In response to worsening floods, droughts and heatwaves, young adults in Ontario have the opportunity to adopt Indigenous practices of sustainability to restore balance in our environment.

To gain a deeper understanding on environmental harmony and the role of youth in the future of our planet, I spoke with Elder Myeengun Henry, former Elected Chief and band councillor for Chippewas of the Thames First Nation.

Henry emphasized that climate change is evident, not only in scientific data, but in the disruption of Indigenous traditions tied to nature. “We’re seeing extreme warm weathers later in the year, but on top of that, we’re seeing the effects on the rivers and lakes. We used to gather certain medicines and practice ceremonies, but now that the water levels are up –and low sometimes– it’s affecting various things within our local environment.”

Video taken during the July 2024 floods in Toronto

In July 2024, Toronto experienced nearly 10 cm of rainfall in three hours, causing extreme flooding across the city. In the same year, at least three of the heatwaves in Ontario from June to August were tied to global warming. These events highlight the urgency of restoring balance.

Indigenous communities have long viewed the Earth as a mother who provides food, maintains natural balance and sustains life. In contrast, many people in today’s society prioritize materialism over environmental health. Henry refers to this as living in a “money world,” which focuses on immediate profits rather than the long-term well-being of the planet.

“Indigenous people have always kept this as their priority and we’re trying to teach that to people who live in a money world. You know, they don’t care about the resources or anything to protect the Earth as long as they get rich now,” said Henry.

This disconnection, driven by material gain, has worsened environmental degradation, putting future generations at risk.

A 2021 Pew Research Center survey revealed that Gen Zers and Millennials care more about discussing and acting upon the climate crisis in comparison with older generations. Henry suggested that older generations feel less compelled to act, believing they won’t experience the full consequences of climate change, stressing that the youth are crucial for change.

“We can have an economy, and we can live good lives, but think about our children going forward, our grandchildren, great grandchildren…what kind of world will they have if we don’t do our part now?”

Henry expressed the importance of advocating for a more sustainable world. “Younger people have to take this very seriously, and to promote or get into positions where they’re going to make the policy changes and laws that can help affect and better existence,” he said.

He added that the ownership is not all on the youth, but rather, the fight against climate change should be a collective effort from all generations. “From our perspective, we can deliver what we’ve seen in our age group so that they can change it so they don’t have to face the same.”

I then asked Elder Henry about climate anxiety, a term that describes the hopelessness an individual might feel when confronting climate change. In fact, Generation Z is the generation that is experiencing the most climate anxiety according to Pew Research Center. Henry went on to talk about the discouragement people feel when they hear politicians or people in authoritative positions speak from a misinformed or ignorant standpoint.

“I don’t even have to be a scientist to know that it’s changing, and these young people, I think, are starting to feel that they need to do something about it,” Henry stated.

This need for action, he explained, can be fulfilled by reconnecting with original cultural teachings about the earth—teachings that emphasize balance, respect and sustainability. He talked about the similarities between Indigenous teachings around the world. “If we reach into our own understanding, then we can find the unity in it, then we’ll start catching on across the world… We just have to kind of start over in that sense, to understand our role on this earth.”

Just as Indigenous communities practice reciprocity with nature—taking only what is needed and giving back—young adults can adopt similar values by shopping locally, growing vegetables, participating in clean-ups and advocating for eco-friendly policies, all of which foster a sense of community and provide opportunities to reconnect with the land.

A close-up of hands using scissors to cut leafy green plants from the soil. The background shows more greenery, indicating a garden or farm setting.
Photo from Pixabay

In the face of the climate crisis, the road ahead is challenging, but not hopeless. By learning from Indigenous wisdom and integrating it into our lives, Ontario’s youth can help steer the planet toward recovery.

“We all have to take responsibility now,” said Henry. “Let’s look at our water consumption, our runoffs, the water levels in rivers and lakes… all of those things. We can actually slow [climate change] down if that message gets across, to take responsibility for our role on this Earth.”

*Photo, Thom Quine, Georgia Strait Alliance, Creative Commons License