Rooted in spiritual connections to the land they occupy, the cultures and societies of Indigenous peoples have had a long history of living with and conserving the natural ecosystems sustainably. As the climate crisis continues, Indigenous knowledge and leadership are invaluable in informing environmental policy and research. 

The Indigenous Climate Leadership Agenda 

Developed by Indigenous peoples through various joint collaboration tables, the Indigenous Climate Leadership Agenda (ICLA) was established to address systemic barriers faced by Indigenous peoples and centre them in leadership positions in climate change. 

The ICLA’s preliminary areas of focus support the climate change work already being carried out by over 40 Indigenous governments and organizations. Some of their initiatives include food security improvements, green infrastructure changes, and biodiversity protection. The agenda advocates for long-term funding mechanisms that enable Indigenous peoples to work independently on long-term projects for climate action. The ICLA also aims to incorporate Indigenous voices in climate change decision-making, by using research and recommendations from Indigenous communities. 

The ICLA calls for the Canadian government to build stronger partnerships with Indigenous communities on climate leadership in order to meet these objectives. In response, the Government of Canada added the ICLA to the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan — which aims to reduce carbon emissions to “40% below 2005 levels by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050” — with a promised investment of $29.6 million incorporated in the plan to “advance Indigenous Climate Leadership.” 

Progress and funding challenges

The Government of Canada has invested in supporting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners since 2022, as part of the ICLA. However, tracking the progress of ICLA’s goals has been difficult. 

An agenda from British Columbia’s Assembly of First Nations cites that progress on a report for recommendations for a climate strategy and action plan, submitted in September 2024 to the federal government, was “stalled due [to] political uncertainty in Ottawa” in 2024. This raises the question of how much the ICLA is being prioritized within the government’s climate goals. 

However, it should be noted that some progress has now continued in terms of advocacy for the climate plan’s implementation as part of the BC First Nations Climate Leadership (BC FNCL) Agenda. The BC FNCL Agenda, led by the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, represents First Nations in BC’s climate change policy recommendations in a Canada-wide Indigenous Climate Leadership Agenda. 

A report that “identified trends in Canada’s efforts… [towards] sustainable development” was published this year by the Commissioner of Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD). It does not mention the ICLA by name — a key part of Canada’s recent sustainable development. 

The report emphasizes the importance of collaborating with Indigenous Peoples on climate change work. It also highlights the Canadian government’s responsibility in upholding commitments to Indigenous peoples’ independent work in climate action change. All of these points were the initial focus areas of the ICLA.  

While the report was not an audit, the absence of a formal reporting system for tracking progress on Indigenous-led climate change leadership prevents Indigenous peoples from making recognized contributions to the climate crisis. It also prevents Canadians from learning from Indigenous leaders on different approaches to mitigating the climate crisis. 

The importance of Indigenous knowledge

Indigenous knowledge and sciences are built on generational knowledge specific to the land. Going against the Western practice of using up the Earth’s resources, Indigenous science places heavy emphasis on the spiritual connection and responsibilities humans have towards the Earth. It’s based on the belief of placing all living and nonliving beings in larger social and human contexts. 

Indigenous knowledge is already making an impact on policy and our understanding of climate change. Myrle Ballard is the Anishinaabe Chief Indigenous Science Advisor for Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). 

Ballard is using a process called “bridging, braiding and weaving” to incorporate Indigenous science and voices into government climate action work. She intends to raise awareness on Indigenous science in the government through guiding collaboration with Western scientists and Indigenous peoples to incorporate Indigenous sciences. Ballard hopes to bridge, braid, and weave in indigenous knowledge into the ECCC’s decision-making on science, policy, and program activities. 

According to the Indigenous Climate Hub, Indigenous elders are shaping the agricultural process in various communities throughout British Columbia, reviving traditional Indigenous methods — things like water conservation techniques and drought-resistant planting practices — that are proving to be more sustainable and resilient under climate change conditions. There, forestry management is guided by Indigenous values, which emphasize the preservation of forest resources for future generations. 

Indigenous knowledge and practices are based on conserving a balance between humans and natural ecosystems. Rather than treat ecosystems as resources for human consumption, we need to focus on the preservation of resources and acknowledge the environmental consequences of depleting natural reserves. 

Uniting the different perspectives Indigenous knowledge brings to Western policy could lead to better decision-making on climate change. By collaborating with Indigenous governments to make climate policies and conduct research, the Canadian government could not only bring itself closer to mitigating climate change, but could also create more opportunities for Indigenous leadership, and more spaces where Indigenous voices are heard and spotlighted.