The consequences of ignoring Indigenous land management are now in the smoky air we breathe
is engulfing the country, and the fact that we can see it in the sun’s odd glow across the most populated region in Canada should alert Canadians to the urgency of the climate crisis.climate
. Smoke and fire were key elements in the creation of Canada, after all. Around the time of Confederation, between 1846 and 1904, emerging cities like Toronto, Montreal, St. John’s, Calgary, Ottawa and Vancouver all nearly burned down. It was as if the land was trying to tell Canadians something then, as it is now.
For the Anishinaabeg, the people to whom we belong, fire represents our nations. Sometimes we flicker as a small flame, at other times we are an inferno, depending on the political circumstances. But our understanding of the power of fire, even metaphorically, has translated into our management of it. There is no doubt that themaintained healthy woodland and prairie ecosystems for centuries, while ensuring that when there were wildfires, they were limited.
This Canada Day, we were faced with a country covered in smoke and burning to ash. We know that Indigenous peoples in contemporary Canada are disproportionately affected by wildfires as well,at least 30 per cent more often. The fires burning in northern Ontario and Quebec this summer have affected regions farther south with smoke, but forced First Nations to flee.
The grief for the land, water and air lost is no longer the exclusive domain of Indigenous people. We now all have fire “seasons” that require dedicated planning for
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Opinion: The toxic history of Canada’s residential schools stretches way back to the 1600sFacing resistance from Indigenous communities, early attempts to create boarding schools for Indigenous youth fizzled out
Read more »
Opinion | Raptors mailbag: The Nick Nurse-Canada Basketball breakup and appreciating the talent of Fred VanVleetIn this week’s edition of Doug Smith’s mailbag, he takes questions on Raptors coaching, free agent mistakes and NBA comebacks.
Read more »
A sea of red and white proudly on display at Canada Day celebrations at Canada PlaceThe event kicked off with government officials welcoming 30 newcomers to the country through a citizenship ceremony.
Read more »
'Canada is the envy of the world': Prime MinisterCanada Day is a time to celebrate (and to read Canada Day statements from politicians)
Read more »
Even those saying Indigenous land acknowledgments don't feel personal responsibility for injustices: pollAnd while anti\u002Dcolonial renaming is pursued by activists, the poll suggests Canadians aren\u0027t concerned with many of the names criticized
Read more »
Even those saying Indigenous land acknowledgments don't feel personal responsibility for injustices: pollAnd while anti\u002Dcolonial renaming is pursued by activists, the poll suggests Canadians aren\u0027t concerned with many of the names criticized
Read more »