Sophia is Mi’kmaq from Metepenagiag First Nation, as well as Egyptian. She is a land defender and water protector, and has been aware of these issues impacting her at a very young age. 

Sophia’s community fish for and rely upon salmon, eel, sturgeon and trout for their cultural and spiritual fulfillment and physical sustenance. Salmon is a central part of her communities’ cultural heritage and connection to her ancestral ways of life. It is a critical food staple for Sophia and her community. Climate change has impacted Sophia’s ability to partake in this cultural and spiritual activity. She has been unable to learn how to fish or participate in this central part of her culture because the time frame to find salmon in the river has significantly decreased due to the warming water, as well as salmon in the river becoming scarce. As a consequence, she has not had the opportunity to be taught to fish by her family.  

Due to declining populations of culturally significant animals and plants like moose, lobster, sweetgrass, and cedar, Sophia has experienced extreme stress and despair due to the reality of being increasingly unable to hunt, fish, and harvest on her territory . Extreme heat and periods of drought and forest fires have resulted in other culturally significant activities that have had to be cancelled, like sweat lodge ceremonies, sacred fires, and jingle dress dancing. 

Despite these challenges, Sophia is devoted to her culture. As a jingle dress dancer and water protector, she continues to honor her traditional teachings and community in the ways she still can, while also speaking out about the impact climate change has on Indigenous people.