Fishing Livelihoods in the Mackenzie River Basin: Stories of the Délįne Got’ine

Chelsea Martin,Brenda Parlee,Morris Neyelle

doi:10.3390/su12197888

Abstract

Climate change is among the greatest challenges facing Indigenous peoples. The impacts of climate change cannot be understood as only ecological or through models and projections. In this study, narratives from Indigenous peoples provide lived experience and insight of how social and ecological impacts are interconnected. Through collaborative research with the Sahtú Renewable Resources Board in the Northwest Territories Canada in the period 2018–2019, this paper shares the stories of the Délįne Got’ine peoples of Great Bear Lake (GBL), and how warming temperatures in the region impact fishing livelihoods. Specifically, we address the question, “What are the impacts of climate change on the fishing livelihoods of the Délįne Got’ine people?” Narratives from 21 semi-structured interviews reveal insights on six dimensions of fishing livelihoods. Analysis suggests the specific indicators of ecological change of concern to fishers and how those impact livelihoods over the short and long term. Given that the majority of research on climate change involving Indigenous peoples in Canada has focused on the high arctic and marine environments, this work is unique in its focus on the subarctic region and on freshwater ecosystems and livelihoods.

Highlights

Introduction and Literature ReviewIn 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment concluded that the ‘impacts of large-scale and persistent changes are likely to include changes in marine ecosystem productivity, fisheries, ocean CO2 uptake, oceanic oxygen concentrations and terrestrial vegetation’ [1]
Not well documented to date, this study suggests that climate change is an added layer of stress on both the Great Bear Lake ecosystem as well as fishing livelihoods
Much of the literature related to northern ecosystems has highlighted the value of traditional knowledge in arctic regions and elsewhere in illuminating new climatic trends and patterns as well as its contribution to the capacity of individuals and institutions to cope and adapt [46,47,48]

Summary

Introduction

Introduction and Literature ReviewIn 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment concluded that the ‘impacts of large-scale and persistent changes are likely to include changes in marine ecosystem productivity, fisheries, ocean CO2 uptake, oceanic oxygen concentrations and terrestrial vegetation’ [1]. Fisheries are food sources considered highly vulnerable to climate stress [2]. This is true in northern regions as the effects of climate change are being felt earlier and more keenly in the polar latitudes than elsewhere in the world [3]. Research in the region in the period 2017–2018 built on previous ethnographic, sociological and ecological studies [4,5,6,7], as well as the broader literature on traditional knowledge and climate change [5,6]. This work has contributed to local governance and individual and institutional understanding of changing Sahtú territory and land-based livelihoods. We have aimed to contribute to theories and literature on climate change effects including theories on the value of traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples in dealing with

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Conclusion