shyra had found, I was grateful for her thoughtful gesture, the spirit of the berry, and the enduring wisdom of my grandmother’s teachings. These tiny berries, with their significant purpose, remind us of the beauty and fragility of the natural world. They teach us that food is not just sustenance but a sacred gift, a testament to the balance and wisdom of nature.

These lessons are more critical than ever in our modern world, where food systems are often disconnected from the land. The impacts of climate change compel us to reexamine our relationship with food, the environment, and each other. By protecting berries and the ecosystems they support, we honour the sacred balance of life and ensure a future where food sovereignty and sustainability are possible.

Let us walk gently on this Earth, remembering that even the smallest berry carries the wisdom of the land and the power to nourish life. By protecting these treasures, we uphold our responsibility to future generations and the sacred cycles that sustain us all.

 

By Rye Karonhiowanen Barberstock

 

(Image Credit: Christian Wiediger, Unsplash)

/by

How Indigenous Sustainable Farming Practices Mitigate the Impacts of Climate Change

,

Biodiversity loss exacerbated by climate change puts Indigenous food systems at risk of slow erosion, if not sudden collapse. Sustainable farming practices, such as regenerative agriculture, intercropping, and polycultures are several ways that Indigenous peoples sustain the gifts of Mother Earth, such as soil and water, while growing crops to feed people. These farming practices are also being put into place by non-Indigenous farmers for sustainable development.

Regenerative agriculture is about revitalizing, rather than, degrading soil through farming. Regenerative practices promote energy sequestration in the soil and offsets greenhouse gas emissions. Planting the Three Sisters (i.e., beans, corn, and squash) is a form of intercropping, a practice where certain plants are sown and grown next to each other to build symbiotic relationships rather than competitive relationships with each other for water, oxygen, and soil. Polyculture contrasts with monoculture and industrial, commercialized farming practices whereby different crop species are planted next to each other at the same time to increase soil nutrients and reduce the risk of pests and rampant disease. Intercropping is a form of polyculture too. Together, these practices also combat food insecurity among Indigenous peoples, which is historically the result of land dispossession due to colonization.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has pointed to the importance of including Indigenous voices and agricultural practices in policy and planning. As noted in the FAO’s recent report, “the world cannot feed itself sustainably without listening to Indigenous Peoples.”

 

By Leela Viswanathan

 

(Image Credit: Doan Tuan, Unsplash)

/by