Over centuries, Indigenous peoples have had a strong connection to the land they inhabit. For that reason, floods and extreme temperatures brought by climate change particularly affect First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples — who may be forced to evacuate, obstructing their right to remain in their ancestral lands and pass land-tied knowledge to future generations.
Heat pumps and new windows go a long way in helping address health concerns such as extreme heat or mould which are more common now with extreme weather patterns. However, climate-friendly retrofits are expensive and rarely accessible to homeowners living in Indigenous reserves — who already face unique barriers to accessing mainstream lending products.
For the Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) Indian Reserve, financing was needed to do the upfront work – including furnace disconnection and a new electrical connection, associated costs that rebates don’t cover — in order to secure government reimbursements.
