by Mitch Downton Policy Analyst for Climate Change

Climate changes impacts are far reaching and affect folks’ ways of life in many different aspects. It is often referred to as a “wicked problem”, meaning the issue is so large that there is no one single solution to the problem. Specific impacts that are often overlooked deal with Atlantic First Nations communities and their local fisheries. Because of this fact, the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat (APC) recently commissioned a report to investigate climate change impacts to Atlantic First Nations fisheries. The report included an extensive literature review, a vulnerability assessment, and interviews with Indigenous fishers to gain their perspectives on climate change.

The findings from the report indicate several key recommendations for policymakers. First, language and linguistics matter. The capitalistic system only values the natural world when it is extracted and does not honour fish as primordial beings that have inherent rights. Decolonizing economic terms when speaking to marine fish and ecosystems can shift the government’s views on their values.

There is also a strong need for Indigenous-driven policies, programs, and decision-making processes in the realm of fisheries and climate change impacts. There should be integrated policies led by Indigenous people that manage the ecological and socioeconomic risk of marine pollutants and greenhouse gases. In addition, there should be more research and research partnersh ...