Kainai receives $230K to deal with climate impacts
GRANT COMES FROM PROVINCE’S CLIMATE LEADERSHIP PLAN
Around the world, Aboriginal peoples are among the first to feel the effect of climate change.
Here in southern Alberta, the Kainai First Nation is one of our nation’s first to start responding to its challenges. Now it’s received a $230,000 grant from the province’s Climate Leadership Plan to support that work.
“Indigenous peoples are at the forefront of the effects of climate change,” Environment Minister Shannon Phillips pointed out, while announcing the grant here Friday.
“This funding will help the Kainai First Nation plan for future climate impacts in a water-stressed region while informing government policy and ensuring respectful integration of traditional ecological knowledge.”
That traditional knowledge, she said, should be “woven into” the provincial government’s responses to the climate challenges ahead. Phillips said the government also seeks advice from its Aboriginal Wisdom Council, which includes Leroy Little Bear of Lethbridge.
Councillor Lance Tailfeathers, speaking for the Blood Tribe chief and council, praised that approach.
“This is an example of different types of knowledge coming together,” he said. “At the end of the day, we all come from the same place.”
Chief Roy Fox, in a statement issued earlier, also praised “this learning journey between Blackfoot traditional knowledge and western science. “This will help our community develop a muchneeded climate adaptation plan, as well as inspire youth and elders to reconnect in new ways while learning about climate change.”
The project will be developed by a Canmore-based agency, The Rockies Institute, working with recently appointed Kainai climate change coordinator Diandra Bruised Head.
“This partnership is an exciting opportunity to increase networks between the Kainai Nation and climate change experts,” she observed.
The Alberta government’s support of this project, said institute president Laura Lynes, “highlights how local action can have global significance.
“This journey is already emerging as a truly collaborative model that will deeply impact the tribe’s ability to adapt to climate change, and to inspire others to begin journeys of their own toward a climate-safe future.”
Lynes added, “This is a bold first step.”
On Monday, Phillips will be joined by other Alberta MLAs to announce details of the next phase of the Alberta Renewable Energy Program, including new opportunities for First Nations communities.
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