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Xeni Gwet’in anecdotal information about past and present seasonal climate
To complement the scientific climate data, primary data and qualitative information was
acquired through key informant surveys, which sought to capture community observations
on past and current climatic changes. Twenty‐seven individuals were interviewed by four
community
members. The individuals surveyed included an equal amount of men and
women but a high proportion of elders in order to gain a better historical perspective.
Table 4 sums up the main responses from the Xeni community members, in response to a
question on how the seasons have changed climate‐wise between now and their childhood.
Since the majority of the interviewees have lived between 40‐60 years in the study area,
their responses provided a rich amount of information.
Table 4: Seasonal climate observations – past and present
Summer Weather
About temperature:
• Summers used to be hot – but now they are even
hotter, often 100 degrees and above.
• Summers are longer now than they used to be.
• Summers also used to have a mix of hot and cooler weather, but now they are mostly hot
days.
About precipitation:
• Now the summers are drier, as there is much less rain than in the past.
• As a result, there are more droughts in the area now than before.
• Hail and lightning storms are not as common as they were.
Noticeable signs of weather changes:
• In the past it would be green everywhere and there would be lots of water in the lakes
during the summers.
• Now nothing seems to grow and there is a lot less hay than there used to be.
Observations – Fall Weather
About temperature:
• The fall weather is warmer than it used to be.
About precipitation:
• There used to be a lot of rain and thunder during the fall, especially during the hay season,
but now there is less.
• The fall season has gotten shorter, as snow arrives earlier than it used to.
• Falls used to be very windy, but now there is less wind – only rain and warm air.
Noticeable signs of weather changes:
• Before deer were fat in the fall after summer grazing, but now the deer are skinny, as there
is not enough grass for their summer grazing.
Winter Weather
About temperature:
• Winters used to be a lot colder than they are now, as it was normal to have temperatures
of ‐40 degrees for long periods of time.
About precipitation:
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