‘The ice is not freezing as it should’: supply roads to Canada’s Indigenous communities under threat from climate crisis

The ice road from Cat Lake First Nation; trucks are returning to Pickle Lake, in Ontario, after delivering building supplies. Photograph: Ed Ou/The Guardian

At first there was no answer on the satellite phone. But on the third call, Donald Meeseetawageesic heard his sister’s voice. “We need somebody to come and tow us out,” he told her.

It was a warmer-than-normal night in early March and Meeseetawageesic, the elected band councillor for Eabametoong First Nation, was stranded in a 4x4 truck on the dark winter road leading to his community. The tyres were stuck in the deep snow and the temperature outside was below freezing. Help was about 60km (37 miles) away.