Sharing our knowledge: incorporating Indigenous knowledge systems to build governance for climate resiliency

This project will share knowledge between two Atlantic Indigenous peoples (Mi鈥檏maq and Sa虂mi) to build understanding and collaborative action around climate change risks to land and water systems, based on Indigenous and scientific knowledge.

Dates3 June 2024 to 2 June 2027
SponsorESRC / UKRI - International research on climate change adaptation and mitigation
FundedOverall project: $8.82million CAD, Funding to Cranfield: 拢499,998

Indigenous communities experience heightened harm from climate change due to their interconnectedness to, and reliance on, their lands and waters. In recognition of this, there is a global movement to acknowledge Indigenous peoples鈥� rights and responsibility to participate in decision-making and governance of their traditional lands and natural resources including those related to water resources. Steered by Indigenous scholars and partners, with support from universities, this research project will facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration between two Indigenous peoples: Mi鈥檏maq in Unama鈥檏i, Atlantic Canada, and Sa虂mi in the Deatnu watershed valley (bordering on Norway and Finland). The aim is to build a shared understanding of climate change risks, based on Indigenous and scientific knowledge systems, and co-develop risk assessment and action frameworks to address emerging risks. Our approach in this project is rooted in the concept of 鈥楾wo-Eyed Seeing鈥� which embraces the contributions of both Indigenous and Western ways of knowing.