The climate crisis is not just an environmental emergency. It also threatens
traditional food sources and the very survival of many Indigenous communities.
We have to move past the delays and inaction of past Liberal and Conservative
governments and take a fundamentally different approach to our future – one
that recognize a holistic definition of sustainability.
New Democrats will put reconciliation at the core of this effort, upholding
Indigenous knowledge and respecting inherent sovereignty. We recognize that as
original peoples of this country, Indigenous peoples have intimate connections to
their homelands, territories and resources and have provided stewardship since
time out of memory. Indigenous peoples are best placed to protect cultural and
biological diversity through control over their territory – and so the recognition
of inherent rights, title and treaty rights will be at the heart of our approach to
addressing climate change.
To make full and equal partnership the basis of Canada’s efforts, New Democrats
will ensure that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leadership have a seat at high-level
decision-making tables to help direct climate change efforts in Canada.
We will also expand the Indigenous Guardians Program, invest in Indigenous-led
science and support the creation of Indigenous-managed protected areas – and
make sure that species recovery efforts respect Indigenous rights and embrace
traditional knowledge to increase biodiversity.
Indigenous communities are not only stewards of their territories – they are
also on the front lines dealing with the impacts of climate change every day.
New Democrat government will work jointly with Indigenous leadership and
communities to develop coordinated action plans to respond to climate change
emergencies like wildfires and floods. This work will be informed by Indigenous
traditional and ecological knowledge and legal systems, and include improving
existing infrastructure, developing new infrastructure, and supporting response
efforts to keep people safe.
First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples need to be partners in the development of job
creation, employment training, and infrastructure investments that flow from federal
efforts to address climate change, ensuring that they are implemented in ways that
fit the needs and priorities of local communities.
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