Marking the beginning of a pivotal year for climate action, the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)/Cree Nation Government, alongside all eleven Cree communities and key regional Cree organizations, today officially signed the “Wanishkaakwh” (“Wake Up”) Climate Declaration. This historic commitment unites the Cree Nation in proactive environmental stewardship and establishes transformative climate goals for Eeyou Istchee.
Guided by values that honor land, culture, and the Cree way of life, this Declaration crowns an unprecedented year of resilience, action, and climate leadership for the Cree Nation. Among other major initiatives achieved in 2024, the Cree Nation Government (CNG) launched its first 10-Year Climate Action Plan—a comprehensive roadmap designed to meet decarbonization goals in line with the Paris Agreement and the latest global commitments reaffirmed at COP29. The plan balances traditional knowledge with scientific insight, prioritizing community resilience while addressing the urgent realities of a changing climate. In pursuing these goals, the Cree Nation Government joins other nations across the globe in the “global fight” to restore harmony to Earth’s systems and foster climate justice.
The signing of the Wanishkaakwh Declaration also coincides with the establishment of the permanent Cree Regional Climate Change Advisory Committee. This advisory body is dedicated to guiding leadership on regional climate adaptation and mitigation and will play a crucial role in supporting projects and policies that enhance climate resilience, strengthen sustainable practices, and deepen collaboration with partners at all levels. At the time of this writing, the newly established committee has just completed phase 1 of a Training-the-Trainer workshop to develop both regional and local climate change adaptation plans, and increase collaboration around Environmental Emergency Preparedness across Eeyou Istchee. These are essential steps toward building climate-ready communities.
These achievements follow a series of critical gatherings and efforts over the past year, including the 2024 Cree Regional Climate Forum held in Ouje-Bougoumou. The forum brought together over 165 participants, including Cree representatives, federal and provincial governments, climate specialists and knowledge holders. Outcomes from this forum include 26 calls-to-action and 25 strategic policy recommendations addressing carbon rights, conservation finance, energy infrastructure, governance and Indigenous-led emergency response planning, all tailored to the unique cultural needs and climate challenges faced by Northern Indigenous communities.