As climate change continues to accelerate in a world that is warming at an alarming rate, individuals, organizations, and governments alike are mobilizing to adapt to the increasingly precarious situation. In the Canadian context, the predicaments are plenty: Canada's diverse array of ecosystems and regional climates face a wide range of issues, both natural and human-made. This is of particular importance to many Indigenous communities, as activities such as mining and tar sands often take place on their land without their explicit consent, or share in the profit.

For many Indigenous communities, environmental protection is thus closely intertwined with the fight for self-determination. According to the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources, almost 80 per cent of Indigenous communities live in forested areas - highlighting the importance of stopping further deforestation. Despite the fact that Indigenous peoples are the fastest growing population segment in Canada, half of Indigenous children are living in poverty - triple the national average. With this in mind, it becomes clear that the environmental movement within these communities is inseparable from the larger struggle to achieve social equality with other Canadians.

The background for Indigenous environmental movements differs from mainstream environmental movements, as they are deeply linked to decolonization. Leesee Papatsie, an Inuit activist from Nunavut, explained to The Daily that many of the challenges Inuit face today are due to the "legacy of colonization, [because] Inuit cannot [live] as their ancestors did." She explained that due to elements of Canada's colonial past, such as the permanent settlements and residential schools, "not everyone hunts up here anymore. Hunting is a skill, and not every[one] has that anymore." Hence, for many Inuit, sustainable living relies on the decolonization of Indigenous lands and practices.

Not only is the motivation different for many Indigenous environmental movements, but also, the way in which some movements establish themselves varies. Papatsie highlighted, for example, that protesting is not a common practice for Inuit. "There is not even a word [for it] in Inuqtituq."

Another large difference lies with Indigenous reliance on treaties. While treaties are mutual agreements between Indigenous people and settlers, it is usually the Indigenous people who have to fight for them to be respected, and not the settlers. In recent years, Indigenous groups have put significant effort into fighting Canadian legislation that has infringed on previous treaties and agreements between the government and Indigenous communities. The movement Idle No More, for instance, seeks to "repeal provisions of Bill C-45 (including changes to the Indian Act and Navigable Waters Protection Act, which infringe on environmental protections, Indigenous, and treaty rights)," according to their Facebook page. Additionally, the movement fights for further democratization of the Canadian parliamentary process, through creating measures such as more proportional representation and legislation that restricts corporate interests.

Dan Parker, a Brazilian rapper and climate justice activist from Ontario, noted at a panel that recently took place at McGill that "Indigenous groups are on the forefront of the environmental movement because Indigenous sovereignty is tied up with environmental justice." Indigenous groups are faced with what many consider an intersectional fight for the preservation of ways of life that have been present in their societies for generations.