A case of sustaining connection to land: Cree Nation of Wemindji
Topics:
Keywords: Indigenous people, environment, human geography, land use
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract
Authors:
Nafisa Sarwath, Concordia University
Monica Mulrennan, Concordia University
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Abstract
Changing climate, and socio-economic factors have continued to impact Indigenous people’s access to their traditional territories in the arctic and sub-arctic. This has implications for food sovereignty, stewardship practices, cultural continuity, and Indigenous self-determination/territorial rights. While empirical assessment of how communities adapt to social-ecological changes are growing, less attention has been given to examining factors affecting access to the land and land-based practices. Through combination of participant observation, interviews and focus groups we examined barriers and mechanisms facilitating and constraining access to land in Wemindji, a Cree community in Eeyou Istchee, Quebec. Our findings suggest all-season cabins are one of the important mechanisms facilitating access to land by mediating barriers such as unpredictable weather conditions and ice formation, limited available time to camp, hunt and harvest, and to maintain seasonal camps. Its significance is evident in its proliferation on all-season access roads. Using theory of access, we examine access mechanisms which facilitate and detract access to land and practice of land-based activities by Wemindji eeyouch. These include financial subsidies targeting hunting and harvesting necessities, family and social relations, travel companions, health, access to vehicles, knowledge, proximity and accessibility of camp sites from town. All of these in turn affect who, when and how one gets to spend time on the land and practice land-based activities, carry out relational responsibilities. Increasing our understanding of access mechanisms utilized by communities undergoing rapid social-ecological changes can help identify gaps in support and contribute to planning and programming aimed to enhance adaptation and resilience.
A case of sustaining connection to land: Cree Nation of Wemindji
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Paper Abstract