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although informative, it will be important to examine where these changes occur specifically to
determine whether they might be a benefit (increasing extent of suitable thermal habitats, as in the
Quesnel) or constraint (decreasing extent of preferable thermal habitats, as in the Chilcotin) on the
productive capacity of Coho habitats.
Concern for future climate change and its effects on fish are not restricted to anadromous species
such as salmon, but also to non‐migratory species such as bull trout which form part of the Xeni
Gwet’in diet. Bull trout are blue listed as a species of special concern in British Columbia. Nelitz
and Porter prepared a third report –also in 2009 ‐ on the effects climate change may have on bull
trout in the Cariboo Chilcotin. Their analyses suggest that for all regional watersheds with
resident bull trout the extent of preferred coldwater habitats will decrease considerably
under the varied climate change scenarios and that the extent of habitats considered thermally sub‐
optimal or potentially unusable by bull trout will increase. 66 The report stated, though, that “The
general patterns of this analysis do not, however, seem promising for bull trout. Bull trout are already
considered a sensitive species within BC with very specific cold water habitat requirements, so further
impacts to their remaining core habitats is likely a cause for concern. The long term patterns
suggest both an expected decrease in the total amount of cold water stream habitat and
fragmentation of these colder areas into disconnected “patches” of suitable habitat.
Maintaining viable sized patches of cold water habitats for bull trout and ensuring unimpeded
connectivity
between them may become an important future issue for maintaining genetic exchange
between
increasingly isolated regional bull trout populations. 67
6. Xeni Gwet’in Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
Climate change vulnerability is defined as the ability or inability of individuals or a group to cope
with or adapt to climate impacts on their livelihood and well‐being68. The following section is an
assessment
of the vulnerability of Xeni Gwet’in First Nation to potential climate changes and their
impacts.
The Xeni Gwet’in, like many First Nations, have seen their fair share of changes to their way of life
over the last few centuries. They have experienced colonization, the spread of new diseases, the
imposition of the reserve system and the residential school system, continued encroachment by
outside interests intent on carving up the territory for industrial forestry and mining, resort and
real
estate development. And the community increasingly faces the influences of western
consumer culture through the TV, the internet and the education system.
Despite these changes or influences, the Xeni Gwet’in have maintained a relatively healthy
community as compared to many First Nation communities in the Cariboo‐Chilcotin. Many of the
population continue to speak their mother tongue and pass on traditional ways, the people
continue to hunt fish and collect, they have an excellent K‐9 school system that teaches the Chilcotin
language and culture and the community is actively engaged in political and cultural affairs. The
community has also managed to protect a large part of its traditional territory and therefore have a
relatively intact ecosystem, abundant
with clean water supplies, wildlife, fish and wild horses. They
have a moderately diversified
energy system, a reliable water system and road maintenance
66 Nellitz and Porter (2009c).
67 Nellitz and Porter (2009c).
68 Tyndall Group for Climate Change Research, 2005
49