The indigenous people of Canada, known collectively as The First Nations, are working hard to reclaim their roots. As recently as the mid-twentieth century, it was common practice to remove native children from their homes and place them in residential schools, where they were abused and essentially brainwashed in an attempt to erase their native heritage. Now, the First Nations are working together to overcome this forced assimilation by compelling the Canadian government to honor treaties which would, among other things, return control of their ancestral lands. In addition to the sociological and political impacts of this, there could be far reaching impact on climate change as well.
The Poplar River region near Lake Winnipeg is one such area. Once home to many First Nation people, this land remains largely undeveloped. It also features a large expanse of unspoiled boreal forest. Boreal, also known as “taiga,” denotes a moist, swampy forest populated by coniferous trees like fir and spruce. The people of the First Nations want to keep this land pure — an excellent idea, as development or destruction of these forests could have a huge negative effect on the environment.
In addition to being the largest source of unfrozen fresh water on the planet, boreal forests have the added benefit of being natural storehouses of huge amounts of carbon. Left undisturbed, the trees in these forests draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in the trees, plants, peat, and soil. Coniferous trees store nearly twice as much carbon as their tropical counterparts. It is estimated that the Canadian boreal forest holds an equivalent of more than 20 years worth of worldwide carbon emissions. If these trees were to be wiped out, tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide could be released back into the atmosphere. Additionally, future emissions would not be absorbed as they are now, setting the stage for potential climatic disaster.
While the First Nations work to overcome a cultural divide, one in which the government’s view of “ownership” clashes with ancient traditions, environmental groups have entered into the fray. Providing not just financial support, but technical and scientific aid as well, these groups hope to work together with the First Nations to keep the boreal forests of Canada protected.
Images via Ecotrust Canada, Watson Lake
