Climate resilience
Find funding, tools and programs for self-determined climate solutions to protect Indigenous lands, cultures and ways of life.
On this page
Overview
Climate-related events (such as wildfires, floods and landslides) are becoming more frequent and increasingly severe. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) partners with Indigenous communities to provide funding, tools and expertise to:
- prepare for, respond to and recover from climate-related emergencies
- build resilient infrastructure
- transition to clean energy
- protect health and well-being in a changing climate
- manage lands and the environment in sustainable and culturally grounded ways
These efforts reflect Indigenous leadership and knowledge, and support long-term prosperity, environmental stewardship and climate resilience.
Climate emergencies
Support for climate emergency mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery is available through the following initiatives.
Emergency Management Assistance Program
Learn about support for on-reserve and other eligible First Nation communities to access emergency assistance services in response to wildfires, floods and other climate disasters.
Emergency Management Non-Structural Mitigation and Preparedness
Learn about funding for non-structural projects undertaken by First Nation communities on reserve to prepare for and mitigate against climate disasters.
Emergency Management FireSmart
FireSmart builds skills in First Nation communities to prevent and prepare for wildland fires.
Climate resilient infrastructure and clean energy
Support for high-quality, climate-resilient infrastructure and transitioning to clean energy are available through the following programs.
Community infrastructure program
The Capital Facilities and Maintenance Program and First Nation Infrastructure Fund provide support for First Nations community infrastructure on reserve. This includes infrastructure mitigation and adaptation projects and community energy systems to help build climate resilience.
Strategic Partnerships Initiative
This initiative works to increase Indigenous participation in large, complex, multi-year economic opportunities that span a range of sectors, including clean energy.
ISC also actively collaborates with Natural Resources Canada's Wah-ila-toos initiative, which connects federal financial support to help Indigenous, rural and remote communities access clean energy funding to reduce diesel use.
Climate change and health
ISC funds First Nations and Inuit-led health adaptation programs to protect human health and well-being in a changing climate.
Climate Change and Health Adaptation Program
Learn more about funding for First Nations and Inuit communities to identify, assess and respond to the health impacts of climate change at community, health system, and regional levels.
The program has 2 streams:
Land and environmental management
ISC supports Indigenous-led land stewardship to help build climate resilience, while protecting ecosystems and strengthening local economies.
First Nations Land Management
This agreement supports First Nations to opt out of 44 land-related sections of the Indian Act and resume jurisdiction over reserve lands through community-approved land codes. Funding and support is available to land code communities through The First Nations Land Management Resource Centre, including help with environmental planning and climate resilience training.
Reserve Land and Environment Management Program
This program provides support, training, tools and information for First Nations communities to enhance management of reserve lands, resources and environment under the Indian Act.
Land Use Planning Initiative
Training, toolkits and proposal-based funding is available to support First Nations in developing and implementing community-approved land use plans that include climate change considerations. The initiative is delivered through the National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association and the First Nations Land Management Resource Centre.
Indigenous Centre for Cumulative Effects
Find support for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to build scientific and technical capacity to assess and manage cumulative effects on their territories. Communities can access information, resources and best practices.
Sustainable development
Our Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy outlines how ISC contributes to the Government of Canada's Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. It sets departmental goals, targets, and actions to advance priorities such as affordable and clean energy, good health and well-being, and sustainable cities and communities.
Learn how ISC climate action supports the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The North
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada has environmental responsibilities in the North, including efforts to mitigate and adapt to the effects of Climate change in Indigenous and Northern communities
Related links
- Canada's Partnership with Indigenous Peoples on Climate
- Indigenous Climate and Environmental Funding
- Wah-ila-toos: Clean Energy Initiatives in Indigenous, rural and remote communities - Canada.ca
- Environment and Climate Change Canada Funding Programs
- Canadian Centre for Climate Services
- Climate Action Map
- Climate Toolkit for Housing and Infrastructure
- For Our Future: Indigenous Resilience Report
- Canada in a Changing Climate Reports
- National Adaptation Strategy