Shifting Tides Tour Indigenous Responses to Global Climate Change Mona Belleau

An International Event  Indigenous Peoples of diverse origines de (Cree, Cook Islands Māori, Coast Salish, Inuit)  Public speaking tour in the Cook Islands and in Canada

Funding Organizations  Pacific Peoples’ Partnership  (NGO based in Victoria, B. C. who has been working for Social Justice in the South Pacific for nearly 40 years)  Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada

Objectives of Shifting Tides  Bridge together Indigenous Peoples from the South and the North and to offer them a tribune  Demonstrate that climate change is not only environmental, but also social, political and economic.  Voice the preoccupations of the Indigenous peoples met on Global Climate Change and on the environment in general  To focus on mitigation and adaptation strategies that could become part of eventual economic development and cultural preservation initiatives

International Delegation  Shaunna Morgan, Cree, Senior Manager, Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources  Larry Grant, Salish Elder, Adjunct Professor, University of British Columbia  Apai Mataiopo (Tekeu Framhein), Vice-President of the Koutu Nui  Te Pa Mataiopo (Imogen Pua Ingram), Secretary of the Koutu Nui  Myself, Inuk from Nunavut

Itinerary and partners met  Cook Islands  Koutu Nui  WWF  Youth Group  University of the South Pacific  Victoria  Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives at the University of Victoria  Cowichan  Elder’s Centre  Malaspina University-College  Vancouver  Musqueam Band Council  Elder’s Centre  University of British Columbia  Winnipeg  Ka Ni Kanichihk (group of women and youth)  Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources  Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs  Ottawa  Canadian Parliament  Canadian Council for International Co-operation  Meeting with Senator Charlie Watt  Iqaluit  Nunavut Arctic College  Elder’s Centre

Îles Cook

The Cook Islands  Archipelago of 15 volcanic islands and atolls in the Pacific Ocean  To the West of French Polynesia  It’s highest point is 652 meters high  M ā ori  «Free association» with New Zealand

Preoccupations  Cook Islands  Sea level rise  Coastal erosion  Coral bleaching  Shifting fish stocks  Increased storm activity (5 hurricanes in 2005)  Open fires for burning garbage  Access to fresh water  Accumulation of toxins in seafood  Industrialization  Feeling like the blame is not theirs

Preoccupations  Victoria / Duncan  Dramatic decrease in salmon stocks  Cedars that are dying  Vancouver  Dramatic decrease in salmon stocks  Loss of ancestral lands to development  Winnipeg  Winter roads that lead to Aboriginal communities in the North are not as safe as before  No recycling bins in a neighbourhood mainly populated by Aboriginals

Preoccupations  Iqaluit  Progressive loss of ice coverage in the Northwest Passage  Accumulation of toxins in the seafood  Industrialization in the South  Feeling like the blame is not ours  Loss of traditional knowledge due to climate change  Endangerment of the hunters and of those who go out on the land  Shifting of fish stocks and other species  New species of fauna and flora  Lack of knowledge as to the effects of these new species on the fragile northern ecosystem

First victims of climate change? Nunavut / Inuit Thawing of glaciers ↓ Difficulty for certain animals to survive (polar bears, walruses, seals, etc.) ↓ Loss of culture Cook Islands Sea level rise ↓ Obligation to abandon islands and to move to larger ones or to Australia or New Zealand ↓ Loss of culture and diaspora

First victims of climate change?  Nunavut / Inuit High dependency on environmental resources for food ↓ Contaminants in the food sources ↓ Negative impacts on health  Cook Islands High dependency on environmental resources for food ↓ Contaminants in the food sources ↓ Negative impacts on health

First victims of climate change?  Nunavut / Inuit Changing climate conditions ↓ Harder to predict the weather ↓ Lives of hunters and fishermen at greater risk  Cook Islands Changing climate conditions ↓ Harder to predict the weather ↓ Lives of fishermen at greater risk

Common preoccupations  Strong interrelation between Indigenous peoples and their territory  Dependency on traditional foods  More intense weather  Unpredictable weather  Security of those going out on the land and at sea  Loss of land  Loss of culture/traditional way of life

What did Shifting Tides enable?  To show international solidarity between Indigenous peoples on the subject of Global Climate Change  To show that Climate Change is global and that it affects the North as much as the South  To show that Indigenous peoples are still largely dependent on the resources and the environment that surround them  To give a voice to Indigenous peoples to share their realities

Next step We hope that similar initiatives be put together to shed more light on the effects of Global Climate Change on the Indigenous peoples around the World.

Nakurmiik! Meegwech! Huy ch q'u! Meitaki maata! Merci!