Indigenous communities along Atlantic coast at risk from rising sea levels

First Nations communities along the Atlantic coast may face grave challenges from climate change, a recent federal report says.

The Regional Perspectives Report: Atlantic provinces said Esgenoôpetitj First Nation, about 130 kilometres north of Moncton, was already at risk for flooding but climate change and rising sea levels may intensify flood risks for the community, and intense storm surges have increased erosion.

"Just in my life, we lost quite a bit of land in front of my mother's," said Miiga'agan, a Mi'kmaw grandmother.

She's lived in the community since the late 1950s and said traditional foods have been destroyed or contaminated. Esgenoopetitj houses a wastewater treatment plant and Miiga'agan worries the plant discharge may harm local clam beds, blueberries, mussels and common periwinkles.

She said she thinks because of colonization humanity has lost touch with its responsibility to the natural world, but Miiga'gan said she is hopeful things can change.

"Humanity is mature enough to know something has to change," she said.

Her solution to the changing climate is reclaiming the Mi'kmaw language. Miiga'agan said the language holds a spiritual and philosophical connection to the land and by reintroducing the language, a stronger bond will form with the land.

"Our identity comes from the land," she said.

The federal report worked with provincial governments, academics and Indigenous organizations to explore the challenges the region is facing from climate change and to encourage adaptation to the increasing risks.

Esgenoopetitj, Ugpi'ganjig, Indian Island and Lennox Island First Nations were named specifically as communities facing significant challenges from climate change, but all coastal communities are at risk of flooding.

Indian Island and Ugpi'ganjig First Nations have already been hit with violent storm surges that caused flooding. In December 2010, Ugpi'ganjig experienced a storm that caused over $1.7 million in damages and responded by constructing a concrete seawall and other flood prevention measures. Indian Island First Nation also built a seawall and began elevating homes in the last five years.

Tom Johnson, the Geographic Information Systems co-ordinator at Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'taqnn Incorporated, was one of the writers on the report.

"Historically we're not looking at ways to dominate nature, we're looking at ways to live in nature," said Johnson, who is Wolastoqew.

He said historically Mi'kmaq moved seasonally and, if faced with increased flood risk, would have moved inland. But the reserve system forced them to stay put.