Statement on Federal Elections Results
STATEMENT ON FEDERAL ELECTION RESULTS 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2021 — Voters in so-called Canada have spoken and have elected in another Liberal minority government. While the government remains virtually unchanged from the 2019 federal elections, it is an opportunity for the same government to make different choices. ICA continues to work and advocate for taking action and uplifting the leadership of Indigenous Peoples for climate justice, regardless of colonial politics.
Despite strong momentum for concerns around Indigenous rights and reconciliation earlier this year - spurred by the discovery of over 200 unmarked graves near the Kamloops Indian Residential School - we saw little attention to Indigenous issues in the political and media narrative of the election and in parties' platforms. We saw an underwhelming focus on the climate crisis and parties remained especially quiet over the exclusionary nature of federal climate policy. We can no longer afford a government that offers false climate solutions and omits Indigenous leadership.
The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report released in 2021 warns of worsening human-induced climate change. We know Indigenous Peoples are the least responsible, yet are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of the climate catastrophe. We stress that colonialism, capitalistic extractivism, and governments who continually favour corporate interests over the livelihoods of people, are root drivers in the climate crisis.
Indigenous Climate Action’s Decolonizing Climate Policy in Canada: Phase One report directs the government to actively work towards climate policy that:
“respects Indigenous rights to self-determination and free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) in the process of developing policy.”
We uplift this report as a cumulation of Indigenous knowledge and leadership on climate policy solutions which the Canadian government should act on. It is overdue that the government makes space for Indigenous peoples as decision makers on high level climate policy.
The federal government promises “nation-to-nation” relationships, but treats us as stakeholders and witnesses to climate policy and decision making, instead of the sovereign nations we inherently are. We are rights holders, and our knowledge and leadership must be upheld.
Indigenous Peoples have the rightful power to make decisions for our communities, including leading climate policy on Indigenous territories in so-called Canada. Powerful climate policy includes supporting the frontlines and Indigenous Nations. We will keep doing what we’re doing. This will always be Indigenous land. We will always be Indigenous, no matter what the colonial government is doing.
Media inquires:
Amber Bernard, External Media Coordinator
amber@indigenousclimateaction.com
Indigenous Climate Action supports Indigenous Peoples, reinforcing our place as leaders in climate change discourse and driving solutions for today and tomorrow. Our work is grounded in four main pathways: Gatherings, Resources and Tools, Amplifying Voices and Supporting Indigenous Sovereignty.