Indigenous peoples
Impact on indigenous communities
Indigenous communities are facing extreme weather events brought on by climate change. The impacts of these events on communities can be severe, primarily due to location and inadequate resources. Understanding the effects of climate change as well as how to prepare, adapt and recover from associated weather events is critical.
*Please note that FloodSmartCanada and Partners for Action do not take responsibility for the verification of the services and information identified below.
Risk and Adaptation Resources
Climate Change Adaptation in Clayoquot Sound First Nations Report
EcoTrust Canada & INAC
Description: This is a full report detailing the Phase II results of an impact and vulnerability assessment and subsequent development of an adaptation plan.
- http://ecotrust.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ClayoquotClimAdapt_phase2_Full_Report.pdf
Climate Change Adaptation Planning, Georgina Island First Nation
Georgina Island First Nation and Ontario Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Resources (OCCIAR)
Description: Georgina Island First Nation has undertaken a community-led climate Change Adaptation Planning process that combines community input and traditional knowledge with climate science to best understand potential impacts to the community, adaptation options, and how to implement these options. A questionnaire for consideration of traditional knowledge and a framework for completing the adaptation plan are also provided.
- http://georginaisland.com/community-services/environment/climate-adaptation/
- http://www.climateontario.ca/p_CCAPwGIFN.php
Climate Change and First Nations South of 60° - Impacts, Adaptation, and Priorities
Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER)
Description: This short summary document details climate change and potential impacts on First Nations communities in Canada. The report documents potential impacts, vulnerabilities, and adaptation opportunities in a First Nation context nationally and provides links to useful tools. A summary report is provided for ease of use.
- http://www.yourcier.org/climate-change-and-first-nations-south-of-60-impacts-adaptation-and-priorities-2007.html
Climate Change and Water: Impacts and Adaptations for First Nations Communities
Assembly of First Nations - Environmental Stewardship Unit
Description: This paper discusses major water-related climate change impacts to communities as well as adaptation strategies.
- http://www.afn.ca/uploads/files/env/08-03-27_climate_change_and_water_research_paper_final.pdf
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Options for Ontario’s Clay Belt – A Case Study
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Description: This case study describes the process of conducting a vulnerability assessment to explore how ecosystems within the Clay Belt may be vulnerable to change.
- http://files.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/aquatics-climate/stdprod_100191.pdf
Climate Risks and Adaptive Capacity in Aboriginal Communities - Final Report
Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER)
Description: This report provides background information on climate change impacts, risks, vulnerability and adaptive capacity in Aboriginal communities south of 60º.
- http://www.yourcier.org/uploads/2/5/6/1/25611440/climate_risks_and_adaptive_capacity_in_aboriginal_communities.pdf
Community-Wide Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (CVCA)
Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness (Canada)
Description: This document provides guidance on how to identify, understand, and assist the most vulnerable populations within a community in an emergency. The model is intended to be used as part of a wider risk and vulnerability assessment, to assist in identifying vulnerable populations, and developing action plans to assist these populations in emergency situations.
- http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2008/ps-sp/D82-68-2002E.pdf
Lessons-Learned on Phase I of Conducting a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Case study with Fort McMurray First Nation
First Nations Technical Services Advisory Group
Description: This document provides a number of valuable references that can aid in the creation of a climate change vulnerability assessment and eventually, a climate change adaptation plan.
- http://anyflip.com/wage/fewu/basic/
Aboriginal Disaster Resilience Planning Guide
Justice Institute of British Columbia
Description: This guide provides communities with key information on increasing climate resilience.
- https://adrp.jibc.ca/introduction/
Arctic and North - Managing the Risks of Climate Change: A Guide for Arctic and Northern Communities
Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER)
Description: This two-volume guide is designed for communities looking to conduct a climate risk assessment, make adaptation decisions and implement and monitor progress. Volume 1 outlines the risk management process and Volume 2 includes a workbook and case studies.
- http://ccrm-cier.redrockconsulting.com/start_here.php
Climate Change Adaptation for Local Government - A Resource Guide
Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions
Description: This document provides local governments in British Columbia with Canadian and International resources related to climate change impacts and adaptation.
- https://pics.uvic.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/Adaptation_Resources_June2011.pdf
Climate Change Adaptation Planning: A Handbook for Small Communities
Canadian Institute of Planners & Natural Resources Canada
Description: The purpose of the Handbook is to help small Canadian communities with the development and implementation of a Climate Change Adaptation Plan. The Handbook is designed for the use of a professional planner.
- https://www.fcm.ca/Documents/tools/PCP/
climate_change_adaptation_planning_handbook_for_small_canadian_communities_EN.pdf
Climate Change Planning Tools for First Nations Guidebooks
Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER)
Description: CIER’s guidebooks are designed to help First Nations communities plan for climate change.
- http://www.yourcier.org/climate-change-planning-tools-for-first-nations-guidebooks-2006.html
Implementation Framework for Climate Change Adaptation Planning at a Watershed Scale
Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment
Description: This framework provides watershed managers with a structured process to identify and reduce climate vulnerability and risk, and build resiliency within the watershed. It is designed for informed, but non-specialist water managers and those planning for climate change adaptation.
- http://www.ccme.ca/files/Resources/climate_change/
Climate%20Change%20Adaptation%20Framework%201.0_e%20PN%201529.pdf
Adapting To Climate Change In Coastal Communities Of The Atlantic Provinces, Canada: Land Use Planning And Engineering And Natural Approaches (Parts 1-3)
Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutions (ACASA) Project
Description: These guides are designed to help coastal community decision-makers define their climate change adaptation needs and select the most appropriate land use planning or engineering tools for their climate change impact challenges.
- Part 1
- Part 2
- Part 3
Minimum Standards for Local Climate-Smart Disaster Risk Reduction
International Federation for Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Description: This document outlines the minimum standards to communities to understand and address climate risks within their communities. A good introduction to what is needed within a community before climate change adaptation planning can begin.
- http://www.climatecentre.org/downloads/files/Minimum%20Standards/
Minimum%20Standards%20for%20climate-smart%20DRR%20%202.0%20NOV%202013.pdf
7 Steps to Assess Climate Change Vulnerability in Your Community Guide (Chapters 1-6)
Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutions (ACASA) Project
Description: This assessment tool is a step-by-step guide to help communities assess their vulnerability to climate change. It is designed for communities with limited resources and can easily be used by community leaders and decision makers. The tool provides analysis of local climate change impacts and presents possible adaptation options.
- https://www.atlanticadaptation.ca/en/content/vulnerability-assessment
Adaptation Library - Resources for climate adaptation
Natural Resources Canada
Description: The Adaptation Library is a publicly accessible and searchable collection of community, forestry, and energy related adaptation resources.
- http://www.adaptationlibrary.ca/#/options/
Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutions Association
Description: This website consolidates information on climate change adaptation (primarily sea level rise, coastal flooding and erosion) in communities within the Atlantic Provinces. It is designed for use by community staff and elected officials.
- https://www.atlanticadaptation.ca
Climate Telling
Health Canada Climate Change Program
Description: This website highlights efforts by First Nation, Innu and Inuit communities across Canada to understand and document climate change and adaptation. Strategies, tools, and guidance is provided to prepare climate change adaptation plans, incorporating climate science and traditional knowledge, and also tools for communicating potential impacts and adaptation opportunities to community members.
- http://www.climatetelling.info/
Dawson Climate Change Adaptation Plan
Natural Resources Canada
Description: This website provides information on the Climate Change Adaptation Planning process undertaken by Dawson City, Yukon. The link also contains contact information for the authors and leads for the project.
- http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/environment/resources/publications/impacts-adaptation/case-studies/16275
Justice Institute of British Columbia – Aboriginal Disaster Resilience Planning
Description: The website provides resources such as resilience and hazard tools, resiliency resource guides, Provincial and Territorial Information Guides, an ADRP Facilitator Toolkit and an ADRP Traditional Knowledge Toolkit.
- https://adrp.jibc.ca
Swinomish Climate Change Initiative
Description: This website provides information on the Climate Change Adaptation Planning process undertaken by Swinomish Indian tribal Community in Washington State. The Adaptation Plan includes a toolbox for considering potential climate impacts, prioritizing impacts, and incorporating traditional knowledge into the planning process.
-http://www.swinomish-nsn.gov/climate_change/project/reports.html
United Kingdom Adaptation Wizard
United Kingdom Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP)
Description: The Adaptation Wizard guides users through an interactive online five- stage adaptation planning process designed for local governments, and in particular helps users understand their current vulnerability to weather and climate. The Wizard was designed for use within the UK but can be used effectively by organizations outside the UK if they substitute their own climate change scenarios in Step 3. The Wizard is available for free, but users must register with UKCIP to obtain access.
- https://www.ukcip.org.uk/wizard/
Adaptation Measures for Floods, Storm Surges, and Sea Level Rise
Joanne Langis, University of Moncton
Description: This document outlines a range of adaptive strategies in response to water-related impacts.
- http://www8.umoncton.ca/littoral-vie/Adaptation%20measures%20(Littoral%20et%20vie).pdf
BC Climate Action Toolkit
Green Communities Committee and Fraser Basin Council
Description: The Toolkit provides general information for all types of climate-related work, including greenhouse gas reduction, renewable energy, and land use and transportation options. The link below connects to climate change adaptation planning resources and case studies, and also provides information on how to find a planner to assist in the planning process.
- http://www.toolkit.bc.ca/
British Columbia Hazard Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Toolkit
BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Provincial Emergency Program
Description: This document provides a detailed step-by-step process for identifying community-specific hazards, risks, and vulnerabilities to meet the requirements of the BC Emergency Preparedness Act. Templates for activities, plan creation, and implementation are included in the guide.
- http://hrva.embc.gov.bc.ca/toolkit.pdf
Climate Change Adaptation Planning: A Nunavut Toolkit
The Nunavut Climate Change Centre
Description: This toolkit is designed to help communities prepare a Climate Change Adaptation Plan (CCAP) under the guidance of a planner. It is based on lessons learned from completing community climate change adaptation plans in seven Nunavut communities.
- http://climatechangenunavut.ca/sites/default/files/nunavut_toolkit_final_2011_0.pdf
First Nation Adapt Program – Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Description: INAC's First Nation Adapt program supports community projects that develop and build the capacity of First Nations on reserve to address climate change impacts on their communities. The central goal of the program is to improve community resiliency to climate change.
- https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1481305681144/1481305709311
Retooling for Climate Change
Fraser Basin Council
Description: Tools and resources for First Nation and municipal governments to understand climate risks, and complete Climate Change Adaptation Planning. Community profiles highlight work done in Xat’sūll First Nation, BC.
- http://www.retooling.ca/
Tools for Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments for Watersheds
Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment
Description: This resource was prepared for use by technical experts, adaptation planners and resource managers to develop climate change vulnerability assessments of water quantity and water quality at a watershed scale in a Canadian context.
- http://www.ccme.ca/files/Resources/water/climate_change/pn_1494_vat.pdf
Tribal Climate Change Adaptation Planning Toolkit
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
Description: This website provides US-based resources, guides, templates, tools and examples for tribal climate adaptation planning. All materials are available to download in Word format, for easy adaptation and use by communities in gaining Band Council support and undertaking the planning process.
- http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/tcc/Resources/adaptation
Resources
Emergency Preparedness Guides
- Elders and Emergencies – Canadian Red Cross
- Emergency Preparedness Guide for Muskego Cree Families – Canadian Red Cross
- For First Nations, Métis and Inuit Communities – Canadian Red Cross
- Your Emergency Preparedness Guide – Government of Canada
Emergency Preparedness Tools
Emergency Notifications
- Alert Ready: Emergency Alert System
- The Weather Network
- The Weather Network App
- Twitter: @Get_Prepared
Recovery Information
If you would like to know more about how you can reduce your risks, click here for a list of flood preparedness and recovery resources by province.