Overview

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How do communities preserve or find hope in the face of climate disturbances and climate hazards? Ride or Die focuses on one Indigenous family's experience of a climate hazard (flooding) and how they cope in the face of disaster. 

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While climate impacts are felt by everyone (see Europe’s heatwave in January 2023), the truth is that climate impacts manifest differently and unevenly across communities. Underserved communities, those that face historic injustices ranging from loss of land rights and systemic racism have fewer resources to cope with climate shocks. They are fighting battles on multiple fronts, like housing justice, food security and access to healthcare. 

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Many communities practice resilience and vision, finding new and reclaiming old ways of supporting their loved ones in times of crisis, and visioning new ways forward. 

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Opening the Discussion

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Whether you are hosting a private or public event, consider allowing the audience a few moments to reflect on what they have heard and to quietly organize their thoughts before beginning a discussion. You may provide a general prompt (see examples below) that may support their thinking:

• What are three words to describe your impressions of the play? 
• What insights did it provide (in relation to climate change)? 
• What parts surprised you or moved you? 

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Consider spending a few minutes (3-5 mins) discussing some of the responses to these questions, before transitioning to the discussion prompts below. 

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(Note - we have a comprehensive guide on Hosting a Listening Party with lots more suggestions - click here).

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Discussion Prompts

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• Do you have experiences of natural disasters or know people who do? How were they affected and how did they cope? 
• How do you find joy and hope despite the ongoing climate crisis? 
• Some communities are skeptical of governments that ask them to build resilience without adequately providing resources or creating systems that allow for them to thrive. In what ways do you think governments can support Indigenous communities' efforts to adapt to climate change? 
• What other societal challenges and injustices does the community in the play experience? How do they navigate these challenges? 
• What is your version of Grams’ “rebuilt community”? What steps can you take to make your vision come to fruition?

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Resources

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To learn more about this topic, check out the resources below:

• ClimateTelling is an “Indigenous community portal for climate change and health", featuring a collection of videos documenting community-based adaptation and resilience. 
• This short video presents Seeds of a good Anthropocene, a research initiative to counter dystopian futures of climate with sustainable futures for communities.
• Building Collective Resilience in the Wake of Disasters is a digital book that will “deepen your understanding of community-led disaster response and collective resilience initiatives to foster increased engagement with your neighbors, family, and friends”. 

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Take Action

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While resilience is important, holding the entities responsible for climate change is crucial.  Help the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) obtain justice for ongoing leak of toxic tailings due destructive mining of lands.  Sign this letter asking the federal and provincial government to hold industry accountable!

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Want to do more? Consider donating to these climate organizations or supporting their campaigns. 

• Wilderness Committee
• Dogwood BC
• 350.org