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Faculty of Social Sciences

Climate change impacts Indigenous ecosystems

April 16, 2026

Alyssa Maryn

“Climate change poses another significant threat to native ecosystems, changing natural rhythms, threatening traditional food and medicine sources, and causing great distress for Indigenous peoples,” says UVic psychologist, Alyssa Maryn, co-lead of a new federally funded project.

Concrete and Creative Pathways for Wellness through Thriving Indigenous Systems: Traditional Food and Medicine in Coping with Climate Change, is a community-focused project about creative expression and connection to culture through art and relationships.

“I take a relationships-focused, trauma-informed approach to research, centring the voices of communities,” says Alyssa Maryn, associate professor, Department of Psychology.

Maryn brought her community-based research approach to UVic about a year ago and secured a SSHRC (social sciences, humanities research) grant for a new project focused on Indigenous food and medicine systems, wellness and the impact of climate change.

“We are conducting an arts-based research project to understand how traditional knowledge can protect remote coastal Indigenous people’s traditional food and medicines in the face of climate change,” says Maryn.

Community partnerships

Mandy

The community-based research approach is a perfect match for community partner, Mandy Dixson, Senior Director at Campbell River Nurturing Society (CRNS).

“I am an art therapist and expressive arts therapist; I identify as a Métis Cree woman and eco artist and I work in the field of Indigenous mental health and justice,” says Dixson. “We launched our non-profit to create services for remote areas during the pandemic. We have developed a deep-rooted passion for outreach and research that honours Indigenous voices and supports and creates opportunities for Indigenous community perspectives and world views. Our mission involves supporting Indigenous communities in self-determining their needs and supporting ways to create and sustain pathways that promote quality of life.”

Dixson and Maryn will partner with remote/coastal Indigenous communities around Vancouver Island to explore the impacts of climate change on traditional food and medicine as well as community well-being through art-based projects. Too often research is done “on” Indigenous communities versus “with” Indigenous partners explains both Maryn and Dixson.

“Elders are driving the ongoing conversation and the central question of this project: how does climate change and its impact on the land affect Indigenous peoples?” says Maryn. “Our work also aligns with CRNS’ mission of supporting the well-being of Indigenous peoples on Vancouver Island.”

“Traditional food and medicines are important resources in supporting CRNS’s mission, as they hold great value for Indigenous peoples, in terms of spirituality, well-being, and connections to culture in the face of colonization,” says Dixson.

The researchers will gather and synthesize valuable knowledge with their Indigenous community partners that can be used to support thriving Indigenous communities on Vancouver Island. Published reports that support community needs, art installations, and presentations that bring awareness to the topics covered in the project are some of the ways the research findings will be shared more broadly with the public.