{"id":7560,"date":"2024-05-07T16:46:21","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T20:46:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aboriginalbusinessmagazine.com\/?p=7560"},"modified":"2024-05-07T16:46:21","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T20:46:21","slug":"climate-forum-highlights-cree-solutions-for-a-warming-planet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aboriginalbusinessmagazine.com\/?p=7560","title":{"rendered":"Climate forum highlights Cree solutions for a warming planet"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>By Patrick Quinn<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0Local Journalism Initiative<\/em><br \/>\nThe Cree Regional Climate Forum brought together a diversity of voices in Ouje-Bougoumou to understand and plan for the repercussions of a rapidly warming planet.<br \/>\nThe forum recognized the urgency of action in the wake of unprecedented forest fires and the warmest year on record. The Cree Nation Government\u2019s Climate Change unit hopes to make this an annual event to develop Cree-led climate strategies.<br \/>\n\u201cThere\u2019s no boundaries to climate change,\u201d said CNG climate change manager Olivier K\u00f6lmel. \u201cIt goes beyond the region so broader collaboration is needed for the future of the communities. The big work is yet to come, but it\u2019s exciting work.\u201d<br \/>\nAbout 150 participants came from most Cree communities, along with some First Nations in Ontario and selected representatives from provincial and federal governments and academia. The forum\u2019s three themes were community engagement, adaptation planning and climate leadership.<br \/>\nThe day after a spectacular solar eclipse, the conference began by taking stock of recent climate impacts and current mitigation initiatives. Last summer\u2019s wildfires sought to redefine the Cree relationship with Eeyou Istchee\u2019s forests.<br \/>\n\u201cClimate adaptation asks Cree Nation members to change their way of living because of the environment,\u201d Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty said in her keynote speech.<br \/>\n\u201cRegeneration is not just one season but sometimes decades. The risk is incredibly high for the upcoming fire season.\u201d<br \/>\nWith fires impacting 60% of traplines and forcing many communities to evacuate, Gull-Masty emphasized that the climate had made them refugees. The province was vastly unprepared for the extent of damage. Gull-Masty said a province-wide approach would better support First Nations safety and potential displacements.<br \/>\nBesides loss of wildlife and long-term effects on land and water, fires resulted in emissions equivalent to 140 million vehicles running year-round. While the hazardous smoke reaching New York City made international headlines, the Cree Nation will be releasing a documentary next month to illustrate its aftermath in Eeyou Istchee.<br \/>\n\u201cThere\u2019s a realization everything is intertwined,\u201d said K\u00f6lmel. \u201cYou may be breathing in smoke a day or two, but the communities had it for months. We went north of Waswanipi by the Broadback to film the impacts and the camps and cabins lost.\u201d<br \/>\nDeputy Grand Chief Norman Wapachee moderated the forum\u2019s forest fire panel featuring CNG fire marshal Lee-Roy Blacksmith, Thomas Stevens of the Cree Trappers\u2019 Association and federal and provincial representatives. Among proposed solutions was making better use of satellite imagery.<br \/>\nBlacksmith is arranging training and equipment for first responders in each community, although there are currently lodging complications in Whapmagoostui. George Cox will replace Blacksmith during his medical leave this summer.<br \/>\n\u201cWe\u2019ve sent out a memo to local fire departments to start preparing for Fire Smart campaigns,\u201d said Blacksmith. \u201cPeople talked about southern animals like raccoons,<br \/>\ncougars and deer coming in our region, which we never had.\u201d<br \/>\nThe warming climate is changing the distribution of many animal and plant species. Polar bears are moving south while black bears are moving north. Eelgrass vital for migrating geese has long been declining along the coast, but appears to be increasing further north, which introduces new food-security concerns as seals come ashore less often.<br \/>\nWaswanipi\u2019s delegation noted abandoned forestry roads become highways for wolves, which are predators for caribou and moose. They propose restoring them with deciduous trees, which are natural habitat for species like moose and beaver while being more fire-resistant than the conifers favoured by the forestry industry.<br \/>\nRecent studies suggest revising logging methods to support forest resilience and conserve old-growth areas that are critically important for slowing climate change. The Cree Nation has pushed for over 20 years to implement the Paix des Braves agreement\u2019s wildlife directives.<br \/>\n\u201cIt would support more species on the ground and the balance of how the forest is being sustained,\u201d K\u00f6lmel explained. \u201cThe province was asking how to balance economic interests \u2013 priorities are not always shared. There are difficult choices to make in moments of crisis.\u201d<br \/>\nThe forum focused on constructive initiatives to make Cree communities more resilient.<br \/>\nWorkshops discussed the adoption of electric vehicles but most agreed that necessary infrastructure is still lacking in the north. They also considered the possible benefits of climate change, such as harvesting maple syrup.<br \/>\nSeveral communities shared inspiring developments in their greenhouse, garden and composting projects. Whitney Blacksmith said Mistissini\u2019s greenhouse will deliver affordable food while promoting agricultural education for youth. Stevens said that all local CTAs will receive community freezers, where local harvesters can store traditional food for families in need.<br \/>\nThe Grand Chief suggested that the Cree way of life contributes to the reduction of emissions through actions that avoid processed meats and leathers. She believes the Cree Nation could create an innovative carbon credit system that could serve as a model throughout Canada.<br \/>\n\u201cThese activities we carry out as Indigenous people are good carbon offsets,\u201d Gull-Masty asserted. \u201cI\u2019d like to see your ideas. When you\u2019re doing traditional activities, ask yourself,\u00a0 \u2018What is my contribution to reducing emissions?\u2019\u201d<br \/>\nThe CNG collaborates with research institutions to establish eddy co-variance towers uniquely designed for the territory. This new environmental monitoring technology measures water evaporation and greenhouse gases absorbed or emitted throughout the year \u2013 useful for calculating carbon credits.<br \/>\nA declaration was drafted on the forum\u2019s final day, titled Wanishkaakwh or \u201cWake Up!\u201d It set the tone for a permanent regional advisory committee on climate change and the direction for each community.<br \/>\n\u201cCree ancestors always found ways to adapt to changes in the environment and thrive in these conditions,\u201d said K\u00f6lmel. \u201cThe overall message is one of hope and working together to face the oncoming challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Canadian Press Team<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Patrick Quinn \u00a0Local Journalism Initiative The Cree Regional Climate Forum brought together a diversity of voices in Ouje-Bougoumou to understand and plan for the repercussions of a rapidly warming planet. The forum recognized the urgency of action in the wake of unprecedented forest fires and the warmest year on record. The Cree Nation Government\u2019s &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":""},"categories":[32,37,39],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Climate forum highlights Cree solutions for a warming planet - Aboriginal Business Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/aboriginalbusinessmagazine.com\/?p=7560\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Climate forum highlights Cree solutions for a warming planet - Aboriginal Business Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Patrick Quinn \u00a0Local Journalism Initiative The Cree Regional Climate Forum brought together a diversity of voices in Ouje-Bougoumou to understand and plan for the repercussions of a rapidly warming planet. 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