HEALTHY LAND, HEALTHY PEOPLE
INDIGENOUS-LED CLIMATE ACTION: Assessing land changes and the links to health Prepared by Rebecca Zalaski and Denise Webb
Whitefish Lake First Nation #128 (WFL #128) is a vibrant and culturally rich First Nations community in Treaty Six territory within northeastern Alberta. WFL #128 is a self-governing community covering an area of over 50 square kilometres with a population of approximately 3,237 members, two-thirds of whom reside on reserve (WFL #128, personal communication, May 2025). WFL #128 is a leader in environmental stewardship and sustainability for both current and future generations. Goodfish Lake Business Corporation, a development corporation within WFL #128 that employs much of the WFL #128 population, recognized the need for an environmental division to be created directly in the community. In response to this need, Mother
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Earth Environmental Services was established to work towards remediating and protecting the environment of WFL #128, while also establishing environmental career opportunities for both WFL #128 members and nonmembers within the community. In 2023, WFL #128 began a two-year project to assess how lands across the territory have changed over time and the effect this has had on wildlife and plant species and their habitats.1 Climate change can affect lands by changing and raising temperatures, impacting harvesting, displacing plants and animals, degrading ecosystems, and disrupting seasonal patterns (Galway et al., 2022). These changes are pertinent to public health because of the direct links to food security, mental wellbeing, livelihoods, and physical
and respiratory health from water and air quality, among other examples (Galway et al., 2022; National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health [NCCIH], 2022). This fact sheet summarizes the WFL #128 land change assessment and its results, highlights the links to human health and well-being, and draws connections to related research to address some of the key findings. Unless otherwise cited, the information presented in this fact sheet is sourced directly through personal communications with WFL #128.
This project was completed in partnership between WFL #128 and WSP Canada Inc. (WSP), with financial contributions from the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative (TCEI). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of WSP or ECCC.