Indigenous knowledges
While the First Nations and Inuit (FNI) in Quebe care on the front lines of climate disruption, they are also key players in the fight against it. Indigenous knowledge passed down from generation to generation is flexible, adaptive and integrated with the environment, and is closely linked to its surroundings. This makes it an invaluable resource for developing solutions to the changing climate.
What is Indigenous knowledge?
Indigenous knowledge refers to knowledge systems, creations, innovations and cultural expressions that are generally passed down from generation to generation. They include observation, community interactions, teachings and skill-sharing between community members. This knowledge is generally considered to belong to a particular people or territory, and is constantly evolving in response to a changing environment. Indigenous knowledge may include agricultural, scientific, technical and ecological knowledge, medical knowledge and remedies, knowledge related to biodiversity, and traditional cultural expressions in the form of music, dance, song, handicrafts, designs, models, stories, art, linguistic elements such as names, geographical indications and symbols, and cultural goods. All aspects of knowledge are interdependent and cannot be separated from the traditional territories of the people concerned. The tangible and intangible elements making up the knowledge of certain Indigenous peoples must be determined by the peoples themselves.
Indigenous traditional knowledge has played an essential role in the survival and resilience of Indigenous peoples through the ages. In the context of climate change, this knowledge offers insight into human responses to changing environmental conditions.
The intrinsic connection that the FNI have with the environment makes their knowledge robust and essential, as it considers the dynamics of the whole system, taking multiple stress factors into account. That means it plays an important role in understanding and managing the local impacts of climate change, particularly in rural and remote communities.
The contributions of Indigenous knowledge to climate change adaptation
Indigenous knowledge offers a valuable approach to climate change adaptation.
It promotes multi-generational planning, incorporating a long-term vision that is essential for anticipating and adapting to current and future climate impacts proactively.
Sharing knowledge across generations, orally or with by means of practical experience, helps to ensure the continuity of environmental management and community resilience.
Based on a holistic approach that takes capacities into account, resource management strategies that respect ecological limits while meeting human needs can be developed.
Inclusive governance that incorporates the viewpoints and traditional practices of local communities into decision-making processes leads to policies and actions that are better suited to local realities and to the specific needs of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations.
The use of empirical data and local observations enriches the perspectives and the proposed solutions, offering more comprehensive and robust responses to environmental challenges, particularly in the context of climate change.
Making use of Indigenous knowledge
Increasingly, the traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples is seen as equivalent to non-Indigenous scientific information. This knowledge offers insights that complement scientific data, enriching the overall understanding of climate change and enhancing the effectiveness of adaptation and mitigation strategies.
There are still challenges when it comes to integrating Indigenous peoples and their knowledge systems into climate change research and policy. Greater recognition and active participation are needed to capitalize on this deep ecological knowledge and foster a more holistic, long-term approach to the climate emergency.
Over the years, the FNI in Quebec and Canada have relied on their traditional knowledge to adapt to climate change. Adaptation measures are being taken by various Indigenous communities to address the problems caused by climate change. These cover a broad spectrum, from health and food safety to travel safety, ecosystem modification, recreation and tourism, and more.
